Oh, my! Med-mal this week...

What a week!  Weeklong trial regarding the bladder and kidneys.  With the help of a few sources and Eclipse's Auto Brief feature, here's some new embraceable writing ideas!

Ibuprofen *EUB   -- WOW!  THIS ONE IS A DEFINITE KEEPER!

urology KWRAOURLG

urologist KWRAOURLGS

nephrology   TPHEFRLG

nephrologist TPHEFRLGS

nephritis TPHEFRTS

bladder PWHRARD

prostate PROTS

subjective S*UFPBLG

objective O*FB

assessment SAEFMT


Realtime looked beautiful (PWAOUFL)!

Put Words in Your Mouth

Steno Wizard got to thinking about a common phrase that definitely should be briefed.

"Put words in your mouth" comes up frequently enough.  A coworker gave me her brief, and I think I like it.  Kind of funny how an attorney doesn't want to put words in the mouth of the witness and then proceeds to do so. 

Put words in your mouth  PURMT
Putting words in your mouth PURMGT

Couple of new briefs worth trying out

Steno Wizard has really tried to embrace the "keep it simple" briefing methodology over the years and just recently came up with a couple of keepers.  In the interest of sharing...


TR-B   Transcribe
TR-BD Transcribed
TR-BZ Transcribes


PR-B  Prescribe
PR-BD  Prescribed
PR-BZ  Prescribing

STKR-B Describe
STKR-BD Described
STKR-BZ  Describes

SKR-B Subscribe
SKR-BD  Subscribed
SKR-BZ  Subscribes

Realtime Tips Article

Recently, Steno Wizard was contacted by NCRA to give some tips on realtime writing for the JCR.  When they'll appear, who knows!   You're reading them here first!

1.  Know your software.  Stay up-to-date with your software. Take advantage of the tips and tricks that are already built-in features of your software.  CAT vendors have done a lot to help reporters provide excellent realtime services.

2.  Be open to change.  Realtime writing is a journey towards excellence.  There are a plethora of realtime writing books and websites to explore ideas on how to improve steno theory.  You don't have to embrace every single idea.  You can pick and choose what you like and ignore what you don't like.  You're the person in control of your steno machine -- no one else! 

3.  Build your dictionary with prefixes, suffixes, root words. Input major cities, colors, flowers, trees, car models, common first and last names, etc.  If you know it, as Mark K. says, put it in your steno dictionary.  CAT software has dictionary building features to make it easier than ever to build your dictionary.

4.  My final suggestion:  A good starting point is review your common writing mistakes that you are fixing during the editing stage of transcript production.  

As an example, for over a decade, I kept fixing the word "and" (written APBD) during editing.  I would misstroke "and" and the words abdomen, apprehend, April, an, ab, everything but "and" would be the ultimate translation.  Obviously, a huge amount of time was involved in editing that simple 3-letter word.  Something had to change.  A student told me she was being taught SKP- in school.  I wasn't immediately enthralled with the idea, but I pondered it for a while and it grew on me.  My realtime writing improved tremendously once I made the SKP- change.  Of course, my production time improved along the way. 

Let's celebrate!

Lovely new brief of the day!

Steno Wizard just happened to have this little brief land right in her lap today.  Someone was looking for a brief for the word kidnap.  KEUP is what is in the book Brief Encounters, and SW thinks this is one of those woo-hoo, why didn't I think of that?! 

So kidnap KEUP
kidnapping KEUPG
kidnapper KEURP
kidnapped KEUPD

Now we're ready!

Otherwise another way

Just had to share a brief a student reporter is using.  I started using it just this past week.  I think I like it.

Otherwise OEUZ  -- so very simple.  Who can argue with that? 

-ageddon/-mageddon suffix

Watching television this morning and the word carmageddon was being used.  Got to thinking, hey, that could be a useful suffix ending.  It seems to be a trend here recently.  Remember the D.C. snowmageddon?   And, of course, many are familiar with the term (and movie) Armageddon, I think.

So in the spirit of ultimate realtime translation, I've placed two entries into my steno database.

{suffix}ageddon   A/TKPWED/-PB
{suffix}mageddon PHA/TKPWED/-PB

Now we just await the day when someone says it...

In the news...

Article published in Cleveland Plain Dealer.   FYI

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2012/09/court_reporters_pitted_against.html

Spied on Facebook...I think I like...

Check out these awesome briefs for dates! Thanks for sharing, Laura Fish.

TWON=2001
TWU=2002
TWE=2003
TW-R=2004
TW-F=2005

TW-X=2006
TW-FP=2007
...

TW-T=2008
TW-N=2009
TWEN=2010

TWEFN=2011
TWEFL=2012
TWEURN=2013
TWOURN=2014
TWAEF=2015

TW-BGZ=2016
TWAEFN=2017
TWAIN=2018
TWOIN=2019
TW-NT=2020

More uses for common suffix endings

This is an expansion of an idea that Steno Wizard started using for proper names in a previous posting.  Now we have realtime translation of some of those trickier-ending words we hear in our everyday language. 

We can't forget that this will also give us a solution to -- get ready for it -- cookie KAOBG/AO*EU and kooky KAOBG/KWR* -- yay!

There's even more words to think about:  foodie, hickey, mini (PHEUPB/*EU -- avoiding minute I).  Okay.  Minute I, a conflict?  Think about this sentence:  "The minute I turned around, she was gone." 

Using final side -BL for -lo, -low words

Steno Wizard spied this idea well over a decade ago but was just a little leery of trying it out.  It originates from the Chuck Boyer/Karla Wollin Boyer era of speed champions. 

Anyway, try it out and see what you think...

Use final side -BL for the -lo and -low in two-syllable words.  So far, haven't found a problem with this idea.

