Introduction

Shorthand is written with symbols instead of full letters. Each symbol stands for a sound or a common word. A good symbols list makes learning faster because you can revise all strokes at one place instead of flipping pages.

Pitman Consonant Symbols

Pitman Vowel Symbols

• Heavy dot (first place) = long A (ate)
• Light dot (first place) = short a (at)
• Heavy dash (second place) = long E (eat)
• Light dash (second place) = short e (end)
• Heavy dash (third place) = long I (ice)
• Light dash (third place) = short i (it)
• Heavy dot (third place) = long O (old)
• Light dot (third place) = short o (on)

Gregg Symbols

Common Brief Forms (Both Systems)

• the, and, that, have, this, is, was, for, of, to
• in, it, you, he, they, his, her, we, me, be
• not, but, from, would, could, should, will, shall
• government, country, people, meeting, tomorrow, yesterday

How to Use This List

1. Learn 5 symbols daily — write each 20 times
2. Say the sound aloud while writing the symbol
3. Revise the full list every Sunday
4. Practice reading back sentences written in shorthand

Tips for Remembering Symbols

Light and heavy strokes in Pitman mean different sounds — practice pressure control. In Gregg, size matters: small vs large curves change meaning. Consistent daily revision is the only trick that works.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Learning a symbol without its sound. A stroke you cannot say aloud will never come back to you during dictation.
• Treating light and heavy strokes as interchangeable. In Pitman the pressure difference separates entirely different consonants.
• Ignoring size contrasts in Gregg. A small curve and a large curve carry different meanings; they are not two styles of the same letter.
• Reciting the list only in order. Quiz yourself in a shuffled order so you recognise symbols out of context, the way real speech presents them.
• Postponing vowels until later. Skipping them is convenient today and unreadable tomorrow.

Two-Way Self-Quiz Method

Cover one column of a table and test yourself in both directions. First look at the symbol and say its sound aloud; then read a word aloud and write the outline from memory. Ten minutes of two-way quizzing sticks better than an hour of passive re-reading. Keep a separate page for anything you miss twice in a row, and start every session with that page so weak symbols never get buried by familiar ones.

Building a Personal Reference Sheet

As you work through lessons, copy the symbols you use most often onto a single card in your own handwriting. Group them by category — strokes, vowels, loops, hooks, brief forms — and keep the sheet beside you while you write. The act of copying is itself revision, and a card you have built always fits the order in which you learned. Redraw the card every few weeks; the fresh copy keeps the shapes moving through your hand again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need the whole list memorised before starting dictation?

No. Begin with the consonants and the most common brief forms, then add vowels and combination forms as each lesson introduces them. Recognition grows through steady use, not through one marathon memorisation session.

Are Pitman and Gregg symbols interchangeable?

No. The same shape can stand for different sounds in the two systems. Learn one system thoroughly before looking at the other so your outlines never blur together.

How do I read notes I wrote weeks ago?

Read slowly and aloud where possible, and let the surrounding context supply whatever the outline leaves out. If an outline still resists, rewrite it correctly and add it to your drill page for the week.

Final Tips

A symbols list is a map, not the territory. Use it daily for quick revision, but remember that fluency comes from writing under dictation and reading your own notes back. Keep the list visible, revise the weak column first, and let every new lesson attach itself to what you already know.