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SECTION 3  Phrasing 4 – Omission

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SECTION 3 LISTS

Short Forms

SF Intro

SF List 1

SF List 2

SF List 3

SF List 4

Contractions

Contractions Intro

Contractions Main

Contractions Optional

Phrasing

1 Phrasing Intro & Contents list

2 Phrasing Theory

3 Phrasing Theory

4 Omission Part words

5 Omission Whole words

6 Miscellaneous

7 Miscellaneous

8 Intersections

Distinguishing Outlines

DO Intro

DO 1 Vowel

DO 2 Rule

DO 3 Care A-B

DO 4 Care C-D

DO 5 Care E-N

DO 6 Care O-Z

Vocabulary

Vocab Intro

Numbers

Punctuation

Word Lists

Non-English Sounds

Bible

Text Lists from PDFs

Shorthand Books

Shorthand Dictionaries


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Sounds/syllables/words omitted from a phrase are underlined

3. Omission

Omissions are shown by an underline

(a) Omitting a consonant

(b) Omitting a repeated sound

(c) Omitting a syllable or part word

Omissions mostly occur in the middle of a phrase, occasionally at the end of it, but never at the beginning. Many of the phrases reflect the way they are spoken, when a part can be slurred or omitted, and yet the spoken sounds, and the shorthand phrase, are both still easy to recognise. This helps in deciding which parts can be safely omitted. It is not the purpose of Pitman's Shorthand to reflect all instances of lax or slurred speech, but it does provide an opportunity to create brief phrases without losing legibility.

(a) Omitting a consonant

P

Pitman's New Era: ship builder
ship builder

B Pitman's New Era: on behalf of
on behalf of

T

Pitman's New Era: past year, past experience, post office, I trust that
past year, past experience, post office, I trust that

Pitman's New Era: next door, next time, last time, your last letter
next door, next time, last time, your last letter

Pitman's New Era: best time, best terms, best quality, best price
best time, best terms
*, best quality, best price

*Compare this with "business terms" below

Pitman's New Era: West End, West Indies, must say, must have
West End, West Indies, must say, must have

Pitman's New Era: must not, must never, must take, mistake
must not, must never, must take
compare mistake

Pitman's New Era: must also, must receive, most likely
must also
*, must receive, most likely

*The joined first vowel of "also" is omitted in phrases

Pitman's New Era: most probable/probably, in most cases, most excellent
most probable/probably, in most cases, most excellent

Pitman's New Era: most desirable, most undoubtedly, most necessary
most desirable, most undoubtedly, most necessary

Pitman's New Era: take steps, necessary steps, at cost price, lowest price
take steps, necessary steps, at cost price, lowest price

Pitman's New Era: better still, medical student, shorthand student, college student
better still, medical student, shorthand student, college student

Pitman's New Era: critical stage, used to be, used to have
critical stage, used to be, used to have

Pitman's New Era: at the earliest moment, at the earliest opportunity, at the last minute
at the earliest moment, at the earliest opportunity, at the last minute

The short form "to be" can be "borrowed" for words that begin with the same sound. Writing through the line signifies the "oo" vowel whilst omitting the T:

Pitman's New Era: to be, to begin, to behave, to belong
to be, to begin, to behave, to belong

Pitman's New Era: to being, to behold, to beware, to be aware
to being, to behold, to beware compare to be aware

K

 

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Pitman's New Era: few weeks, past few weeks, several weeks, many weeks
few weeks, past few weeks, several weeks, many weeks

F

Pitman's New Era: in fact, in effect, well-known fact
in fact
(compare in effect), well-known fact

 

Pitman's New Era: it is a well-known fact, as a matter of fact, notwithstanding the fact
it is a well-known fact, as a matter of fact, in spite of the fact, notwithstanding the fact

"Kt" not joined:

Pitman's New Era:
of the fact, because of the fact, to the fact that, due to the fact that, in view of the fact, lose sight of the fact

Pitman's New Era:
owing to the fact, significant fact, significance of the fact, in the light of the fact

Pitman's New Era: in point of fact, in point of fact, is that a fact, that is a fact, fact of the matter, from the fact that
in point of fact, that is a fact, fact of the matter, from the fact that

Pitman's New Era: telegraph wire
telegraph wire

N

Pitman's New Era: yours sincerely, yours most sincerely, foreign affairs, Foreign Secretary
yours sincerely
*, yours most sincerely*, foreign affairs, Foreign Secretary

*Downward Ell for the sake of lineality, despite the following vowel

Pitman's New Era: has been considered, has been made, has been mentioned
has been considered, has been made, has been mentioned
*

*See Phrasing 8 Intersections/mentioned

Pitman's New Era: has been received, has been said compare has to be said, is to be said
has been received, has been said
compare has to be said, is to be said

Pitman's New Era: between them, between this, between which, between now
between them, between this, between which, between now

Pitman's New Era: one more, once more, once again
one more, once more
*, once again

*The Circle S written medially has to go in this direction, therefore the direction cannot be taken as indicating an N Hook.

