fbpx

Advertisement

Shorthand: the Peculiar-Looking Script That Serves an Important Purpose

Photo Credit: Wiktionary

We take it for granted that technology has made things so much easier than they were for our parents or grandparents.

Taking notes is almost obsolete nowadays because people can quickly type up, record, or use their phones to document meetings and events. So how did people do this before?

Shorthand script, which looks like strange squiggly marks to people who’ve never seen them, was the best way to do so.

View this post on Instagram

"Hope" . . . #anextrahandshorthandart #hope #art #words #wordporn #artofinstagram #artistsoninstagram #shorthand #love #peace #equality #smile #cards #greetingcards #uniqueart #artoftheday #artcollector #artforsale #oprahsbookclub #cards #greetingcards #greggshorthand

A post shared by Gregg Shorthand as Art (@anextrahandshorthandart) on

Gregg shorthand was used to make it easier for reporters, writers, stenographers, and secretaries to quickly jot down anything they needed.

View this post on Instagram

John Robert Gregg, the inventor of the Gregg shorthand system, died on this day in 1948. He invented his system of shorthand in 1888. The Gregg shorthand is based on phonetics not the spelling of the word. Thus, silent letters are omitted. The shorthand uses ellipses to document what was spoken. With the invention and more common use of stenography machines, shorthand fell out of use.

A post shared by Pisan Academy (@pisanacademy) on

This system was one of the most employed and vital ways people kept up with long dictations during the Victorian Era.

John Robert Gregg invented the form of shorthand that was most common in the United States. Thomas Pitman invented a different type of shorthand, employed by English-speakers in Great Britain.

Both types of shorthand were created to help writers take down every word, without having to lose anything that was said. Since people speak much faster than they can write, shorthand script was a great way to ensure accuracy.

View this post on Instagram

#greggshorthand #shorthandwriting #stenography #lyrics #translation #speedwriting #song #chicago #colurmyworld

A post shared by trent (@trentlj2) on

The idea of shorthand was to reduce the number of lines needed to represent a letter.

Because of its appearance, people who’ve never seen shorthand are likely to mistake it for another language!

View this post on Instagram

My first find from England. It's still a book, but quite different from the ones I posted last month 😉 I found this shorthand book in a charity shop. This one was cheaper than the one that was pristine, so that was doubly good, as I love things that you can see have been used. In this case Joan Clifton used it very well around 1930, as it's full of ink stains. I read a little of it but I really don't understand shorthand… #vintagefind #charityshopfinds #GreggShorthand #shorthand #steno #kantoorjuffrouw #secretaresse #secretary #thirties #jaren30 #vintagevondst #kringloopkoop #foundintheUK

A post shared by Desirée M. Boom (@desireeboom) on

Of course, learning shorthand may still be valuable in the event that there’s no wi-fi connection as you’re taking notes!

Many artists use this script to make beautiful artwork nowadays.

View this post on Instagram

“Seven Affirmations: Willingness is Key” Acrylic on canvas, 24×24. In Gregg Shorthand, the seven affirmations are: I take refuge in the potential of my own recovery; One day at a time; First things first; This too shall pass; Easy does it; Willingness is key; and the Serenity prayer. Although this work was for an individual in recovery, I believe anyone could benefit from these affirmations. #shorthand #shorthandart #shorthandwriting #greggshorthand #steno #stenography #stenographyart #taquigrafia #contemporaryart #artistsoninstagram #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthquotes #recovery #recoveryquotes #recoverysayings #serenityprayer #krinknyc #alcoholicsanonymous #narcoticsanonymous #alanon #soberliving #sobriety #mindfulnessquotes #addictionrecovery #addiction #opioidaddiction #krinkk60

A post shared by Stacey Mandell Art (@stacey.mandell.art) on

Had you ever seen shorthand of any kind before? Do you think it still has value today?

Tell us why or why not in the comments.