What is the difference between Shorthand and Speedwriting?
- In FAQ's
shorthand uses symbols to create words; speedwriting is alphabetically based
Shorthand involves the learner using a series of symbols to create outlines for words. For example, the Pitman's shorthand method uses the following symbols \ (p) \ (b) | (t) | (d) / (ch) / (j) to represent the letters in brackets.
These are then combined to make words.
Speedwriting uses our everyday alphabet with a standard method of abbreviation based on length of words. For example to abbreviate short words you can miss out vowels:
f u cn rd ths u wl fnd s/wtg esy!
For longer words, Speedwriting uses letters to represent common beginnings and endings (prefixes and suffixes). This gives the writer a disciplined approach to abbreviating words thereby building confidence and speed.
