LET’S START ☺
LESSON 1
• Background on shorthand
• Concept of you write what you hear
• Concept of symbols representing sounds
• Symbols for the sounds of a, e, n, m, t, and d
• Punctuations and Capitalization
WHAT IS SHORTHAND?
“Shorthand” is defined as “a method of rapid handwriting using
symbols to represent letters, words, and phrases.”
The process of writing in shorthand is called Stenography, derived
from two greek words (“Stenos”=narrow which refers to the
narrowing of words to symbols+ “graphie”=writing).
Source: www.britannica.com
It is a phonetic shorthand based on elliptical figures.
The Gregg system was predominantly a curve-motion shorthand with
circles, hooks and loops. Based on the ellipse of oval and on the slope
of longhand, its motion was curvilinear.
WHO INVENTED GREGG SHORTHAND?
It was invented by John Robert Gregg in 1988.
It was originally called as light-line phonography and published under
the name in pamphlet form in 1888 in England.
The system was taken in 1893 to the United States, where it is now
taught and used more than any other system. It has also been
adapted to numerous languages including Filipino.
Source: www.britannica.com
Characteristics of Gregg Shorthand include a total absence of shading and
thickening (in contrast to Pitman Shorthand), the expression of vowels by circles
and hooks that are inserted in word outlines in their natural order.
It also uses brief forms for some of the most common words, consonant clusters,
and suffix and prefix forms and has an abbreviation principle.
Source: www.britannica.com
TECHNIQUES IN LEARNING SHORTHAND
By sufficient practice, your hand speed can be improved along with
familiarity with shorthand outlines.
The way to become an expert shorthand writer is by reading, copying,
taking down from dictation shorthand that is not only rightly formed
by the rules of the system, but also a good example of shorthand
writing in itself.
WHY IS IT USEFUL?
MATERIALS REQUIRED TO START
LEARNING/PRACTICING SHORTHAND
1. Steno notebook (readily available in the market)
2. Pen (you may use pencil when practicing but for your graded practice sets,
please use pen)
3. White board
4. White board marker
5. Eraser
6. Notebloc (free in the app store)
HOW TO USE YOUR STENO NOTEBOOK
YOU WRITE WHAT YOU HEAR
In shorthand, silent letters are omitted and other letters may have different
sounds.
Examples:
Word Sounds Explanation
name nam e is silent
right rit gh is silent
navy nave y sounds like e
stay sta y is silent
face fas c sounds like s
phone fon ph sounds like f; e is silent
CAN YOU DETERMINE THE SHORTHAND SPELLINGS
FOR EACH OF THE FFG.?
may =ma aid =ad eat =et
aim =am main =mantea =te
day =da date =dat team =tem
MORE WORDS
1.eight 6. tea
2.had 7.me
3.him 8.net
4.add 9.made
5.aid 10.tree
SOUNDS OF A, E,
The shorthand symbol for a and e are
circles that are differentiated by size much
the same as they are in longhand.
The a is a large circle.
The e is a small circle.
HOW TO WRITE THE SYMBOL FOR THE
SOUND OF A & E
SOUNDS OF N, M
The shorthand symbols for n and m are
straight lines written forward along the line
of writing.
The n is a short straight line.
The m is a long straight line.
A, E, N, M WORDS
The following words contain the long sounds
of a, e, n, and m, The symbols for each
sound in a word are joined together to form
a word called outline
me main
aim may
knee mean
name
A, E, N, M PRACTICE
1. I to please.
2. She go to the game.
3. My hurts.
4. He did not meet
5. What is her ?
6. Meet at 3 o’clock.
7. The gate is open.
8. His is Jim.
9. He is not
10. I the dog.
SOUNDS OF T & D
The shorthand symbols for t and d are upward
slanting straight lines differentiated by length.
The t is a short slanting straight line.
The d is a long slanting straight line.
T, D WORDS
day mate team
date meet, meat tame
deed tea ate
made eat aid, aide
Frequently we shall have to refer to writing
motion. The curved characters in this lesson
are taken from horizontal ovals, one written
with right motion, the other with left. The
right motion is clockwise; the left,
counterclockwise.
The sounds represented by lines
are n, m, t, and d:
Even though d is about twice the length
of t, d should only go up about two
thirds of the line of writing.
At the beginning or end of a single
straight stroke, the circle is written
with right motion. Observe closely the
joinings a-d, d-a, a-m, and m-a.
In joining the circle to a straight line, start
and finish as shown by the dotted lines.
Keep straight lines absolutely straight.
Between straight strokes in the same
direction the circle is written
with right motion. See the following
outlines of m-a-m and d-e-d:
While joining the strokes, the
pen/pencil should not be lifted. The
second stroke should be written at the
end of the first stroke, the third stroke
should be written at the end of the
second stroke and so on.
When strokes are joined to each other,
they must be written in the same
direction as when standing alone,
downstrokes being always written in
downward direction i.e from top to
bottom, horizontal strokes being always
written from left to right and upstrokes
being always written from bottom to
top.
T, D PRACTICE
1. The tiger is
2. The has been signed.
3. The chef
4. Leon will the train.
5. The is warm.
T, D PRACTICE (CON’T)
. Check the (date) on the calendar
6
7. Our (team) won!
8. When will you (eat) lunch?
9. Steve is a nurse’s (aid)
10. We (ate) lunch late.
PUNCTUATION, PARAGRAPH, CAPITALIZATION
SYMBOLS
period
question mark x
paragraph >
comma ,
semicolon ;
colon :
PUNCTUATION, PARAGRAPH,
CAPITALIZATION SYMBOLS
hyphen
dash
exclamation point
left parenthesis
right parenthesis
CAPITALIZATION
Shorthand capitalization is indicated with a pair of tiny upward
slanting straight symbols. These capitalization marks are placed
underneath the word to be capitalized at the end of the outline.
While vertical placement is not critical, the capitalization marks should
be close enough to the body of the outline to be unmistakably
associated with it.
CAPITALIZED
May WORDS
Dean
Amy
Nate
PUNCTUATION AND CAPITALIZATION
PRACTICE
6. Dean made the team.
7. Meet me for a day in May.
8. Can Dean meet me too?
9. Amy is mean.
10. What made Amy mean?
