OBSERVE LIKE A PRO

This briefing strategy comes from Ed Varallo, a stellar speed contest winner and writer.

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                                                      A Briefing Family That Watches Everything

 

⚖️ LAW IN ONE STROKE

 

When you’re writing testimony, hearings, and depositions, the word “law” shows up constantly. The good news? With these one-stroke briefs, you can write entire legal phrases instantly.

Mastering these strokes = faster writing and cleaner realtime.

🧠 The Base Stroke

Think of this as your foundational stroke.

HRAU = law

Once you know this base, you can quickly add endings and build dozens of legal terms.

⚖️ Core Legal Words

Word	Steno
law	HRAU
laws	HRAUZ
lawyer	HRAUR
lawyers	HRAURZ
lawyering	HRAURG
lawsuit	HRAUT
lawsuits	HRAUTS

  💡 Memory Tip:

Most of these just add a simple ending sound to HRAU.

👩‍⚖️ Legal Professions & Government

Word	Steno
Lawmaker	HRAURBG
Lawmakers	HRAURBGZ

  These often appear in legislative testimony and political news.

🚓 Law Enforcement

Phrase	Steno
law enforcement	HRAUFRPLT
law enforcement officer	HRAUFR
law enforcement officers	HRAUFRZ

  

🏢 Legal Workplaces

Phrase	Steno
law firm	HRAUFRPL
law firms	HRAUFRPLZ
law office	HRAUFS
law offices	HRAUFSZ

⚖️ Lawful vs. Unlawful — A Powerful Pattern

Word	Steno
lawful	HRAUFL
lawfully	HRA*UFL
unlawful	TPHRAUFL
unlawfully	TPHRA*UFL

  

💡 Pattern Trick to Remember

In many steno theories, TPH- can represent the prefix “un-” in the stroke.

So when you add TPH- in front of HRAUFL (lawful), you instantly create:

TPHRAUFL = UN + lawful = unlawful

This makes it a logical, memorable stroke rather than something you have to memorize.

⭐ What does the asterisk do?

The asterisk (*) helps turn the word into an “-ly” ending.

Think of it like this:

• HRAUFL → lawful
• HRA*UFL → lawfully
• TPHRAUFL → unlawful
• TPHRA*UFL → unlawfully

Just one small key turns the word into an adverb, which appears constantly in legal writing and testimony.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family “In-Law” WordsThese appear constantly in testimony.    Word Steno     brother-in-law PWROERPBL    daughter-in-law TKAURPBL    father-in-law TPAERPBL    mother-in-law PHOERPBL    sister-in-law STAURPBL    son-in-law SOPBL    📜 Common Legal Phrase as a matter of law Steno: SPHAFL This phrase appears frequently in motions, rulings, and jury instructions. 🚀 Speed Builder Challenge Practice writing these phrases: law enforcement officer unlawful conduct the lawyer filed a lawsuit brother-in-law testified as a matter of law ⏱ Try writing each 10 times without hesitation. 💡 Pro Reporter Insight The fastest writers don’t just memorize briefs — they see the patterns. Once HRAU = law becomes automatic, dozens of legal terms become instant one-stroke writing. 🧠 Reporter Insight Small keys like the asterisk and prefixes like TPH- (un-) are powerful speed tools. When you combine them with a strong base like HRAU (law), you can write entire legal concepts in one clean stroke.

✨ IF You Believe… You Can Write It! ✨

 Power Phrases for Steno Success

One tiny word can open a world of possibility: IF.

In writing, “if” phrases show up everywhere — testimony, Q&A, conversations, arguments, and everyday speech. The more comfortable you are with them, the smoother and faster your writing becomes.

And here’s the best part:

If you believe you can do this… you absolutely can.

Every great reporter once sat exactly where you are now — practicing phrases, building muscle memory, and learning to trust their fingers.

🖐 The Foundation Stroke

Your basic IF stroke:

TP

From there, you can easily add vowels and endings to create powerful, natural phrases.

