Let's Write Steno!

This article is on why stenographers fail and I hope it provides some insight on how to become a successful Court Reporter. It is read twice, slowly the first time and slightly faster the second time. Please write with accuracy and the speed will come. Thank you all for supporting this podcast by listening. If you would like to do more, you can donate on Anchor.fm by clicking Listener Support. Please subscribe if you can't support monetarily. In addition, check out my YouTube Channel at Sandra's Stenography and Shorthand Dictation where you can find videos of all kinds to practice to. Don't forget to subscribe there as well please.  Partial transcript below. 

The causes of failure among stenographers are many and various , but the majority of them may be divided broadly into two general classes . The first is insufficient education or in adequate technical training , which leaves the stenographer ignorant of many things I which he may reasonably be expected to know , and unable to perform with satisfactory skill the tasks required of him . The blame for this must rest upon the schools , upon the students , or upon both . The second cause is lack | of common sense or gumption which would enable the stenographer to make the most of his powers . This fault must' be charged to the stenographer himself, or to the scapegoat ,hereditary. 

Some fail from lack of shorthand speed . They write  haltingly , betraying the greatest ignorance of the principles of the system , resorting frequently to the use of longhand in writing | unusual words , proper names , etc . Others, who seem to write readily enough , transcribe slowly or inaccurately , from inability to read their notes fluently . But observation and inquiry show that these deficiencies , bad as they are , are neither the most common nor most troublesome to employers. Lack of speed , accuracy , and taste in typewriting causes more complaint than does slowness  in shorthand . Perhaps this is because the typewriting is about all of the stenographer ' s work that comes directly under the employer ' s eye . But certain it is that the lack of finish — proper arrangement of the matter , width of margins , paragraph  indentations , etc . , — is a fruitful source of complaint among discriminating employers . 

But more frequent than all is the complaint that stenographers write senseless transcripts , showing gross ignorance of the meaning of the language used by the dictator . For example , a stenographer wrote epidemic where he should have written academic ; instance instead of instant , etc . His knowledge of words I was not sufficient to protect him from such ridiculous mishearings . No doubt he wrote what he thought he heard , and I equally no doubt he “ had it in his notes , ” but he should have known better .Sometimes it is the spelling that is erratic , changing principle to principal ; their to there , etc . Again it is the punctuation that is hopelessly bad , ruining what would otherwise have been creditable work . And as for hyphens and apostrophes , to most stenographers they are a pet aversion , and the average stenographer ' s use of them is a nightmare to his employer . But some stenographers whose ' natural abilities and acquired skill are ample fail because of some personal peculiarity or weakness easily curable by the application of common sense ; such as a grumpy manner , a slovenly or untidy appearance ; laziness , manifesting itself in tardiness , clock - watching , absent mindedness while on duty , inattention to the requirements of the work in hand , attempting to mix work with play , etc. Success is comparatively easy to the stenographer who will make use of what judgement and intelligence he has, who is willing to work and all that pertains to it while working, instead of permitting his wits to go wool-gathering amid social or other matters foreign to his task. 

This article is on why stenographers fail and I hope it provides some insight on how to become a successful Court Reporter. It is read twice, slowly the first time and slightly faster the second time. Please write with accuracy and the speed will come. Thank you all for supporting this podcast by listening. If you would like to do more, you can donate on Anchor.fm by clicking Listener Support. Please subscribe if you can't support monetarily. In addition, check out my YouTube Channel at Sandra's Stenography and Shorthand Dictation where you can find videos of all kinds to practice to. Don't forget to subscribe there as well please.  Partial transcript below. 

The causes of failure among stenographers are many and various , but the majority of them may be divided broadly into two general classes . The first is insufficient education or in adequate technical training , which leaves the stenographer ignorant of many things I which he may reasonably be expected to know , and unable to perform with satisfactory skill the tasks required of him . The blame for this must rest upon the schools , upon the students , or upon both . The second cause is lack | of common sense or gumption which would enable the stenographer to make the most of his powers . This fault must' be charged to the stenographer himself, or to the scapegoat ,hereditary. 

