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These brief quotes are set out in the Shorthand
Perpetual Calendar PDF (on
Downloads
page). The Calendar is A4 page per month, with space for your
entries. It also contains a page each of Diary and Weather
vocabulary to encourage daily shorthand writing, and explanatory
notes on some of the outlines used. 1, 4, 6, 8, 11
Isaac
Pitman, Manual of Phonography
2, 5 Selby Moran, 100 Valuable Suggestions to Shorthand Students
3, 9 David Wolfe Brown, The Science & Art of Phrase-Making
7 Willard Bottome, The Stenographic Expert
10, 12 Edward McNamara, Methods of Teaching Shorthand
You can read these books online or download PDF
free from Internet Archive www.archive.org
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1
JANUARY
A system of writing is required that shall bring
the operations of the mind and of the hand into close
correspondence; that shall relieve the penman from the drudgery
inseparable from the use of the present system, by making writing as
easy and as rapid as speech.
(47 words)
Isaac
Pitman, Manual of Phonography
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2 FEBRUARY
In many branches of knowledge a person may neglect many details
and not encounter any serious trouble in the further progress of the
study, but in shorthand it is very different. Here, is allowed no
time for reflection. No chance is given to recall things only
vaguely learned. (48 words)
Selby Moran, 100 Valuable Suggestions to Shorthand Students
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3
MARCH
A good phonographic phrase simply groups upon paper, words already
grouped by the mind and tongue. David Wolfe Brown. A good
phonographic phrase is easy to write and pleasant to read. It brings
the words harmoniously together like the members of a happy family;
and to see them in such loving juxtaposition gives one a certain
sense of satisfaction and pleasure. Thomas Allen Reed
(64 words)
David Wolfe Brown, The Science & Art of Phrase-Making
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4
APRIL
Phonography supplies the want we have shown to exist, by
presenting a system of alphabetic writing capable of being written
with the speed of the most rapid distinct articulation and of being
read with the certainty and ease of ordinary longhand. (41 words)
Isaac
Pitman, Manual of Phonography
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5
MAY
Anything thoroughly understood as a complete whole is never
entirely forgotten. But that stage in which it becomes firmly fixed
in mind can be reached only by constant and persistent practice, no
day being allowed to pass without having made some advancement. By
so doing there is no danger of one's interest flagging and of his
giving up what would otherwise prove so interesting and profitable.
(66 words)
Selby Moran, 100 Valuable Suggestions to Shorthand Students
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6
JUNE
When his hand has become accustomed to trace the simple
geometrical forms of the phonographic characters with correctness
and elegance, he will find little or no difficulty in writing them
quickly; but if he lets his anxiety to write fast overcome his
resolution to write well, he will not only delay his attainment of
real swiftness, but will always have to lament the illegibility of
his writing. (67 words)
Isaac
Pitman, Manual of Phonography
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7
JULY
The mind must be trained to think, believe, demand success.
Whoever heard of an individual accomplishing anything he undertook
while constantly harping of failure? It is fatal to entertain such
discouraging thoughts for a moment, for you must compel success by
determined optimism. (43 words)
Willard Bottome, The Stenographic Expert
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8
AUGUST
The rapidity with which it enables a person to commit his own
thoughts to the safety of manuscript also renders it an object
peculiarly worthy of regard. By this means many ideas which daily
strike us, and which are lost before we can record them in the usual
way, may be snatched from destruction, and preserved till mature
deliberation can ripen and perfect them.
(64 words)
Isaac
Pitman, Manual of Phonography, quoting Mr Gawtress
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9
SEPTEMBER
After taking down any given matter on the first trial, I proceeded
to transcribe or read what I had written, circling each outline or
phrase which I had formed badly or which looked shaky. These
outlines and phrases I carefully noted in a small book I carried
about with me for that purpose; and when an opportunity presented
itself, I wrote and rewrote them until I acquired the greatest
possible facility in forming them. (74 words)
David Wolfe Brown, The Science & Art of Phrase-Making,
quoting George Bunbury, Victorian 250 words a minute writer
trial = test, practising for the 250 wpm certificate
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10
OCTOBER
Another cause of hesitation and indecision in writing is that of
a too limited vocabulary. If the word were known, the ear would
catch it easily, and a reference to the context would determine by
its appropriateness whether that was the word heard or not. The
student who possesses a good knowledge of English is favoured with
one of the biggest advantages in the stenographic race. The number
of stenographic word-friends should always be on the increase until
he must go afield to meet a word-stranger. (86 words)
Edward McNamara, Methods of Teaching Shorthand
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11
NOVEMBER
For any given word, the writer should choose that form which is
most easily and rapidly written, and is at the same time distinct.
The briefest outline to the eye is not necessarily the most
expeditious to the hand. The student will insensibly acquire a
knowledge of the best forms by practice and observation. (54 words)
Isaac
Pitman, Manual of Phonography
"insensibly"
here is an older use of the word, meaning "imperceptibly,
unconsciously"
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12
DECEMBER
No plan of developing speed in shorthand is complete unless it
utilises the power to be obtained from the reading of shorthand
notes. In reading his own notes the student brings his stenographic
work to successful fruition, for it will avail him nothing to have
the maximum speed of which a human being is capable if he is unable
to decipher what has been written. Correct transcription of the
notes is the final act of the speed writer that gives the work
value.
(83 words)
Edward McNamara, Methods of Teaching Shorthand
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