Shorthand: A dying art?

So, is there still a place for shorthand within the workplace, or has a system that has been in existence since the times of ancient Greece and Rome run its course?

What is shorthand?

Shorthand writing skills have existed since the people of Greece in 1200 BC and Rome in 753 BC used abbreviations for words written on ancient slabs. Historians believe the writing system on the slabs of marble at the Parthenon in Greece is the world’s earliest form of shorthand.

A form of speedwriting, today’s shorthand still involves using abbreviations for words, enabling the writer to keep pace with the person who’s speaking. A shorthand alphabet is central to the two main forms today, Pitman and Teeline.

The writing system pioneered by the ancient Greeks was primarily based on vowels, with certain symbols indicating consonants. These early systems of shorthand were the key to ancient writing and record keeping. They enabled people to log information much faster than normal.

Ryan Baumann, digital humanities developer at Duke University in the United States, has studied the shorthand writing meaning of ancient Greek manuscripts catalogued by historians in the early 20th century. He said stenography (the official name for shorthand) was crucial in Greece and Rome for recording political speeches and courtroom proceedings. It was also invaluable when letters and other narratives, such as novels and philosophical musings, were dictated.

As well as being written on slabs, early shorthand was also recorded on erasable wax tablets, some of which were found on archaeological excavations, on papyri and on parchment.

What is shorthand speed writing today?

Pitman and Teeline are the two main forms of shorthand writing in English today. Pitman is the oldest form, invented in 1837 by English teacher Sir Isaac Pitman. His system is generally considered the most complex to learn of the two. It classifies the sounds of language into groups and uses abbreviations for rapid writing.

Pitman shorthand also enables the quickest writing, with 350 words per minute being the fastest speed achieved by Nathan Behrin in a timed test in 1922. Usually, it is possible to achieve speeds of 200 wpm for regular users.

Teeline was invented by James Hill, born in 1908 near Bradford, who was a qualified teacher of Pitman shorthand when he was 21. He was determined to create a more straightforward method of learning shorthand and began experimenting with Teeline in 1939.

He started to teach experimental classes to journalism trainees in 1966 at Clarendon College, Nottingham. The positive results led to the Teeline system being adopted by the National Council for the Training of Journalists in 1968. At the time, the NCTJ said it had never known a shorthand system that could produce such good results in a very short time.

Trainee journalists on NCTJ courses can learn Teeline in less than 12 months and speeds of up to 150 wpm can be achieved. While this isn’t as fast as Pitman, the ease of learning compensates for this. It is also adequate for use in journalism, corporate and other official settings.

The Pitman Shorthand Instructor book suggests it will take a minimum of one year to reach a speed of 100 wpm and longer to become truly proficient in the style.

When people learn how to write shorthand, it is generally accepted that it’s easier to learn Teeline than Pitman.

Is shorthand still relevant today?

As normal writing in longhand can only manage an average of 20 to 30 words per minute, the advantages of shorthand are obvious. In the early to mid-20th century, shorthand was an integral part of training at secretarial college, as being a secretary was a respectable career.

Knowing how to write in shorthand can be a major benefit in meetings, when speed is of the essence to keep up with the speakers and note their comments. It is also still used for court reporting and in journalism, with Teeline being taught as part of the curriculum for NCTJ qualifications.

People can still take online shorthand courses or learn at their local college. However, with the invention of dictation machines and the modern practice of executives and managers writing their own letters on personal computers and laptops, the use of shorthand has declined, to a degree, in the business world.

Now, some office employees choose to record important meetings and other information verbally on a mobile device, writing it up later at their own speed.

Should shorthand make a comeback?

Despite technology having led to a decline in the use of shorthand, it is still held in high regard by people such as NCTJ-qualified journalist Piers Morgan, who learned Teeline as part of his training. He says tape recorders are okay until they fail – as he realised after he recorded an hour-long interview with singer Rod Stewart, only to discover the technology hadn’t worked and he had nothing!

He later said being able to take fast handwritten notes as a backup to technology was “invaluable”.

Shorthand a “prized skill”

Some companies believe shorthand is still a prized skill, with Page Personnel Secretarial and Business Support claiming it remains very important at the “senior end of the jobs market”.

In an interview, a spokesperson said the roles of executive assistant and personal assistant had evolved in recent years. There are now increasing numbers of business assistants too. This means it’s even more important to record accurate and detailed meeting minutes. The minutes of everything from board meetings and confidential meetings to client pitches or team gatherings should be recorded accurately for future reference.

When you’re a business owner taking advantage of meeting room hire to organise a top level gathering with partners, shareholders and other key delegates, it enhances your professional reputation by having a skilled minute taker recording the proceedings.

Job site Indeed advertises shorthand minute taking jobs, inviting applicants who can take concise notes and minutes in meetings to apply. There are also plenty of jobs advertised on Total Jobs for shorthand PA secretaries.

Businesses hiring a meeting room for face-to-face events often hire a shorthand secretary from an agency to record proceedings if they don’t have one on their regular payroll.

Secretarial recruitment agencies are recruiting shorthand secretaries with the ability to transcribe even “lengthy and complex dictation notes or meeting minutes” – indicating that perhaps shorthand isn’t a dying art after all.