🎯 One Root, Lots of Power: A High-Frequency Word Hack

Here’s a high-frequency word strategy that plays really nicely with our theory. Learn the root, then let it do the heavy lifting.

🔑 The KWR- family (Idea → Ideology)

Once you’ve got Idea = KWR-D, the rest falls into place:

• Idea → KWR-D
• Ideas → KWR-DZ
• Ideal → KWR-L
• Ideally → KWR*L
• Ideals → KWR-LZ
• Idealistic → KWR-FBG
• Ideology → KWR-LG

Same base. Small tweaks. Big payoff.

🔎 The OEUF- family (Identify → Identifiable)

Lock in the root Identify = OEUF, and you’ve basically unlocked the whole group:

• Identify → OEUF
• Identical → OEUFL
• Identically → O*EUFL
• Identification → OEUFBGS
• Identity → OEUT
• Identities → OEUTS
• Identifier → OEUFR
• Identifiable → OEUFBL

💡 Why this works:

Instead of memorizing a bunch of random outlines, you’re building families. Your brain loves patterns — and realtime loves consistency.

Learn the root. Trust the theory.

Let's conquer this! AISLE v. ISLE

 

Aisle v. Isle

I'm sharing in case it helps you.  It helped me once I focused on it.   

• Aisle (sounds like “I’ll”) is a path you walk down inside a place.
• 👉 Like the long space between seats in a movie theater or between shelves in a grocery store.
• Isle (sounds the same!) is a small island surrounded by water.
• 👉 Think of a tiny piece of land in the ocean where palm trees might grow

Easy trick to remember:

• Aisle has an A → Aisle = A way to walk
• Isle is like island →  Land surrounded by something.   Bonus tip:  Gas pumps sit on an isle (island).

So:

🛒 You walk down an aisle.

🏝️ You visit an isle.

Now here's the STENO trick :)

Even though aisle and isle sound the same, steno is closer to spelling than people think, not just sound.

Aisle — AEUFL

• In English, the word aisle starts with an A (even though it’s silent).
• In steno, we keep that A, so use A, and then keep the I by using EU.  
• So AEUFL is basically a steno way of spelling of aisle:
• A ≈ A
• EU = I
• F =  Steno doesn’t have an S on the right-hand side in the position we want, so we use -F as the S substitute.
• L = for the le ending

👉 AEUFL = aisle, spelled the steno way.

Isle — AOEUFL

• In English, isle starts with an I.
• In steno, a long I sound is AOEU.
• Steno doesn’t have an S on the right-hand side in the position we want, so we use -F as the S substitute.
• That means AOEUFL is the steno spelling of isle:
• AOEU ≈ I
• F = S substitute
• L = L for the le ending

👉 AOEUFL = isle, spelled the steno way, with -F standing in for the S.

The steno isn’t random.

• AEUFL looks like AISLE, with -F replacing the S
• AOEUFL looks like ISLE, with -F replacing the S

Same sound.

Different spelling.

We're using steno to keep the meaning straight.

Keep practicing!

Realtime Writing of First Names - Part 3

 

Enhancements to Theory - Guideline 5

There are brief forms available for common first names.

Examples:

Jennifer SKWR*EUFR

Elizabeth HR*EUBZ
Jeffrey SKWRA*EFR
Michelle  PH*EURBL
Michael  PHAO*EUBLG
Pamela PHRA*EPL
Christopher KR*EUFR

And many more!  

Over time and exposure, you will create briefs for the names that are frequently mentioned in your work, and that may be unique to you.

The working world of a steno reporter is replete with first names. 

mastery of first names will be one of the building blocks for skill building and topnotch realtime translation.

Realtime Writing of First Names - Part 2

 Enhancements to Theory – Guideline 3: Using Key Combos for Distinctive Name Endings

Use strategic key combinations to represent variations in name spellings, especially for names ending in sounds like ~ie, ~ey, ~yn, etc.

Some of these may need to be defined in your personal dictionary to translate correctly.

~ie    AO*EU                              ~ya/ia   KWRA*

~ey   KWR*E                              ~yn   KWR*PB

~ey   *ERBG (reversal of y)

~e    *E                    ~i    *EU       ~a     A*  ~o    O* 
~ee    KWRAOE                          ~en   -PB

~y      KWREU

Examples:

Vickie SR*EUBG/AO*EU              Britney PWREUT/TPH*ERBG
Vickey SR*EUBG/KWR*E            Robyn ROB/KWR*PB

Jordan SKWRORD/-PB                  Lesley HRES/HR*ERBG
Jordyn SKWRORD/KWR*PB        Roberta RO*BT/A*                  

Peyton P*ERBG/TOPB                   Paula PA*UL/A*

Payton PA*EU/TOPB                      Alberti  AL/PWERT/*EU

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Enhancements to Theory – Guideline 4: Distinguishing Feminine vs. Masculine Names

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Some names sound identical but differ by gender. When other guidelines (such as spelling or steno differentiation) don’t clearly resolve the conflict, use the asterisk to distinguish the feminine form.

