Struggling with English Shorthand Speed: Any Tips to Boost Your Skills?

Hi,

Can anybody suggest ways to increase the speed of English shorthand?

Dear Sender,

Please let me know what your current speed is and up to what level you are in shorthand. Normally, if your speed is between 80-120 per minute, then you need not go for an increase in speed in your shorthand as nobody can dictate more than that speed in general. You can increase your speed by using advanced strokes, which any instructor can suggest. You can approach any commercial institute to increase your speed in your shorthand.

With regards,
L. Kumar

Hello Friend,

It's nice to learn about your interest in shorthand. If you know your strokes, outlines, and short forms well, then it should not be a problem for you. You can practice by listening to the news channel and taking down their headlines in shorthand. Later, you have to read it back (that's important).

Try this, and you will see the wonders of practice. Remember, it's just practice that makes one perfect.

Best regards,

Dear Avrella,

What do you want to say...? Please comment relevant to the posting only.

Regards, L. Kumar

Hello Mr. L. Kumar,

I have commented based on the posting only. I know shorthand, and I am an expert at it. This is how I mastered the speed. I used to sit in front of the television and listen to the news, especially BBC, and take down what the news readers had to say. Later, I used to transcribe it back in writing. That is how we practice shorthand. It helps in increasing the speed.

I believe you might not have understood what I was trying to communicate.

Best regards,

Hi Kumar and Avrella,

Let us not get into any sort of debate. Each one has his or her own view about a subject and has the privilege to post his or her comments. That's the basic idea of this forum.

Both of your suggestions are good and will help the reader.

I have practiced shorthand for more than 30 years now, and I can also say that I am an expert. Advanced strokes, as suggested by Kumar, are something very useful. These advanced strokes are not found in Pitman instructor but in the journals on shorthand that were released at the time I learned. I picked up all advanced strokes from those journals. Probably, these journals are still in vogue and may be available in shorthand institutes.

Another interesting point I learned while learning shorthand is mental outlines. I used to get into a habit of framing mental outlines when hearing or reading anything in English. This is a slow and gradual process but a very effective one that is imbibed in your memory and will increase your speed. Try that too.

All the best.

With best regards,

Vinod

Hi,

Anybody can suggest how to increase the speed of English shorthand?

Yes, there is only one way to increase the speed of shorthand - practice, practice, practice only. You can record your own voice and practice it again and again. Inshallah, very soon you will see results.

Best of luck.

Mr. Kumar and Vinor Sir have already made very useful comments on how to increase the speed. I would just like to add that there are some cassettes available for shorthand speed testing at some bookshops. You can buy those, and they include time-bound speeches and many new words as well. It helped me a lot. I got such cassettes from my college, so it would be helpful if you try this out.

Regards,
Pinkii

In Chennai, the cassettes related to the same version of the magazine are also available. Just take dictation by putting the cassette in and correct it with the shorthand magazine so that the phrases and strokes are all correctly mentioned.

The cassettes are available for English Junior, Intermediate, and Senior (80, 100 & 120 w.p.m). "Speedstar Shorthand (TNGTE/SCE)" by matching the number mentioned with the same in the magazine. May be of use to you.

Regards, Geetha