Some fail from lack of shorthand speed . They write  haltingly , betraying the greatest ignorance of the principles of the system , resorting frequently to the use of longhand in writing | unusual words , proper names , etc . Others, who seem to write readily enough , transcribe slowly or inaccurately , from inability to read their notes fluently . But observation and inquiry show that these deficiencies , bad as they are , are neither the most common nor most troublesome to employers. Lack of speed , accuracy , and taste in typewriting causes more complaint than does slowness  in shorthand . Perhaps this is because the typewriting is about all of the stenographer ' s work that comes directly under the employer ' s eye . But certain it is that the lack of finish — proper arrangement of the matter , width of margins , paragraph  indentations , etc . , — is a fruitful source of complaint among discriminating employers . 

But more frequent than all is the complaint that stenographers write senseless transcripts , showing gross ignorance of the meaning of the language used by the dictator . For example , a stenographer wrote epidemic where he should have written academic ; instance instead of instant , etc . His knowledge of words I was not sufficient to protect him from such ridiculous mishearings . No doubt he wrote what he thought he heard , and I equally no doubt he “ had it in his notes , ” but he should have known better .Sometimes it is the spelling that is erratic , changing principle to principal ; their to there , etc . Again it is the punctuation that is hopelessly bad , ruining what would otherwise have been creditable work . And as for hyphens and apostrophes , to most stenographers they are a pet aversion , and the average stenographer ' s use of them is a nightmare to his employer . But some stenographers whose ' natural abilities and acquired skill are ample fail because of some personal peculiarity or weakness easily curable by the application of common sense ; such as a grumpy manner , a slovenly or untidy appearance ; laziness , manifesting itself in tardiness , clock - watching , absent mindedness while on duty , inattention to the requirements of the work in hand , attempting to mix work with play , etc. Success is comparatively easy to the stenographer who will make use of what judgement and intelligence he has, who is willing to work and all that pertains to it while working, instead of permitting his wits to go wool-gathering amid social or other matters foreign to his task. 

THIS IS Q & A DICTATION DONE IN TWO PARTS. PART ONE READ SLOWLY FOR ACCURACY  AND PART 2 IS READ SLIGHTLY FASTER THAN THE FIRST FOR SOME SPEEDBUILDING. PLEASE READ YOUR NOTES! THANKS FOR SUPPORTING AND DON'T FORGET TO HELP ME HELP YOU BY SUBSCRIBING .  PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT PROVIDED BELOW. 

FROM THE BOOK OF LEGAL DICATION

Q: [BY THE CHAIRMAIN]  Your residence? 

A: 625 Ferry St, Boston 

Q: What is your age? 

A: Forty-one

Q: You were the builder of this bridge? 

A: A portion of it

Q: Please describe as fully as you can, your whole connection to it, in your own words. 

A:  It is so long ago that I don't know whether I can remember all that you would like to hear, but the contract required me to build a truss to be placed upon the east side of the bridge, and I was to furnish the floor system. That was done in the spring or early summer of 1876. 

Q:  Go on and describe more in detail what you did. Were you in business for yourself or were you representing a company?

A:  I was in business for myself. 

Q:  Go on and tell us about the bridge; where the work was done, how the work was done, the character of the bridge, the nature of its construction. etc. Perhaps you had better begin, and state , in the first place, your experience as a builder.

A: My first experience  in building iron bridges was with the Detroit Bridge & Iron Works, Detroit Michigan. 

Q: [BY MR. O'BRIEN]  What year? 

A: I think it was 1863; and my experience has been from then until--I am not sure this bridge wasn't the last I built. Since then I have acted occasionally as a consulting engineer. 

Q: [BY THE CHAIRMAIN]  Do you have a scientific education? 

A: Yes, sir, at the Lawrence Scientific School, at Cambridge. 

Q: Full course? 

A: No, sir. Partial. 

Q: What was your course then?

A: I was there one year only. 

Q: What year was that? 

A: I'm not sure but I think it was 1862-63.  From there I went to St. Louis. 

Q: How long were you with St. Louis Bridge & Iron Company?

A: Well, I don't recollect; but several years. 

Q: What were you doing there? 

A: I designed their bridges, proportioned them, and I made some portions of the drawings. 

Q: Did you do that all the time you were there? 

A: Yes, sir. 

Q: Do you remember any bridges you designed at that time? 