Pitman's New Era: one thing, one hand, one question
one thing, one hand, one question

Pitman's New Era: one another, on one side, one way, one instance
one another, on one side, one way, one instance


Pitman's New Era: one fourth, one fifth, one tenth
one fourth, one fifth, one tenth

Do not omit the N hook of "one" if a past-tense verb follows, as that would be confused with "we"

Pitman's New Era: we understood, we knew, we needed, we went
we understood, we knew, we needed, we went

Pitman's New Era: one point, one of my, one of our, one of us/his, one and all
Keep the hook where helpful: one point, one of my, one of our, one of us/his, one and all

Pitman's New Era: generally speaking, general secretary, general election, election
generally speaking, general secretary, general election
but election

Pitman's New Era: human character, human life, home life
human character, human life, home life

Pitman's New Era: human mind, human kind
compare human mind, human kind

Pitman's New Era: take place/taken place, taken place, takes place
take place/taken place, taken place
* compare takes place

*The first outline is textbook and covers both "take" and "taken", the second outline is a suggestion that omits the L Hook instead of the N Hook, to provide a distinction.

L

 

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Pitman's New Era: first place, feel sure, long life
first place
*, feel sure, long life   *See also Phrasing 5/Omission/first place

R

Pitman's New Era: much more, any other, no other, many other, than the other
much more, any other, no other, many other, than the other

Pitman's New Era: from the other, and other conclusions, on the other, on the other side of the, on the other hand
from the other, and other conclusions, on the other, on the other side of the, on the other hand

Compare:

Pitman's New Era: some other, some of them, any of them, many of them
some other, some of them, any of them, many of them

Pitman's New Era: another of them, in the other, for the other
another of them, in the other, for the other


Pitman's New Era:
square = square feet, square yards, square inches

Pitman's New Era:
square miles, square metres/meters, square deal

Pitman's New Era: square root, square meals, school meals
Clearer in full: square root, square meals compare school meals

W

Pitman's New Era: last week, last weekend, this week, next week
last week, last weekend, this week, next week
*

*Vowel shown for reference

Pitman's New Era: previous week, six weeks, six weeks' time
previous week, six weeks, six weeks' time

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(b) Omitting a repeated sound

Omitting a repeated sound, where the two are slurred together:

Pitman's New Era: animal life, social life, industrial life, personal life
animal life
, social life, personal life

Pitman's New Era: some measure, Prime Minister, in other respects
some measure, Prime Minister, in other respects

 

Pitman's New Era: little longer, lot longer, still longer, upsidedown

little longer (but lot longer), still longer, upside-down*

*Compare this with up and down/Phrasing5

Pitman's New Era: break cover, take cover, take over, over
break cover
but take cover to distinguish it from take over*, over

*Vr is reversed so that it joins well

Pitman's New Era: Atlantic Coast, Pacific Coast, Baltic Coast
Atlantic Coast, Pacific Coast, Baltic Coast   See also Phrasing 2/Shun Hook/Atlantic Ocean

Omitting repeated stroke, even though the sounds are pronounced separately:

Pitman's New Era: take exception, make exception, satisfactory reply, satisfactory record, satisfactory response
take exception, make exception, zero rated, satisfactory reply, satisfactory record, satisfactory response

Pitman's New Era:
satisfactory reason, satisfactory result, better results, poor results, hardly likely,

Pitman's New Era: personal knowledge, personal injury, final analysis, income and expenditure
personal knowledge
, personal injury, final analysis, income and expenditure With these, it is the shorthand marks that would have been repeated, rather than the phrase having two identical sounds in succession.

