View and way suffixes

Steno Wizard has thought of a new suffix to input into the ultimate realtime reporter's dictionary -- view. Think about how many words (usually proper nouns) end with the suffix view. There's Hillview, Lakeview, Riverview, Bayview, Broadview, Fairview, Clearview, on and on.

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to come up with a suffix solution that can be defined to cap the word it hooks up to (or not)?

Steno Wizard's software (brief - SWAER) has this ability.

Writing the word with the -FPLT bank included in the stroke can be defined as whatever the software's cap previous stroke command is with view. The steno for such an accomplishment is SRAOUFPLT, and then if one were to use the -RBGS instead, it can be defined without the cap previous stroke command.

This technique also be used for the suffix way. Think about it. Broadway, fairway, driveway, etc.

More briefs to share!

Here's some more briefs...enjoy!

Fantastic FAFK
Spectacular SPLAR
Particular PLAR
Peculiar KWLAR
Awesome AUFPL
Gruesome GRAOUFPL
Mechanism MEFPL
Mechanic MEK
Festival FEFL

How about some proper name briefs!

Jennifer JEUFR
Richard RIFPD
Joseph JOEF
Robert ROBT
Rodriguez ROGDZ
Kathy KAEGT
Cathy KRAEGT
Stacy STAES
Tammy TA*EM
Amy A*EM
Brian BRAO*EUN
Sandy SA*END
Randy RA*END
Brandy BRA*END
William W*EUM
Williams W*EUMZ
Nancy NA*ENS
Mary MA*ER
Harry HA*ER
Mohammed MO*EMD
Muhammed MAO*UMD

Quick solution to add -ly ending

Speed is an essential component to gaining control over and conquering the realtime challenge. This is a favorite tip Steno Wizard would like to pass along in the hopes you may also embrace it.   Add an asterisk to a one-stroke word and define it as the word with the -ly ending, and you'll be one stroke ahead of the game.  Take a peek at these.

Whew!  There's so many more, but you get the basic principle.

Absolute SLAOUT


Absolutely SLAO*UT

Actual TUL

Actually T*UL

Additional DEURBL

Additionally D*EURBL

Commercial KMERBL

Commercially KM*ERBL

Continual TEUNL

Continually T*EUNL

Criminal KREUNL

Criminally KR*EUNL

Emotional MOERBL

Emotionally MO*ERBL

Equal KWAUL

Equally KWA*UL

Essential SERBL

Essentially S*ERBL

Eventual VUL

Eventually V*UL

External SKERNL

Externally SK*ERNL

Final FAOEUNL

Finally FAO*EUNL

Financial F-NL

Financially F*NL

General JENL

Generally J*ENL

Gradual GRAUL

Gradually GRA*UL

Hopeful HOEFL

Hopefully HO*EFL

Initial NEURBL

Initially N*EURBL

Judicial JEURBL

Judicially J*EURBL

Mental MENL

Mentally M*ENL

Natural NAURL

Naturally NA*URL

Official FEURBL

Officially F*EURBL

Partial PARBL

Partially PA*RBL

Personal PERNL

Personally P*ERNL

Realistic RAOEFK

Realistically RAO*EFK

Sexual SWAUL

Sexually SWA*UL

Social SOERBL

Socially SO*ERBL

Substantial STARBL

Substantially STA*RBL

Traditional TRARBL

Traditionally TRA*RBL

Ultimate ULT

Ultimately *ULT

Universal KWRAOUFRL

Universally KWRAO*UFRL

Unusual TPHAOURBL

Unusually TPHAO*URBL

Visual VEURBL

Visually V*EURBL

Resolving site, sight, cite

Steno Wizard's solution to this triple whammy is actually fairly easy to incorporate into your writing style.

Steno Wizard strokes site as SAOEUT -- fairly easy.  Then the word sight, Steno Wizard brings in the G key, SAOEUGT -- kind of a visual spelling idea.  The word cite is solved by using the KR- combination (alphabet C), KRAOEUT -- also a visual spelling idea.