A: Well, there was one drawbridge across the Mississippi River, where the C.B. & Q railroad crosses, --Clinton on one side and Fulton on the other. 

Q: How long did that stand? 

A: It is standing now, I suppose. That was at that time the longest drawbridge, I think, in the world. Some have been built longer since. There were a great many on the Illinois Central and the C.B. & Q and other words through the Western states. 

Q: Did you build any bridges in Massachusetts when you were with the St. Louis Bridge & Iron Works? 

A: No, sir.

Q: Then you left the St. Louis Bridge & Iron Works at what time? 

A: I don't recollect the date. 

Q: You were there about three years, you say?

A: I said several; but I don't recollect how many years it was; I could not tell even approximately. 

Q: What did you do after you left there? 

SOURCE: LEGAL DICTATION

THIS IS Q & A DICTATION DONE IN TWO PARTS. PART ONE READ SLOWLY FOR ACCURACY  AND PART 2 IS READ SLIGHTLY FASTER THAN THE FIRST FOR SOME SPEEDBUILDING. PLEASE READ YOUR NOTES! THANKS FOR SUPPORTING AND DON'T FORGET TO HELP ME HELP YOU BY SUBSCRIBING .  PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT PROVIDED BELOW. 

FROM THE BOOK OF LEGAL DICATION

Q: [BY THE CHAIRMAIN]  Your residence? 

A: 625 Ferry St, Boston 

Q: What is your age? 

A: Forty-one

Q: You were the builder of this bridge? 

A: A portion of it

Q: Please describe as fully as you can, your whole connection to it, in your own words. 

A:  It is so long ago that I don't know whether I can remember all that you would like to hear, but the contract required me to build a truss to be placed upon the east side of the bridge, and I was to furnish the floor system. That was done in the spring or early summer of 1876. 

Q:  Go on and describe more in detail what you did. Were you in business for yourself or were you representing a company?

A:  I was in business for myself. 

Q:  Go on and tell us about the bridge; where the work was done, how the work was done, the character of the bridge, the nature of its construction. etc. Perhaps you had better begin, and state , in the first place, your experience as a builder.

A: My first experience  in building iron bridges was with the Detroit Bridge & Iron Works, Detroit Michigan. 

Q: [BY MR. O'BRIEN]  What year? 

A: I think it was 1863; and my experience has been from then until--I am not sure this bridge wasn't the last I built. Since then I have acted occasionally as a consulting engineer. 

Q: [BY THE CHAIRMAIN]  Do you have a scientific education? 

A: Yes, sir, at the Lawrence Scientific School, at Cambridge. 

Q: Full course? 

A: No, sir. Partial. 

Q: What was your course then?

A: I was there one year only. 

Q: What year was that? 

A: I'm not sure but I think it was 1862-63.  From there I went to St. Louis. 

Q: How long were you with St. Louis Bridge & Iron Company?

A: Well, I don't recollect; but several years. 

Q: What were you doing there? 

A: I designed their bridges, proportioned them, and I made some portions of the drawings. 

Q: Did you do that all the time you were there? 

A: Yes, sir. 

Q: Do you remember any bridges you designed at that time? 

A: Well, there was one drawbridge across the Mississippi River, where the C.B. & Q railroad crosses, --Clinton on one side and Fulton on the other. 

Q: How long did that stand? 

A: It is standing now, I suppose. That was at that time the longest drawbridge, I think, in the world. Some have been built longer since. There were a great many on the Illinois Central and the C.B. & Q and other words through the Western states. 

Q: Did you build any bridges in Massachusetts when you were with the St. Louis Bridge & Iron Works? 

A: No, sir.

Q: Then you left the St. Louis Bridge & Iron Works at what time? 

A: I don't recollect the date. 

Q: You were there about three years, you say?

A: I said several; but I don't recollect how many years it was; I could not tell even approximately. 

Q: What did you do after you left there? 

SOURCE: LEGAL DICTATION

THIS DICTATION IS ON QUICK TEMPER AND THE DICTATION BROKEN DOWN FOR 3 DIFFERENT SPEEDS TO PRACTICE. THE FIRST READ IS FOR WRITERS AT ABOUT 100-120 WPM, SECOND READ IS 150 TO 160 AND  THE LAST READ IS 160 TO 180. THANKS A BUNCH FOR LISTENING AND SUPPORTING! TRANSCRIPT BELOW. 