Pitman's New Era: family life, seem to imagine, technical college, technical college

family life, zero rated, technical college, technical college

Some of these can also be used in other phrases:

Pitman's New Era: making exceptions, hardly possible, technical terms, technical phrases
making exceptions,
hardly possible, technical terms, technical phrases

Pitman's New Era: acceptable results, reliable results, get results, will result, it will result
acceptable results, reliable results, get results, will result, it will result

Bigger and bigger, etc:

Pitman's New Era: bigger and bigger, better and better, deeper and deeper, higher and higher, later and later
bigger and bigger, better and better, deeper and deeper, higher and higher, later and later

Pitman's New Era: more and more, larger and larger, lower and lower, faster and faster, nearer and nearer
more and more, larger and larger, lower and lower, faster and faster, nearer and nearer

Pitman's New Era: quicker and quicker, worse and worse, years and years, such and such, round and round, around and around
quicker and quicker, worse and worse, years and years, such and such, round and round,
but around and around

See also Phrasing 5/door to door

Word + or + negative:

Pitman's New Era: directly or indirectly, correctly or incorrectly, real or unreal, true or untrue
directly or indirectly, correctly or incorrectly, real or unreal, true or untrue

Pitman's New Era: known or unknown, willing or unwilling, sold or unsold, claimed or unclaimed
known or unknown, willing or unwilling, sold or unsold, claimed or unclaimed

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(c) Omitting a syllable or part of word

Pitman's New Era: additional
additional
Pitman's New Era: additional costs, additional expense, additional experience
additional costs, additional expense, additional experience

Pitman's New Era: additional work, additional information
additional work, additional information

Pitman's New Era: bishop
bishop
Pitman's New Era: Rev Bishop
Rev Bishop  
See also Phrasing 8 Intersections/Bishop
Pitman's New Era: British
British
Pitman's New Era: British Isles, British people, British Museum
British Isles, British people, British Museum
Pitman's New Era: business
business
Pitman's New Era: business letter, business man, business experience, business school
business letter, business man, business experience, business school

Pitman's New Era: business matters, business terms, business-like manner
business matters, business terms
*, business-like manner

*Compare this with "best terms" above

Pitman's New Era: business relations, business lines, lines of business, line of business
business relations, business lines, lines of business , line of business

See also Phrasing 8 Intersections/business

con- com-

Pitman's New Era: income tax, becoming shortcoming forthcoming
income tax
compare becoming shortcoming forthcoming

  The Con Dot or proximity can be omitted and the outline just joined on, for very common phrases only:
Pitman's New Era: consider consideration considered considerate
consider
consideration
considered
considerate
Pitman's New Era: I will consider, you may consider, to consider the, we have considered
I will consider, you may consider, to consider the, we have considered

Pitman's New Era: cannot be considered, for consideration, for your consideration, great deal of consideration
cannot be considered, for consideration, for your consideration, great deal of consideration

Pitman's New Era: carefully considered, very considered, very considerate
carefully considered, very considered, very considerate, it is considered

See also Phrasing 5 Omission/into for similar "consider" phrases

Pitman's New Era: concern concerned
concern
concerned

Pitman's New Era: your concern, I am concerned, they are concerned, we are concerned, you are concerned
your concern, I am concerned, they are concerned, we are concerned, you are concerned

Pitman's New Era: conclude concluded conclusion
conclude  concluded conclusion

 

 

 

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Pitman's New Era: we have concluded, I concluded, come to the conclusion, came to the conclusion
we have concluded, I concluded, come to the conclusion, came to the conclusion

Pitman's New Era: and in conclusion, logical conclusion, my own conclusion
and in conclusion, logical conclusion, my own conclusion

Pitman's New Era: satisfactory conclusion, other conclusions, necessary conclusion
satisfactory conclusion, other conclusions, necessary conclusion

Pitman's New Era: consequence consequences
consequence
consequences
Pitman's New Era: unexpected consequence, necessary consequence, unforeseen consequence
unexpected consequence, necessary consequence, unforeseen consequences
Pitman's New Era: convenient
convenient

as soon as convenient
See also Phrasing 8 Intersections/convenient
Pitman's New Era: counsel
counsel
Pitman's New Era: counsel for the defence, counsel for the defendant, counsel for the plaintiff
counsel for the defence, counsel for the defendant, counsel for the plaintiff