Hopefully, this principle -- carried through -- will also resolve incite and insight.

Change can be good

In Steno Wizard's journey to realtime perfection (is there such a thing?), it has become necessary to change some of the very basic steno briefs which were taught in theory class.

Here's some to ponder over.

WORD, the original steno theory brief, and the necessary modification
bottom,  PWOPL (bomb - duh!), PWOPLT

natural,  TPHARL, TPHAURL
(gnarl - actually had gnarly come up in depo, of course ended up with naturally)

jurisdiction, SKWRURD (conflict with injured), SKWRURGS

substance, STAPBS (stance), STAUPBS

today,  TOD (stacking error with "-ed to" CONSTANTLY) ,  TKAE

counsel,  KOUPB, KOUPBS
(when I wanted count, I'd get counsel due to weak pinkie - GRRR)

bases,  PWAEUSZ (same as basis),  PWAESZ

much,  -FP  (also the -ch ending),  PHUFP
(still use "very much" SR-EFP and "too much" TAOFP)

New York, TPHORBG (problem with no comma), TPHOERBG
New York City, TPHORBGS (same), TPHOERBGS

Maybe these ideas will spare you some of the headaches that Steno Wizard has experienced.

More favorite briefs

Here's some lovely briefs to share...

exposure SKPOER
composure KPOER
closure KHROER
foreclosure TPROER
disclosure STKHROER
guideline TKPWHRAOEUPB
shareholder SHAEURLD
portfolio POEUFL
credit union KROEUPB
proprietary PRAERT
entrepreneur TPHERP

Scent, sent, cent solutions

This set of conflicts is a troublesome triple when it comes to realtime writing. Steno Wizard's solution is through the use of spelling visualization for resolution.

Sent is easy enough. Just stroke it the way you normally would SEPBT. Scent is resolved by incorporating the initial side C - KR- into the stroke. Steno Wizard learned the word extent as SKEPBT and likes it too much to toss aside, so scent is written SKREPBT. Cent is then resolved by just using the C - KR- as the beginning of the word, KREPBT.

If you have your prefix De- resolved and defined (which Steno Wizard writes TKAOE -- long E ALWAYS), you will also have resolutions for decent and descent. What more can a realtime reporter ask for! Dissent -- not a problem if you've got that dis- suffix resolved (TKEUS) or just write dissent in one stroke STKEPBT or even STKEUPBT if you must.

Simple fix

Steno theory taught Steno Wizard to stroke the word "support" as SPORT, which it is obvious right away what the problem will be as a realtime reporter.

The asterisk key wasn't helping to differentiate because when testimony gets going fast, that's the first thing out the window!

So...the simple fix for this is "support" is now written SPOERT, carrying through to all of its various derivatives, and this theory problem is s-o-l-v-e-d.

Timesaver: compound adjectives with -to-

Steno Wizard hopes we all have ways to write to, too, and two conflict-free and would like to share another tip that is sure to save you editing time.

Define TO* as (delete space)-to-(delete space). This "to" comes in handy in many situations. Imagine the hyphens as arms. The asterisk is the two hands coming together to 'hug' the words together.

Start incorporating it and pretty soon it will become second nature.

Here's some examples of situations you may come across:

Honest-to-goodness savings
Back-to-basics situation
Easy-to-apply cream
head-to-toe exam
back-to-school sale
down-to-earth person
right-to-life organizer
soup-to-nuts inventory
up-to-date news
face-to-face meeting
person-to-person communication
top-to-bottom search

There's probably many more out there.

Update:  Just heard this one on television:  need-to-know basis.  Bada-bing!

Beyond a reasonable doubt and yard

Theory had us stroking KWRARD as beyond a reasonable doubt -- which is the same as yard. Then realtime seminars were suggesting the asterisk being inserted into the brief phrase.

While paging through a school's theory book, Steno Wizard spied an even better solution. Beyond a reasonable doubt can be written KWRORD. Conflict easily resolved!