SANDRA'S STENOGRAPHY & SHORTHAND DICTATION

https://archive.org/details/dictateracollec00wardgoog/page/n166/mode/2up

QUICK TEMPER 

A matter not unworthy of remark is the almost universal claim laid to that supposed to be desirable possession, a quick temper.  "I have a frightfully  quick temper, " is an assertion often made without any sign of regret, rather with self-complacency. And how often, when with the intention of saying something pleasing, we remark upon the sweetness of a friend's disposition in person,  we are met with the reply, Oh! you're quite mistaken; I'm one of the quickest tempered people in the world! " given in a tone that does not imply modest depreciation of a compliment, but a decided sense of unappreciated merit. 

Now this willingness--eagerness it may even without exaggeration be called--to be convicted of what is acknowledged to be a fault strikes one as a curious anomaly. No one would answer, if told, "You are very truthful, " Oh, no I'm a constant liar, nor if complimented upon consistent attention to his own business, would respond,  "On the contrary, scandal-mongering is my favorite occupation. " At least, no one would give any of these answers in the serious way in which the claim of a hot temper is made. 

May there not an underlying this inconsistency and explaining it a misconception of the real meaning and source of a hot temper?  To many minds, this undesirable trait seems to be the outcome of many admirable qualities. To be hot -tempered means inferentially, in such mental vocabularies, to be generous, large-minded, unselfish, and after a little lapse of time--forgiving.

 But I maintain that it means exactly the reverse of all these things. If a man be quick--tempered, if he give way to anger quickly, he is not generous, for he shows no regard for the comfort of those around him; he is not unselfish, for it is safe to say that in nine cases out of ten his fury is kindled by some fancied slight to himself, and is allowed to blaze simply as an illumination in honor of his self-esteem; he is not forgiving, because though he may recover quickly from his aberration, and soon be perfectly urbane to the whilom victim of it, the restoration is simply forgetfulness, and to forget the injury inflicted upon another by his own hasty words is by no means synonymous with forgiveness of injuries he himself may have received. Last of all, he is not large-minded. 

I am convinced that a quick temper is an unfailing indication of limited intelligence and lack of mental quickness. If the mind was large enough to grasp the true relation of things, to see how small a point in the universe this temper-rousing episode occupied, and if it could see this quickly, the outburst would be averted. 

From the DICTATOR PG 164

THIS DICTATION IS ON QUICK TEMPER AND THE DICTATION BROKEN DOWN FOR 3 DIFFERENT SPEEDS TO PRACTICE. THE FIRST READ IS FOR WRITERS AT ABOUT 100-120 WPM, SECOND READ IS 150 TO 160 AND  THE LAST READ IS 160 TO 180. THANKS A BUNCH FOR LISTENING AND SUPPORTING! TRANSCRIPT BELOW. 

SANDRA'S STENOGRAPHY & SHORTHAND DICTATION

https://archive.org/details/dictateracollec00wardgoog/page/n166/mode/2up

QUICK TEMPER 

A matter not unworthy of remark is the almost universal claim laid to that supposed to be desirable possession, a quick temper.  "I have a frightfully  quick temper, " is an assertion often made without any sign of regret, rather with self-complacency. And how often, when with the intention of saying something pleasing, we remark upon the sweetness of a friend's disposition in person,  we are met with the reply, Oh! you're quite mistaken; I'm one of the quickest tempered people in the world! " given in a tone that does not imply modest depreciation of a compliment, but a decided sense of unappreciated merit. 

Now this willingness--eagerness it may even without exaggeration be called--to be convicted of what is acknowledged to be a fault strikes one as a curious anomaly. No one would answer, if told, "You are very truthful, " Oh, no I'm a constant liar, nor if complimented upon consistent attention to his own business, would respond,  "On the contrary, scandal-mongering is my favorite occupation. " At least, no one would give any of these answers in the serious way in which the claim of a hot temper is made. 

