Shorthand ( history of shorthand, Lesson of shorthand)
What is Shorthand?
Shorthand is a writing method that uses special symbols, abbreviations, or strokes instead of regular words. It allows people to write very quickly—almost as fast as someone speaks. Shorthand is commonly used by stenographers, court reporters, and journalists to take notes quickly and accurately.
Who Invented Shorthand?
The first known shorthand system was invented by Marcus Tullius Tiro around 63 BCE. He was a Roman slave and the personal secretary of the philosopher Cicero. Tiro created a system called Tironian Notes, which is considered the earliest form of shorthand.
Later in history, modern shorthand systems were
developed:
In 1837, Sir Isaac Pitman from the United Kingdom introduced Pitman Shorthand, one of the most widely used systems.
In 1888, John Robert Gregg from the United States developed Gregg Shorthand, which became popular in North America.
In 1924, Emma Dearborn created a system called Speedwriting, aimed at business professionals.
In Which Century Was It Invented?
The earliest form of shorthand, Tironian Notes, was invented in the 1st century BCE.
However, the modern shorthand systems like Pitman and Gregg were created in the 19th and 20th centuries.
What Was the Purpose of Creating Shorthand?
The main purpose of shorthand was to make writing faster and more efficient. It was designed so that people could quickly record spoken
words during speeches, meetings, interviews, or court proceedings. Another purpose was confidentiality, as shorthand is not easily readable by everyone, so it could be used for keeping private or sensitive information.
How to Learn Shorthand?
To learn shorthand, you need to follow a structured approach. It’s not just about writing fast — it’s about learning a system of symbols, practicing regularly, and increasing speed over time.
1. Choose a Shorthand System
First, pick the shorthand method that suits you. The most common ones are:
Pitman Shorthand – Popular in India and UK, based on sounds (phonetics).
Gregg Shorthand – More popular in the USA, uses curves and is more fluid.
Teeline Shorthand – Easy to learn, used by journalists.
Speedwriting – Uses alphabet letters and is beginner-friendly.
Each system has its own rules, so choose one and stick with it.
2. Learn the Shorthand Alphabet and Rules
 |
| There having all the alphabet of stenography |
Every shorthand system has its own alphabet – made of lines, curves, and symbols representing sounds or letters.
You need to:
* Learn consonants and vowels in shorthand.
* Understand how to join words.
* Practice basic grammar rules of that system.
This stage takes patience, just like learning a new language.
3. Practice Writing Words and Sentence.
Once you know the symbols, start writing:
* Small, common words
* Phrases and short sentences
* Frequently used vocabulary like “the,” “and,” “of,” etc.
Repeat them until you can write without thinking too much.
4.Work on Speed and Accuracy
The goal of shorthand is to write as fast as someone speaks. For that:
* Use dictation audios – start with slow speed.
* Time yourself while writing.
* Try to reach **40 to 120 words per minute** (WPM) gradually.
* Keep reviewing and correcting your notes.
5. Read Back Your Shorthand
It’s important to read your own writing. Shorthand is useless if you can’t understand what you wrote later.
So after every session, review and translate your notes into full English.
Stages of Shorthand Learning
1. Beginner Stage
* Learn the alphabet and basic strokes.
* Practice small words.
* Duration: 1–2 months
2. Intermediate Stage
* Write full sentences and short paragraphs.
* Reach 40–60 WPM.
* Duration: 2–3 months
3. Advanced Stage
* Practice live dictation and long texts.
* Target 80–120+ WPM.
* Used for jobs like stenographer, journalist, etc.
What You Need to Start
* A shorthand notebook and pencil/pen
* A guidebook or PDF (e.g. “Pitman Shorthand Manual”)
* Access to dictation audio files
*Regular practice time– 30 minutes to 1 hour daily
Stage 1: Introduction to Pitman Shorthand
Basic Concepts to Keep in Mind
1. Shorthand is Sound-Based
You write what you hear, not what you see spelled.
Example:
"Knight" is written as N-I-T (since K is silent).
2. Frequently Used Words = Logograms
Words like "the", "and", "of", "to" appear very often, so shorthand gives them special short forms to save time. These are called logograms.
