Stenography, the process of writing in shorthand, was developed by an Englishman Sir Isaac Pitman in 1837. In spite of technological advancement, invention of dictation machines, stenography is still widely used all over English-speaking world and is not dead by any means. Financially unsound lower middle class & poor people, who are not able to afford for higher education, even today prefer learning Stenography with affordable fees.
Some important and interesting information about shorthand:-
Some important and interesting information about shorthand:-
- It is a method of recording human speech in brief. You need lined paper and a pencil to draw different shaped strokes.
- Learning stenography needs lot of patience.
- It needs continuous and rigorous practice on daily basis, at least 3 hours / day for a year.
- Determination to spend as much time as you can practicing shorthand. I used to spend at least 7 hours / day for practizing shorthand.
- It is good to have an instructor to learn stenography.
- Circles and straight lines make up the basics of its alphabets with 24 consonants in basic.
- It is easy to write shorthand with a mechanical pencil with a self-advancing lead.
- If you commit mistake while writing stenography, quickly circle mistake and write again next to it.
- Speed skills in shorthand may vary from 60 to 120 words per minute (WPM).
- To improve your shorthand writing in speed, you need to have a dictator who is good in pronouncing the words and is able to give you dictation at the speed you desire.
- Good English knowledge will be added advantage for any stenographer. If you miss any of the vowels or words, your English knowledge will help you complete the transcription.
- Before start writing, better to have a blank space on left side with a margin. You can note any key word while taking notes for any reference later.
- Keep your fingers totally free and flexible enough while writing.
- If you have started writing at 80 words per minute accurately, you can try to write Radio / TV news in shorthand. This will improve your concentration and speed.