See also Phrasing 8 Intersections/council

  "ex-" words = Although the X has been underlined, only the Kay is omitted, the Circle S remains:
Pitman's New Era: expense expenses
expense
expenses
Pitman's New Era: personal expense, necessary expense, heavy expenses, medical expenses
personal expense, necessary expense, heavy expenses, medical expenses
Pitman's New Era: examination exam
examination
exam
Pitman's New Era: college examinations, medical examination, medical exam
college examinations, medical examination, medical exam
Pitman's New Era: experience
experience
Pitman's New Era: personal experience, in our experience, recent experience
personal experience, in our experience, recent experience
Pitman's New Era: extent
extent
Pitman's New Era: to a great extent, to a certain extent, to a large extent
to a great extent, to a certain extent
but to a large extent
Pitman's New Era: favourable
favourable
Pitman's New Era: favourable circumstances, more favourable
favourable circumstances, more favourable
Pitman's New Era: honourable
honourable
Pitman's New Era: Honourable Member, Honourable Senator, Honourable Gentleman
Honourable Member, Honourable Senator, Honourable Gentleman
*,
Right Honourable Gentleman   *Write the phrase on the line for "gentlemen"
Pitman's New Era: inspector
inspector
Pitman's New Era: building inspector, hospital inspector, inspector general
building inspector, hospital inspector, inspector general

Pitman's New Era: government inspector
government inspector 
You could condense this further to gov+spector

Pitman's New Era: railway inspector
railway inspector

Pitman's New Era:  instruct instruction
instruct instruction
*

*Short Form

Pitman's New Era: I am instructing, I have been instructed, you will instruct
I am instructing
*, they will be instructed, you will instruct

*Through the line because of the first vowel of "instructing" even though the "in" part has been omitted from the shorthand.

Pitman's New Era: your instructions, further instructions
your instructions, further instructions

Inserting the dash vowel helps to distinguish "instruction" from considerations above, which looks similar.

Pitman's New Era: instrument
instrument

Pitman's New Era: musical instrument, stringed instrument, string instrument, surgical instrument
musical instrument, stringed instrument, string instrument, surgical instrument

-ly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Pitman's New Era: extremely pleased, extremely concerned, extremely sorry, I am extremely sorry
extremely pleased, extremely concerned, extremely sorry, I am extremely sorry
*

*Also omits the Kay

Pitman's New Era: distinctly, distinctly understood, strictly speaking, broadly speaking, abundantly clear
distinctly, distinctly understood, strictly speaking, broadly speaking, abundantly clear

Pitman's New Era: absolutely certain, absolutely sure, absolutely necessary
absolutely certain, absolutely sure, absolutely necessary

Pitman's New Era: perfectly sure, perfectly clear, perfectly satisfactory
perfectly sure, perfectly clear, perfectly satisfactory

Pitman's New Era: pressure
pressure
Pitman's New Era: high pressure, low pressure, water pressure, blood pressure
high pressure, low pressure, water pressure, blood pressure
Pitman's New Era: Majesty
Majesty
Pitman's New Era: Your Majesty, Her Majesty, His Majesty, Their Majesties
Your Majesty, Her Majesty, His Majesty, Their Majesties
Pitman's New Era: manner
manner
Pitman's New Era: in this manner, satisfactory manner, reasonable manner, and in like manner

in this manner, satisfactory manner, reasonable manner, and in like manner

Pitman's New Era: all manner, all manner of ways, such a manner, in such a manner as to
all manner, all manner of ways, such a manner, in such a manner as to
*

*Using the short form "to" at the end of a phrase is generally avoided, but here the meaning is clear

Pitman's New Era: most encouraging manner, in the same manner compare for the same honour
most encouraging manner, in the same manner
compare for the same honour   See also Phrasing 6/Distinguishing Pairs/manner

Pitman's New Era: month
month
Pitman's New Era: this month, next month, during the month, end of the month
this month, next month, during the month, end of the month

Pitman's New Era: end of this month, six months, six months' time, six months ago
end of this month, six months, six months' time, six months ago
*

*Vowel helpful but not essential     See also Phrasing 8 Intersections/month

Pitman's New Era: three months, two months, many months, months
three months, two month but many months to keep it different from the plain outline months

Pitman's New Era: objection
objection
Pitman's New Era: I have no objection, there are no objections, we have another objection
I have no objection, there are no objections, we have another objection

J-Shun standing alone is also the optional contraction for "generation"

Pitman's New Era: possible possibly
possible
possibly
Pitman's New Era: it is possible, it is not possible, it was not possible, it is just possible
it is possible, it is not possible, it was not possible, it is just possible

Pitman's New Era: as soon as possible, as long as possible, all we possibly can
as soon as possible, as long as possible, all we possibly can

Pitman's New Era: as much as possible, as early as possible, as quickly as possible, as good as possible
as much as possible, as early as possible, as quickly as possible, as good as possible

If the speaker says the abbreviated word "poss" then write it as a separate vocalised outline:

Pitman's New Era: poss, not poss, if poss
poss, not poss, if poss

Pitman's New Era: property
property
Pitman's New Era: personal property, private property, freehold property , lost property
personal property, private property, freehold property, lost property
Pitman's New Era: reason
reason