Resolving balance, ball, bawl

Steno Wizard learned the brief for "balance" as PWAL - ball - back in court reporting school. Obviously, that brief automatically creates a conflict and so it goes that it must be resolved for realtime writing.

A suggestion is to change the way to brief the word "balance" to PWALS. Pretty easy to implement. Balances is written PWALSZ, and balanced as PWALSD (if you're familiar with the Philadelphia shift) or two strokes PWALS/-D. Balanced is entered both ways in Steno Wizard's main dictionary (or steno database as a wiser realtimer once suggested calling a steno dictionary).

Changing the brief for balance enables us to now use PWAL exclusively as ball, and now bawl can be stroked as PWAUL. Multiple conflicts fixed!

Needing some direction?

Steno Wizard has easy-to-write solutions for all those pesky directional words to share. Try these!


S*B - southbound
TPH*B – northbound
E*B – eastbound
W*B – westbound
North – TPHORGT
Northeast - TPHAOEFT
Northwest - TPHERS
Northern - TPHOERPB
Northeastern - TPHAOERPB
Northwestern - TPHERPB
South – SOUGT
Southeast – SAOEFT
Southwest - SWEFT or SWES
Southern - SOERPB
Southeastern - SAOERPB
Southwestern – SWERPB
East - AOEFT
Eastern - AOERPB
West - WES
Western - WERPB

Sharing a way to get those middle initials!

An easy way to define and write the middle initials in people's names is by using the flag alphabet -FPLT and dragging the final side -R key under the -F key in. Steno Wizard likes to think of the "R" in the word peRiod as being fairly prominent, and so it's easy to remember and incorporate in everyday writing.

All 26 letters, of course, should be defined with the period and the space that follows. You may want to also include the command to capitalize the next word in the definition. What a potential timesaver!

So it's A-FRPLT as A.
PW-FRPLT as B.
KR-FRPLT as C.
etc.

Enjoy.

Here's an easy one...January

Just a quick suggestion to pass along today. How many of us learned to write January SKWRAPB -- in other words, the same as the name Jan?


An attorney once commented to Steno Wizard that he was receiving rough drafts from all over the country and could figure out that every time the name Jan came up (his client's first name), reporters were writing January -- except for Steno Wizard's rough. Why is that? No need to go into that explanation because we reporters already understand the issue.


Anyway, Steno Wizard is prepared to share how that little problem is fixed with one simple move. January is now written as SKWRARPB.

The eyes/ize have it!

One of the first changes suggested in a Realtime 101 seminar that the Steno Wizard attended way back is changing the keystroke for the word "eyes" to differentiate it from the suffix "ize." Steno Wizard recommends you to do the same.

How else can one write "eyes"? By incorporating the Y as the predominant leader in the keystroke. Steno Wizard now writes "eyes" as KWRAOEUZ. That then frees up AOEUZ for the -ize ending.

For consistency, you'll want to also write the singular "eye" as KWRAOEU. In your dictionary, make sure you define your new ways to write eyeball, eyeballs, eyeballed, eyed, eyewitness, eyewitnesses, blackeye, black-eyed, and blackeyes, so that you'll have perfect translation in the future!

Compound Words

There are some words that can be used by themselves or as a prefix or as a suffix. What's a realtime reporter to do?


These words create word boundary issues for many, for example, overtime or over time, and then you have turnover and turn over.


Steno Wizard's first foray into realtime writing involved trying to conquer this issue by using the J-/Y- solution, and, boy, what a wonderful way to begin!

Steno Wizard adds the initial J- to the prefix words (because J is at the beginning of the alphabet). Then the initial Y- is used for the suffix words. Why? Because Y- is at the end of the alphabet. Whew, that's easy!

So all one must do is write JOEFR for the prefix over- and YOEFR for the suffix -over.

There's a ton of possibilities here.

Here's some words to begin.