May there not an underlying this inconsistency and explaining it a misconception of the real meaning and source of a hot temper?  To many minds, this undesirable trait seems to be the outcome of many admirable qualities. To be hot -tempered means inferentially, in such mental vocabularies, to be generous, large-minded, unselfish, and after a little lapse of time--forgiving.

 But I maintain that it means exactly the reverse of all these things. If a man be quick--tempered, if he give way to anger quickly, he is not generous, for he shows no regard for the comfort of those around him; he is not unselfish, for it is safe to say that in nine cases out of ten his fury is kindled by some fancied slight to himself, and is allowed to blaze simply as an illumination in honor of his self-esteem; he is not forgiving, because though he may recover quickly from his aberration, and soon be perfectly urbane to the whilom victim of it, the restoration is simply forgetfulness, and to forget the injury inflicted upon another by his own hasty words is by no means synonymous with forgiveness of injuries he himself may have received. Last of all, he is not large-minded. 

I am convinced that a quick temper is an unfailing indication of limited intelligence and lack of mental quickness. If the mind was large enough to grasp the true relation of things, to see how small a point in the universe this temper-rousing episode occupied, and if it could see this quickly, the outburst would be averted. 

From the DICTATOR PG 164

THIS IS A CURRENT EVENT PODCAST ON THE RECENT TWITTER ATTACKS. THREE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN INDICTED ON THE ATTACKS. THIS IS THE READING OF THE INDICTMENT AND THE ARRESTS. YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION AND THE TRANSCRIPT BY CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND SUPPORTING THIS PODCAST. IT IS APPRECIATED. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO HEAR MORE PODCASTS LIKE THIS. CHECK OUT THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL AT SANDRA'S STENOGRAPHY AND SHORTHAND DICTATION FOR MORE DICTATION. 

PEACE, LOVE AND STENO1 

STENO DUTCHESS 

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/three-individuals-charged-alleged-roles-twitter-hack

THIS IS A CURRENT EVENT PODCAST ON THE RECENT TWITTER ATTACKS. THREE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN INDICTED ON THE ATTACKS. THIS IS THE READING OF THE INDICTMENT AND THE ARRESTS. YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION AND THE TRANSCRIPT BY CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND SUPPORTING THIS PODCAST. IT IS APPRECIATED. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO HEAR MORE PODCASTS LIKE THIS. CHECK OUT THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL AT SANDRA'S STENOGRAPHY AND SHORTHAND DICTATION FOR MORE DICTATION. 

PEACE, LOVE AND STENO1 

STENO DUTCHESS 

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/three-individuals-charged-alleged-roles-twitter-hack

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND SUPPORTING THIS PODCAST!  THIS EPISODE IS LITERARY AT APPROXIMATELY 100 TO 120 WPM AND IT IS IS OFF THE CLOCK SO YOU CAN WORK ON YOUR ACCURACY AND VOCABULARY BUILDING. IT IS ALWAYS MY PLEASURE TO BRING YOU THESE PODCASTS. PLEASE HIT THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTON SO I WILL KNOW THAT I'M HELPING AND THAT WILL ENCOURAGE ME TO BRING YOU MORE. I WOULD PREFER NOT TO ASK FOR DONATIONS AT THIS TIME DUE TO COVID-19 UNLESS YOU REALLY WANT TO. YOU SUPPORT JUST BY LISTENING. THANKS AGAIN!

PEACE, LOVE, STENO

STENO DUCHESS

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND SUPPORTING THIS PODCAST!  THIS EPISODE IS LITERARY AT APPROXIMATELY 100 TO 120 WPM AND IT IS IS OFF THE CLOCK SO YOU CAN WORK ON YOUR ACCURACY AND VOCABULARY BUILDING. IT IS ALWAYS MY PLEASURE TO BRING YOU THESE PODCASTS. PLEASE HIT THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTON SO I WILL KNOW THAT I'M HELPING AND THAT WILL ENCOURAGE ME TO BRING YOU MORE. I WOULD PREFER NOT TO ASK FOR DONATIONS AT THIS TIME DUE TO COVID-19 UNLESS YOU REALLY WANT TO. YOU SUPPORT JUST BY LISTENING. THANKS AGAIN!

PEACE, LOVE, STENO

STENO DUCHESS