[Koralatov]

I’ve taken it into my head of late to learn shorthand. I’m not sure exactly where the idea came from, but it seems like a good one; it would be useful for my work, and a skill I could put on my CV, though perhaps not as valuable as it might once have been.

However, I’m fundamentally cheap, and I’d like to find a way of learning it either for free, or very cheap. Anyone have any ideas/suggestions on how to do so?

[design219]

I would start at the library.

[turtle777]

What do you do for a living ?

-t

[d4nth3m4n]

gregg shorthand tutorial - Google Search

specifically- Gregg Shorthand

[abe]

You might try Speed Writing.

You don't have to learn a squiggly-line language. You simply come up with a set of symbols or abbreviations for common words that you find in lectures.

Tips for Using Shorthand

Developing shortcuts in your writing is not a new idea, of course. Students have been using this method for as long as they've been taking class notes. The trick is to develop a good system and to do it well. To do that, you have to practice.

Speed Writing - Fast Notes - Shorthand

Or EasyScript.

It was reported that students of EasyScript were able to master the method in one day of study [4] and attain a writing speed of 70 to 80 wpm after three weeks of training. After a further review and practice writing speeds up to 100 words per minute can be attained.

EasyScript Speed Writing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Or these...

Secrets to Top Speed Writing
By Marsha Maung Platinum Quality Author

If you’re the kind of person who usually spends 45 minutes to write 3 sentences, you’re not alone! I am constantly surrounded by people who keep asking me, “How do you write so fast so much?” Erm….taking the mistakes and simple spelling errors into account?

Well, here’s the thing. You don’t really need REAL talent to write fast and I am telling you how over here.

Secrets to Top Speed Writing

Speed Writing in Lectures

Keeping up with fast talking instructors is a universal challenge for college students. Below are 8 strategies to speed notetaking in class and increase chances of getting valuable lecture information in notes. As you practice using these 8 strategies for speed writing, the pace at which you record notes will increase and you will have more time to listen.

http://www.yorku.ca/rkenedy/critical..._lectures.html

[Koralatov]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

What do you do for a living ?

I’m not entirely sure what it would be called; it’s probably best described as a “data analyst”. It involves a lot of emailing, and a lot of note-taking to help me keep on top of my workload. That’s partly why I’m interested in learning shorthand.

Originally Posted by d4nth3m4n 

gregg shorthand tutorial - Google Search

specifically- Gregg Shorthand

Originally Posted by abe 

You might try Speed Writing.
Or EasyScript.
Or these...

Many thanks for those; I’ll look into them all, and choose which one I think would be best for my use.

[ghporter]

I have examined learning Gregg, and it's basically learning a new way of writing English. On the other hand, Speedwriting, as I learned it, is just a way of writing less of what you already know. You do have to learn a system (what you abbreviate, how you abbreviate, etc.) but it IS quick and it has the benefit of being easier to comprehend comprehensible if someone else needs to read your notes.

[turtle777]

Glenn hints at an important decision you have to make:

Do you need something that can be read and understood by other people as well, or is it just for your own use ?

The tools and approach will differ depending on your answer to that.

Also, since your job seems to be of technical nature, make sure whatever you pick can easily record thechnical terms.

-t

[Koralatov]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

I have examined learning Gregg, and it's basically learning a new way of writing English. On the other hand, Speedwriting, as I learned it, is just a way of writing less of what you already know. You do have to learn a system (what you abbreviate, how you abbreviate, etc.) but it IS quick and it has the benefit of being easier to comprehend comprehensible if someone else needs to read your notes.

I’m not too upset about the prospect of learning an entirely different way of writing the English language. In fact, it has a certain appeal to me; I’ve always been interested in different methods of communication. So, in that respect, it might be a plus-point.

Comprehensibility by others is less of an issue, to be honest. I’m really the only one who’ll ever need to read my notes, and my handwriting is truly atrocious anyway. Shorthand or no, it would likely be almost incomprehensible to anyone else.

Thanks for the input—it’s always useful to hear from someone who has experience of the subject.

Originally Posted by turtle777 

Also, since your job seems to be of technical nature, make sure whatever you pick can easily record thechnical terms.

That’s something I’d never really considered. On more careful thought, beyond a few technical terms, my notes wouldn’t need to record a huge amount of technical data. Thanks for raising the point though.