Halo HAEUBL

Hello HEBL

Silo SAOEUBL

Pillow PEUBL

Yellow YEBL

Billow BEUBL

Fellow FEBL

Mellow  MEBL

INF-, INV-, ENV-, ENF-

Spied this suggestion the other day and just cannot get it out of my mind, so Steno Wizard will share with you all to see what you think:

Use the STW- keys for inf-, inv-, env-, enf- words instead of possibly two stroking them. 


Invoke becomes STWOEBG

Invent, STWEPBT

Invention STWEPBGS

Infallible STWABL

Infamous STWAEUPLS

Infant STWAPBT

Infarction STWARBGS

Infinite STWEUPBT

Inflate STWHRAEUT

Invasion STWAEUGS

Invade STWAEUD

Invalidate STWALT

Invalidated STWALTD

Invalid STWA*LD -- I don't know why I'm using the asterisk but it seems to want to stick.  (Maybe it's dotting the i.)

Invert STWERT

Inversion STWERGS

Invisible STWEUBL

Invisibility STWEUBLT

Involuntary STWOER

Involuntarily STWOERL  -- ONE STROKE FOR THIS!!! WOW!!!

Envision STWEUGS

Envy STWEU

Environs STWAOEURPBZ

SO now you understand why I'm thinking this has some real possibilities -- more one-stroke words!

Quick tip

Here's a quick tip that has helped more than one reporter in a pickle.   Save your dictionary and attach it to an email to yourself.  You can save it in both your CAT software's file type and as an RTF file (for possible conversion).  Now you have it saved online! 

Interesting idea...

Steno Wizard has been experimenting with a new concept that incorporates dragging in the number bar.  It's been easy for a couple of phrases, so I'll share...

And you have SKPUF   to add "a" to the phrase drag in the number bar when you hit the "F" key.
1K3U6 is "and you have a."

That you have THAUF to add "a" to the phrase with the number bar, 245U6 is "that you have a."

You have UF, U6 is "you have a."

Still sort of experimental at this stage in my writing, but I'm playing around and expanding the wonderful world of our magnificent steno keyboard.    Just sharing.

Double is no trouble!

SW uses the vowel elimination technique to solve this little dilemma.

Double is written as TK-BL.

Now we can use TKOUBL for Do you believe and TKUBL did you believe -- without any worrisome conflicts.  Yay!

Oh, the wonderful world of Auto Brief!

If you've got fairly recent versions of CaseCat or Eclipse, you must explore the briefing functions.  Absolutely wonderful feature.  Eclipse's is called Auto Brief, and Case's is Brief It (I think).  I'm more familiar with Eclipse's Auto Brief, and I truly love it!  I suggest you look in your software manual and find out how this feature works. 

In Eclipse, if I fingerspell anything, it will generate a brief for me.  If I write a 3-stroker two times, it will generate a brief for me.  Imagine writing cul-de-sac about a zillion times in a weeklong trial, and your briefing feature suggests K*U -- bang!  Instant speed.  I have mine set to insert an asterisk in the suggestion, and that seems to be working well.  I had to fingerspell really quick the name Towanna, and we ALL would want a brief for a multisyllabic name like that - TAO*PB.  Wow!

The biggest factor with improved realtime IMHO is being able to write cleanly and keep up with the speaker.  Use all the tricks available to you. 

Please note I'm not an Eclipse snob.  I'm certain Case has similar features in their briefing feature.  Whether you're a Case afficionado or huge Eclipse fan, we're ALL in this race together for realtime perfection.

Computer Terms

Compatibility KPABLT
Computer KPAOURT
Computerization KPAOURGS
Computerized KPAOURTSD (a little Philly shift)
Database TK*B or TKAEUBS
Digital TKEUPBLG
Email AOEPL or AOE/PHAEUL
Facebook TPAEUB    
Gigabyte  TKPW*BT
Google TKPWAOLG
Hardware H*R
Internet SPWERPBT
Intranet SPWARPBT
Keyboard KAOEBD
Laptop HRAPT
Megabyte  PH*BT
Memory PHERPL
Microsoft PHO*FT
Monitor PHORPBT
Network TPHERBG
PowerPoint PAURPT
Software SW-R
Technical TEBLG
Technology TOELG
Viral SRAOEURL
Virus SRAOEURS
Website/web site/Web site  W*BS
YouTube KWRAO*UBT

The -mp, -mble, and -mple solution...

This technique Steno Wizard got from the Philadelphia Clinic and it has worked wonders! 

Initially, Steno Wizard was taught to two-stroke that -mp ending.  Two strokes!  You have got to be kidding!  We don't even want to think about the mble and mple. 

Anyway, spied this out of the Philly Clinic, and another reporter told me her tweak, and life has been a little less complicated.

Write the -mp ending with the -FRP keys. 

Write the -mble ending with the -FRBL keys.

Write the -mple ending with the -FRPL keys.   Simple (SEUFRPL)! 

Now words like crumble and tumble are so easy to write! 

Thimble, rumble, simple, ample, example, sample, fumble -- suddenly the steno world is full of one-stroke words!   INSTANT SPEED!!

Want to write the word simply in one stroke?  Easy.  Add the asterisk key.  S*EUFRPL.

Enjoy!

Words ending in –tude

Steno Wizard learned the brief for "attitude" way back in theory class.  Here's an expansion of the concept that has worked well.  Enjoy!

Attitude ATD

Altitude ALTD

Aptitude APTD

Fortitude FORTD

Gratitude GRATD

Ineptitude NEPTD

Latitude LATD

Longitude LONGTD

Magnitude MAGTD

Multitude MULTD

Plentitude PLENTD

Solitude SOLTD

Turpitude TURPTD