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Guideline Summary:

• Masculine form: Use the standard stroke

• Feminine form: Add an asterisk (*) to the outline

This method ensures clean translation without conflicting with commonly used terms or names.

Realtime Writing of First Names - Part 1 of 3

I'm sharing my CRI final project.  Maybe you'll find some gems.  Part 1 is below.         

 Why It Matters:

• First names are often spelled differently than they sound.

• Some names may conflict with existing briefs or phrases.

• Accurate name entries improve translation and reduce editing time. 

  Build Your Personal Dictionary

  Key Strategy:
  Add commonly encountered first names to your personal dictionary.

  Benefits:

• Enhances realtime accuracy

• Reduces editing during transcription

• Prevents translation conflicts

Note:
This is not a one-time task—your dictionary will grow throughout your career.

Consider Your Environment

Names you'll encounter frequently are often unique to your workplace or region.

Action Step:
Pay attention to repeated names in your reporting environment and enter them proactively.

Self-Check Activity

Question:
How do you write your first name in steno?

• Is it already in your dictionary?

• If not, add it now.

• Every frequently used name should have a clear, conflict-free entry.

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Five Guidelines for First Name Entries

Let’s walk through five practical guidelines to follow when creating first name entries.
Focus: Guideline 1.

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Guideline 1 – Use the Asterisk

Enhance Theory with the Asterisk (*)

Why?

• Avoids conflicts with common words, briefs, and stenonyms

• Distinguishes names from similar-sounding terms

Examples of Names That Can Create Conflicts Without the Asterisk:

Name	Without Asterisk May Conflict With
Bill	"bill" (invoice)
Mark	"mark" (verb or noun)
Sue	"sue" (lawsuit)
Don	"don" (verb)
Pat	"pat" (verb)
Will	"will" (legal or modal verb)
Ray	"ray" (light ray)

First Names – Add Asterisk for Clarity

Name	Recommended Stroke (Example)
Bill	PW*EUL
Jan	SKWRA*PB
Ed	*ED
Carrie	KA*ER
Dawn	TKA*UPB
Jim	SKWR*EUPL

Quick Practice

Try this now:
Write the following names in steno using the asterisk to avoid conflict. Check if they’re in your dictionary.

• Sue

• Max

• Don

• Grace

• Trey

If they’re not already in your job or personal dictionary, add them now using clean, conflict-free strokes.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Enhancements to Theory – Guideline 2: Differentiate Similar Names with Spelling-Based Steno Adjustments

When names sound alike but are spelled differently, adjust your steno outlines to reflect those differences. This helps:

• Prevent conflicts in translation

• Ensure accuracy in name identification

• Maintain consistency in your dictionary
  

  Use spelling cues to distinguish names that sound similar.
  Modify your strokes to reflect these distinctions clearly.

  
  
  
  

Quick Tip: Smart Name Briefing Strategy for Testing and Real-World Jobs

I wanted to pass along a name-briefing strategy that’s been incredibly helpful to me—especially during tests and/or fast-paced testimony.  It's also great for maintaining your endurance. 

I first learned it from an exceptional court reporter, Anita Paul, and I use it every time I can.

If I have names ahead of time, I’ll build a job dictionary using one-stroke briefs that combine titles like Mr., Ms., Dr., and Mrs. with the last name’s initial. But this approach is also great to use on the fly.

Here’s the system:

• PHR* = Mr. + first letter of last name

  • Mr. Baker → PHR*B

• SPH* = Ms. + first letter of last name

  • Ms. Morrison → SPH*PH

• TKR* = Dr. + first letter of last name

  • Dr. King → TKR*BG

• SPHR* = Mrs. + first letter of last name

  • Mrs. Lewis → SPHR*L

A few tips to make it work:

• Avoid assigning the same stroke to different people.

• If there’s overlap, go to the next letter until you have a unique stroke.

  • Mr. Anderson → PHRA*, Mr. Adams → PHR*D

  • Mrs. King → SPHR*PB, Mrs. Kimmel → SPHR*PL

• For tricky letters like H, skip to the next letter:

  • Mr. Hennigan → PHR*E, Ms. Howard → SPHO*

• You can also write the full name the first time, then shorten it on the second or third use as you build your memory and job dictionary.

Hope this gives you a new tool to try out—especially helpful during fast-paced tests and/or testimony!