After~ JAFR
~after YAFR
ever~ JEFR
~ever YEFR
out~ JOUT
~out YOUT
up~ YUP
~up JUP
under~ JUND
~under YUND


Steno Wizard does not use this methodology for the words "on" and "off" due to a phrasing fanaticism, so Steno Wizard uses the asterisk key for those two particular words for the prefix and adds the H- key for the suffix. Make sure you go ahead and have the proper name Hoffman defined in your dictionary and you're good to go. Enjoy!

More favorite briefs!

Steno Wizard would love to share some more favorite briefs. Be prepared to be blown away!


scenario STPHAOR
narrow TPHAOR
cardiovascular KAOFL
voir dire V*D
vertical V-L
horizontal H-L
reiterate REURT
premium PRAOEPL
minimum PHEUPL
condominium KPHEUPL
maximum PHAUM
domestic STKPHEUK
terrorism TROFPL
terrorist TROFT
capacity KPAFT
feature TPAOEFP
structure STRUR
structural STRURL
consistent KEUFT
Spanish SP-RB
Washington, D.C. WA*UGDZ

Really!?! More Middleman Elimination

Eliminating what Steno Wizard calls the "middleman" can really help realtimers with stroking errors. Struggling to ensure one writes the right vowel keys consistently causes misstrokes for many of us.


Here's a few favorites to share:

really R-L

thing TH-G

things TH-GZ

recognize R-Z

temperature T-P

Pentagon P-G

handgun H-G

looks like HR-LZ

looked like HR-LD

point P-T

diminish TKPH-RB

finish TP-RB

punish P-RB

sentence STPH-PBS

background PW-G

busy B-Z
go ahead G-D
benefit B-FT
beneficial B-FL



Creating suffixes with the elimination technique is one of those aha moments that realtimers may want to readily embrace. Steno Wizard definitely has!


-ful -FL

-ford TP-RD

-forth TP-RGT

-first TP-RS

-front TPR-PBT

-girl TKPW-RL

-gram TKPWR-PL

-ship SH-P

-smith SPH-GT

-step ST-P

-stand ST-PBD

-struck STR-BG

-less -LS

-worth W-RGT

-worthy WERGT

-work W-RBG

-ness -PBS

-wide W-D

-size S-Z

-wise W-Z

-birth PW-RGT

-bird PW-RD

-burn PW-RPB

-burnt PW-RPBT

-like HR-BG

-side S-D

-term T-RPL

-hold H-LD

-ham H-PL

-lover HR-FR

-logic HR-PBLG

-ward W-RD

-world W-RLD

-worm W-RPL

-person P-RPB

-print PR-PBT


And some VERY lovely timesavers--

-week-old W-LD
-month-old M-LD
-year-old KWR-RLD



There's many more out there, and some you can probably think of yourself. As long as it doesn't create a conflict for you, have at it!

Easy way to write the decades

Steno Wizard would like to share one simple technique that is a lifesaver when it comes to writing the decades:

90s - TPHAOEUPBTS

80s - AEUGTS

70s - SEFTS

60s - SIFPLTS

50s - TPEUFTS

40s - TPOURTS

30s - THEURTS

20s - TWEPBTS

10s - TENZ


This same number method can work for temperatures, ranges, etc.

Favorite briefs!

Steno Wizard would like to share some favorite briefs that are just absolutely fantastic!

My first set of briefs follow along the same briefing principle.

Spontaneous SPAENS
Spontaneously SPAENL
Spontaneity SPAENT
Miscellaneous SLAENS
Extraneous SKRAENS
Extraneously SKRAENL
Contemporaneous KPRAENS
Contemporaneously KPRAENL
Contemporary KPRAER
Extemporaneous SKPRAENS
Extemporaneously SKPRAENL
Instantaneous SNAENS
Instantaneously SNAENL
Simultaneous SMAENS
Simultaneously SMAENL
Temporary TRAER
Temporarily TRAERL
Primary PRAER
Primarily PRAERL
Summary SMAER
Summarily SMAERL
Summarization SMAERGS
Customary KMAER
Customarily KMAERL
Custom KUFM
Customer KMER
Pulmonary PLAER
Exemplary SKPLAER