⭐ Core “If I” Phrases

Steno	Phrase
TP EU	if I
TP EUBG	if I can
TP EUBGD	if I could
TP EUD	if I had
TP EUF	if I have
TP EURL	if I recall
TP EURPBD	if I understand
TP EUPT	if I want
TP EUPTD	if I wanted
TP EUFS	if I was
TP EUFPBT	if I wasn't
TP EURP	if I were

💡 These show up constantly in testimony such as:

• If I recall correctly…
• If I understand your question…
• If I could explain…

⭐ “If He” Phrases

Steno	Phrase
TP E	if he
TP EBG	if he can
TP EBGD	if he could
TP EPBZ	if he knows
TP EPTD	if he wanted
TP EPTS	if he wants
TP EFS	if he was
TP ERP	if he were
TP ELD	if he would

These phrases pop up frequently in narrative testimony.

⭐ “If We” Phrases

Steno	Phrase
TPWE	if we
TPWELD	if we held
TPWERP	if we were
TPWAOER	if we're

Short, efficient phrases help you keep up with natural speech flow.

⭐ “If You” Power Phrases

Steno	Phrase
TPU	if you
TPUR	if you are
TPUBL	if you believe
TPUBG	if you can
TPUBGD	if you could
TPUFR	if you ever
TPUFL	if you feel
TPUG	if you go
TPUGZ	if you guys
TPUD	if you had
TPUF	if you have
TPUFD	if you have had
TPUPBS	if you notice
TPURL	if you recall
TPURZ	if you recognize
TPUZ	if you see
TPUPT	if you want
TPUPTD	if you wanted
TPUFS	if you was
TPURP	if you were
TPURPBT	if you weren't
TPULD	if you would
TPURPB	if your Honor

🌟 A Little Steno Motivation

Think about this:

• If you believe you can improve, you will.
• If you keep practicing, your fingers will learn the patterns.
• If you trust the process, speed will come.

Stenography is not about perfection — it’s about progress.

Every phrase you learn becomes another tool that helps your writing flow faster, cleaner, and more confidently.

💬 Remember

If you believe…

you can write it.

Keep showing up.

Keep practicing.

Your future reporting self will thank you.

⭐ Let’s talk about two tiny words that carry massive power in your writing: DO and DID.

 

 On the surface, they seem simple. But in testimony? They are everywhere.

Look at how much ground you cover just from these families alone:

DO phrases

• TK O → do
• TK O U → do you
• TK O UF → do you have
• TK O U PB G → do you think
• TK O U RP L D → do you recommend

DID phrases

• TK → did
• TK U → did you
• TK UF → did you have
• TK U PB → did you know
• TK R O FR B GT → did there ever come a time

Notice something powerful?

✨ The structure is consistent.

✨ The patterns repeat.

✨ One small vowel shift changes tense — and multiplies your output.

When you master these phrase families, you’re not just memorizing outlines. You’re:

• Building reflexes

• Reinforcing question structure

• Training tense control

• Increasing realtime flow

• Reducing hesitation at high speeds

In depositions, trials, and Q&A-heavy material, these combinations fire constantly:

“Do you recall…”

“Do you understand…”

“Did you go…”

“Did you ever see…”

“Did you tell us…”

When these are automatic, your brain is free to focus on the unexpected material instead of the predictable scaffolding of questions.

That’s why drilling DO/DID phrases isn’t busy work — it’s skill stacking.

Small words.

High frequency.

Huge return on investment.

This week, challenge yourself:

✔ Write them in drills.

✔ Write them in dictation.

✔ Practice switching DO → DID instantly.

✔ Feel how little movement changes tense but keeps the pattern intact.

You are building speed through structure.

You are building confidence through repetition.

You are building professionalism through control.

And that’s exactly how strong realtime writers are made.

Keep stacking the wins 💪

🎯 ONE-STROKE “-TUDE” POWER WORDS

Because altitude is great… but speed is greater.

If you’re using one stroke for these “-tude” words, you are officially working smarter, not harder. These are beautiful examples of pattern recognition + theory trust = SPEED.

Let’s group them so your brain sees the magic.

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✈️ Big Measurement Words

• Altitude – ALTD
• Amplitude – AFRPLTD
• Magnitude – PHAGTD
• Latitude – HRATD
• Longitude – HROPBGTD

🧠 Why this is great:
These are academic, technical, expert-witness kind of words. And you’re writing them in ONE stroke. That’s elite efficiency.