Common English Words and Their Shorthand Logograms
Word – Meaning :– Pitman Logogram
• the – very common :– a single dot on the line
• and – connecting word :– short horizontal
stroke
• of – relation word :– small slanted stroke
• to – direction word :– small vertical stroke
• is – helping verb :– light S stroke
• am – helping verb :– M stroke
• it – object pronoun :– T stroke
• be – verb :– B stroke
• are – verb :– R stroke
• we – subject :– W stroke
Some Things to Focus On
* Practice daily for 10–15 minutes to improve retention.
* Always write based on sound, not spelling.
* Position matters: Some words are written above, on, or below the line, depending on their vowel sound (covered in later lessons).
Shorthand Logogram Examples (Manually Explained)
ЁЯФ╣ 1. "the"
Symbol: a single dot (•) on the line Used extremely frequently.
ЁЯФ╣ 2. "am"
Symbol: a light slanted stroke downward Represents the "M" sound.
ЁЯФ╣ 3. "it"
Symbol: a light straight downward stroke Represents the "T" sound.
ЁЯФ╣ 4. "as"
Symbol: a light curved upward stroke Represents the "S" sound.
Written Summary Table
Word – Sounds Like :– Shorthand Symbol (Explained)
• the – "th":– A dot placed directly on the line
• am – "m" :– A slanted downward stroke (light)
• it – "t" :– A straight downward stroke (light)
•as – "s" :– A curved upward light stroke
Important Terms to Remember
* Logograms = special short forms for frequently used words.
* Stroke thickness : Light = thin, Heavy = thick.
* Direction : Upward or downward makes a difference.
* Position : Vowel placement affects meaning (covered in vowel lessons).
Word Example: "Think" in Shorthand
"Think" = Th + N + K
In shorthand:
* Light "TH" stroke
* Add an "N" stroke
* End with a hook or symbol for "K"
• Lesson 2: Vowels and Basic Strokes in Pitman
Shorthand
1. Vowels in Pitman Shorthand
In shorthand, vowels are shown using dots and dashes. But their meaning changes depending on where you place them.
There are 3 positions :
* 1st Position = Near the beginning of the consonant stroke
* 2nd Position = In the middle of the consonant stroke
* 3rd Position = Near the end of the consonant stroke
Vowel Chart (Learn These First)
Vowel Sound | Symbol | Position | Example Word |
A a (as in arm) | ● | 1st | Art |
Ay (as in age) | ˙ | 1st | Age |
Ee (as in eat) | ˙ | 2nd | Eat |
Ah (as in at) | ● | 2nd | Bat |
Oh (as in oak) | – | 1st | Open |
Oo (as in pool)| — | 2nd | Pool |
2. Basic Consonant Strokes
Each consonant in Pitman shorthand is written using light or heavy straight/curved strokes. Here are some examples:
• Consonant — Stroke Description
T — Light straight downward stroke
D — Heavy straight downward stroke
P — Light upward stroke
B — Heavy upward stroke
S — Light curved upward stroke
M — Light slanted downward stroke
3. Example Words with Vowels + Strokes
"Tea"
* Sounds like : T + Ee
* T = light downward stroke
* Ee = light dot at 2nd position (middle)
Shorthand: a vertical light line with a small dot in the middle
"Bat"
* Sounds like : B + Ah + T
* B = heavy upward stroke
* Ah = heavy dot at 2nd position
* T = light downward stroke
Shorthand: upward stroke + dot + down stroke
"Dot"
* Sounds like : D + Oh + T
* D = heavy downward stroke
* Oh = light dash at 1st position
* T = light downward stroke
Shorthand: heavy line + dash + light line
Practice Suggestion
Take a notebook and write in this format:
Word: Tea
Sound: T + ee
Shorthand: |˙ (light down stroke with dot in the middle)
Word: Bat
Sound: B + ah + t
Shorthand: ↗●| (heavy upward stroke + dot + down stroke)
Word: Dot
Sound: D + oh + t
Shorthand: |–| (heavy stroke + dash + light stroke)
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