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This is not so immediately obvious or distinctive as other phrases, so keep for very common word groupings and only if you are likely to use it frequently:

Pitman's New Era: for this reason, there is no reason why, very good reason, every reason to believe
for this reason, there is no reason why, very good reason, every reason to believe

Don't use this for plural "reasons" as that would look like "sense":

Pitman's New Era: good sense, good reasons, good reason, what were the reasons
good sense, good reasons, good reason, what were the reasons

If you write "reason" in full, you can still omit "the" where convenient:

Pitman's New Era: what is the reason, what is the reason, what was the reason, what was the reason
what is the reason, what is the reason, what was the reason, what was the reason

Pitman's New Era: receipt
receipt

Pitman's New Era: I am in receipt of, we are in receipt of your letter, I acknowledge receipt of the
I am in receipt of, we are in receipt of your letter, I acknowledge receipt of the

Pitman's New Era: receive received
receive
received
Pitman's New Era: I shall be glad to receive, expect/expected to receive, we have received, has been received, not yet received
I shall be glad to receive, expect/expected to receive, we have received, has been received, not yet received
Pitman's New Era: reference
reference
Pitman's New Era: with reference to, with reference to the, with reference to your enquiry, with reference to this application
with reference to, with reference to the, with reference to your enquiry, with reference to this application

Pitman's New Era: in reference, in reference to the, in the face of the
in reference to, in reference to the
but in the face of the should be written in full to distinguish it.

Pitman's New Era: regard
regard
Pitman's New Era: as regards the, with regard to the, in regard to the, in regard to these matters, as far as as regards
as regards the, with regard to the, in regard to the, in regard to these matters
but in full for as far as as regards
Pitman's New Era: relation
relation

Pitman's New Era: in relation to the, business relations, industrial relations, normal relations, friendly relations
in relation to the, business relations, industrial relations, normal relations, friendly relations

Pitman's New Era: reply replied
reply
replied

Pitman's New Era: in reply to, in reply to your letter, your reply, we will reply, I have replied
in reply to, in reply to your letter, your reply, we will reply, I have replied

Pitman's New Era: report
report
Pitman's New Era: in my report, in our report, annual report, school report, medical report
in my report, in our report, annual report, school report, medical report
Pitman's New Era: requested
requested
Pitman's New Era: I am requested to send you, I am requested to send you, I have been requested to send you
I am requested
to send you, I am requested to send you, I have been requested to send you

The Circle S is doing duty for both S's in the above

Pitman's New Era: you are requested to inform us, you will be requested, I am requesting
you are requested to inform us
*, you will be requested, I am requesting

*Better not to omit the "re-" in this one, so that the first Ray is properly read as "are".

Pitman's New Era: successful
successful
Pitman's New Era: very successful, most successful
very successful, most successful

Do not omit the L in "successful" if standing alone, as that would look too much like "successive". Keep to very common phrases where "successive" would not make sense.

Pitman's New Era: successful, successfully, successive, successively
successful, successfully, successive, successively
*   *Vowel advised

Pitman's New Era: careful, carefully
Compare also careful, carefully

Pitman's New Era:
under review
Pitman's New Era: for the year under review, during the year under review, at the end of the year under review, period under review
for the year under review, during the year under review, at the end of the year under review, period under review
Pitman's New Era: movement
movement

 

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Pitman's New Era: upward movement, downward movement, sideways movement
upward movement, downward movement, sideways movement

-ing

Pitman's New Era: standing order, existing circumstances, stepping stone
standing order, existing circumstances, stepping stone

Any new phrase that omit "-ing" needs careful consideration before adoption:

Pitman's New Era: leading question, lead-in question, lead question
leading question, lead-in question, lead question

Pitman's New Era: leading article, lead article, working man, workman
leading article, lead article, working man, workman

Pitman's New Era: canoe club, canoeing club
canoe club, canoeing club

 

one-offs

Although there is only one instance of most of the following, you can use the principles to form new similar phrases:

Pitman's New Era: registered letter, postal order, governor general, Catholic religion
registered letter, postal order, governor
* general, Catholic* religion*     *See also Contractions Optional for these

Pitman's New Era: all of a sudden, passenger train, rules and regulations, trade regulations, headquarters
all of a sudden, passenger train, rules and regulations, trade regulations, headquarters

Pitman's New Era: social security, social security system, husband and wife, last but not least
social security, social security system, husband and wife, last but not least


Great Britain, be that as it may, vice versa, viva voce

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"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

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