How To Write Shorthand: Increase Your Writing Speed Today!

You’re scribbling away, trying to record everything that the person is saying, but it’s still not quick enough and you know you’ve missed important information – sound familiar?

Shorthand is the solution! This skill allows you to write words quickly, cutting out unnecessary letters and simplifying writing so you can focus on the conversation as well as take effective notes.

Shorthand is more than just a handy skill for stenographers and court reporters; it’s an incredibly useful technique for anyone who needs to take notes quickly. It doesn’t matter if you’re a journalist, student, or professional, learning how to write shorthand will make your life so much easier.

So let’s start learning shorthand writing!

What Is Shorthand?

Shorthand is a method of rapid writing that abbreviates words and phrases using symbols, lines, and strokes instead of longhand writing. Traditional shorthand systems like Gregg or Pitman rely on phonetics, where you write the sound of the word rather than the actual spelling. This results in quick writing with fewer strokes, which can save time and make note-taking more efficient.

While shorthand may look complicated at first, it’s a skill you can learn with some patience and practice. The goal is to create a system that increases your writing speed while still being understandable to you when you refer to your notes later.

A cartoon illustration of a stressed man sitting at a desk, holding a piece of paper shorthand and looking at it with a confused expression. His speech bubble reads, “Did I write this, or is it ancient hieroglyphs?!” Papers are scattered on the desk, and the initials “MB” are in the bottom right corner.

Why Should You Learn Shorthand?

Shorthand is a powerful tool for several reasons:

• Speed: Writing in shorthand allows you to take notes much faster than with traditional writing, making it ideal for fast-paced situations like meetings or when you want to take notes while reading.

• Efficiency: Because shorthand abbreviates common words and sounds, it allows you to condense large amounts of information into smaller, manageable chunks.

• Focus: By reducing the physical effort of writing every letter of the english alphabet, you can focus more on listening and processing information in real time.

Shorthand Techniques

There are various shorthand systems, including teeline shorthand developed in the 1930s by James Hill.

However, the two most commonly used are Gregg, created by John Robert Gregg and Pitman,created by Sir Isaac Pitman. Both use a set of symbols including lines, loops, and dashes to represent sounds, words and letters of the alphabet.

In a nutshell:

1. Gregg Shorthand: Uses smooth, continuous curves to represent sounds, making it feel more like cursive handwriting. It’s easier to learn because the shapes flow naturally when writing quickly.

2. Pitman Shorthand: Differentiates sounds by using thick and thin lines and sharp angles. It requires precision but can be faster once you’re skilled because of these distinctions.

3. Teeline Shorthand: Simplifies letters by removing unnecessary parts, making it the easiest to learn and use for quick note-taking. It’s more like a condensed version of regular handwriting.

Gregg Shorthand

• Phonetic-based: Gregg focuses on how words sound rather than how they are spelled, for example instead of ‘knee’ is written ‘ne’.

• Curves and circles: This form of shorthand is known for its rounded, flowing shapes that make writing quick and smooth.

• Ease of learning: Gregg is considered easier to learn than some other systems, as it has fewer symbols to memorise and a more intuitive flow.

To help you master these shorthand skills, there are many online resources that teach Gregg Shorthand.

Pitman Shorthand

• Thicker vs. thinner lines: In the Pitman writing system, the thickness of the lines you draw determines the sounds represented. For example, thick lines represent hard consonants like “D” and “T,” while thin lines represent softer consonants like “P” and “B.”

• Angles and curves: This shorthand method uses a mix of straight lines and sharp angles, which might feel more technical but can be faster for those who master it.

• Flexibility: Pitman can be adapted to other languages beyond English, making it popular globally.

Pitman Training offers numerous courses to help you learn this style of shorthand.

Teeline Shorthand

• Letter-based system: Unlike some other shorthand systems, Teeline is more closely based on the alphabet, making it easier to grasp for those familiar with the Roman alphabet. You write simplified forms of letters rather than using phonetic symbols.

• Minimal strokes: Teeline focuses on reducing the number of strokes for each letter, which speeds up writing. For example, vowels are often omitted unless they’re necessary for clarity, and common letter combinations are simplified.

• Adaptability: Teeline is highly adaptable for various speeds of writing. Beginners can start slow, writing out more letters, while experienced users can drop more vowels and streamline their strokes for speed. This flexibility makes it popular in professions like journalism.

• Vertical and slanted lines: Teeline uses straight, slanted, and sometimes curved lines, making it less reliant on the thick and thin distinctions of systems like Pitman. This allows for quick and clear writing without worrying about line thickness.

Want to learn more? Head to Teeline to make this writing system second nature.

Start Writing Shorthand Today!

Learning shorthand is like learning a new language, but once you master it, it can drastically improve your note-taking and drastically increase your words per minute. Whether you’re looking to take quick notes in a lecture or capture details in an interview, use shorthand to give you the speed and precision you need.

So, grab a notebook, pick a shorthand system, and start practising!