What I Learned about Shorthand Writing

What is shorthand writing?

I learned that shorthand writing is an abbreviated symbolic method of writing and was told not to confuse Stenography with Shorthand writing.

Speed is increased with this type of writing. The great achievement is the speed in Shorthand writing which should be your number thought in mind.

I knew of shorthand writing from my school days, however, I was not taught about the actual system.

During the early seventies shorthand writing was not introduced to scholars in detail.

Shorthand consists of the following:

• Speed
• Phrases
• Abbreviations
• Symbols
• Words
• In the past shorthand was commonly used widely.
• Over the years modern technology is slowly diminishing Shorthand's writing.

When do you use shorthand?

Secretaries used shorthand daily as well as journalists. Though shorthand does exist in many texts from past writers I still had to know more.

While out for lunch with a very close friend I discovered her talent for shorthand writing. The whole concept got me thinking of writing this hub.

A method of writing symbols that require speed like hieroglyphs.

Joan can type 220 words per minute her speed-typing has allowed her to use her talent.

I understood Joan's explanations each symbol contains a certain sound. Since modern technology shorthand writing is slowly vanishing.

Joan has a unique skill and ability to take down notes at a speed and all by hand. She enjoys expressing shorthand writing in some of her recent paintings.

A rarely used method and can be useful as a secret code if you wish to keep certain files private.

The slowly vanishing skill can be used in the following ways:

If you want to learn shorthand writing get on with it. First, get your mind set on the many types of shorthand writings and methods. Learn about the difficult symbols and the actual features.

In this way, you will know which of the symbols can be most useful to you. Joan introduced to me the following types of short handwriting:

What is Pitman:

As I have learned from Joan about the English language. Sir Isaac Pitman was the first to present Pitman shorthand writing in 1837.

The features notable:

Placed in a level of difficulty and recognized as hard. The lines of the Pitman shorthand writing have a thickness of lines and are written with dots, dashes and lines.

The sound of the letter or the word presented is used phonetically instead of the spelling. It is known as the system of abbreviations at the number one level.

I paid careful attention to her words as she explained.

I was very interested in learning more about shorthand writing I was not taught the method, but have heard of it.

The thorough explanations made me understand more of another topic to interestingly write about here.

What is Gregg:

The number two level as I understand was first shown by John Robert Gregg in the year 1888. Phonetically, the sound of the letter is recorded instead of the spellings.

The vowels are written in the symbol of hooks and of the consonants, and the circles are written, making this level seen as hard to moderate level.

What is Teeline:

The method thought of by James Hill became a simple too easy way to the traditional shorthand writing.

The features are not the same as in phonetics. It is formed from letters.

Joan closely explained the symbol system resembling the English alphabet. An easy process to learn of and was presented in 1968 in level three.

What is the Key script Shorthand?

In the year 1996 Key script based on the Pitman shorthand writing, by Janet Cheeseman was another type to take heed of in a simple manner. With this type of shorthand writing the use of the alphabet is presented.

There is no use of the Pitman symbols. Just the simple uses of the lowercase of the alphabet.

This is an easy level to learn in Shorthand writing.

Are you interested in learning the method of shorthand writing?

A quick learner can do it in a class. With a creative mind, you can go ahead and learn the symbols of shorthand writing.

Inventing your very own base or form of writing on abbreviations.

You can take courses to further your education in shorthand. I found this an interesting lesson from my friend.

Ways to learn shorthand writing:

You can use a dictionary if you really want to learn by yourself. Do a thorough research online or in bookstores. My friend was taught at school and has a unique skill in shorthand writing.

The proper explanations gave me a better view of this unique skill. When she read a few lines from a Sherlock Holmes book, I was amazed by how she went through the lines.

Such a free flow of words was read out but presented in shorthand symbols. It may be difficult if you have no idea of shorthand. Learning can sound difficult, but you need to show interest in learning another form of writing.

Use flashcards to enrich your mind. You are required to use memory in learning shorthand, more memorizing is needed.

Remembering each symbol is the process of learning shorthand writing.

Daily practice can get you to learn faster. Each symbol allows for knowing each letter, each word, or sound. Shorthand is rarely used today. You can invent your very own shorthand.

Long words can be abbreviated. Make note of the words abbreviated. Delete pronouns. When taking down notes eliminate pronouns in this way you learn of the words abbreviated.

As in this example: ''He likes running'' is changed to ''Likes running.''

Replace numbers for words. You save time in shorthand writing. Use the number 1 and replace it with the word one. When writing an individual's name instead of writing down the full name write down the initials.

Blissymbolics

What are Bliss Symbols?

A similar procedure to the Egyptian and Chinese methods of writing. Charles Bliss an Australian who first presented the language which is universally used.

Learning an ideographic language was an idea to allow everyone to speak a written language rather than a constructed language.

People who have speech difficulties are taught to write and communicate in the Blissymbolics method.

Something different as Blissymbolics had it made it easier and more of a fun learning experience.

Take it easy and don't put pressure on your writing. Shorthand requires speed. A tip for when you are learning shorthand writing. Write down the keywords as a reference alongside your page.

It is advised to use a correction pen, a fountain for shorthand writing is most appropriate. What most people need to understand is that a five-year-old child can have issues learning to write and read.

Adults too can have their learning issues. Any learning lesson can be more difficult in the beginning. Only with repetition will you start to speed up with shorthand writing.

It takes time to grasp the method of shorthand writing. You will start reading the symbols once you continue daily practices.

It is a great idea to encourage children to learn shorthand writing in schools. A fascinating way to improve their knowledge of symbol writing from an early age.

Making shorthand writing part of your daily activity is a way to learn more about a slowly diminishing method of writing. I enjoyed writing on a new topic, especially on Shorthand writing.

Learning never stops and if I have not tried shorthand why not now?

What you want to achieve can be if you allow it for you in your time. Shorthand writing is different and worth the effort to learn and gain a new form of talent.

I refer to the speaker or writer.