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💪 Strength & Character Words

• Gratitude – TKPWRATD
• Fortitude – TPORTD
• Certitude – SERTD
• Solitude – SOLTD
• Servitude – SEFRBTD
• Turpitude – TURPTD

🧠 Notice the pattern?
You’re keeping the base word sound clear and letting -TD cleanly represent -tude. That consistency is what builds speed confidence.

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🎓 Vocabulary Power Words

• Attitude – ATD
• Aptitude – APTD
• Ineptitude – TPHEPTD
• Platitude – PHRATD
• Plenitude – PHREPBTD
• Multitude – PHULTD

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🔥 Why These Matter for Speed Building

There is only so much speed in your fingers.
But there is infinite speed in good briefing.

Every time you:

• Write one clean stroke
• Avoid stacking two strokes
• Trust your theory

…you reduce hesitation.

And hesitation is the real enemy of realtime.

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🏁 Mini Drill (Say it out loud. Write it once.)

“Her attitude of gratitude showed fortitude despite the magnitude of the altitude.”

If you can write that smoothly, you are building serious control.

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🎤 Final Thought for Students

When you master families like -tude, you stop writing letters.

You start writing language.

And that’s when steno becomes powerful. 💫

✨ WHAM! Power Phrasing with “WHEN”

 

(Because timing is everything… especially in steno.)

“When” is one of the most powerful little words in testimony.

It introduces timelines, conditions, realizations, and turning points.

And in our theory, it’s a phrasing superstar. 💥

🎯 The Anchor Stroke

WH = when

Clean. Simple. Strong.

From there, we build.

👤 WHEN + I = Instant Flow

Think of WH + EU as your “autobiography starter pack.”

• WH EU – when I
• WH EU BL – when I believe
• WH EU B G – when I can
• WH EU D – when I had
• WH EUF S – when I was
• WH EU L D – when I would
• WH EU P T – when I want   
• WH EU P T D – when I wanted

🧠 Pattern tip:

EU = I

Then just stack the verb. No hesitation. No spacing. Just flow.

👨 WHEN + HE = Smooth Narrative Writing

WH + E opens up storytelling.

• WH E – when he
• WH E S – when he is
• WH E D – when he had
• WH E BL D – when he believed
• WH E B G – when he can
• WH E B G D – when he could
• WH E P TS – when he wants
• WH E L – when he will
• WH E L D – when he would
• WH E F S – when he was

🎬 These are gold in testimony. Witnesses LOVE “when he…”

🧑 WHEN + YOU = Q&A Magic

This is where speed really matters -- those lightning-fast questions!

• WH U – when you
• WH U R – when you are
• WH U B G – when you can
• WH U B G D – when you could
• WH UF – when you feel
• WH UF B – when you have been
• WH U R L S – when you realize
• WH U S – when you say
• WH U Z – when you see
• WH U P T – when you want
• WH U RP – when you were
• WH U L – when you will
• WH U L D – when you would

⚡ Notice how cleanly these fall in line?

No extra strokes. No awkward transitions.

🏛 High-Frequency Testimony Phrases

Some of these show up constantly:

• WH T – when the
• WH DZ – when does
• WH S – when is
• WH RP – when were
• WH F S – when was
• WH * L S – when was the last time
• WH FR – whenever

💡 “When was the last time…” is asked ALL. THE. TIME.

One smooth phrase = less panic, more control. How awesome!!

🎉 Fun Big-Phrase Bonus

• WH A U L DZ – when all is said and done

Because sometimes testimony gets philosophical.  ;P

🧠 Why “WHEN” Phrasing Works

✔ It’s a high-frequency word

✔ It introduces dependent clauses (so it connects naturally)

✔ It keeps you from breaking rhythm

✔ Naturally connects to pronouns

✔ Reduces lift-offs

✔ Keeps rhythm steady

Remember:

There’s only so much speed in our fingers.

Real speed comes from grouping language the way it’s actually spoken.

 

“WHEN” is a launching pad. Once you hit WH, your brain already knows the pattern.

🚀 Practice Drill

Try this out loud on your machine:

• When I recall
• When you were
• When he is
• When I wanted
• When you tell us
• When was the last time

Focus on:

• No lifting
• Confident commitment

🌟 Closing Reminder

Phrasing “when” isn’t about being fancy.

It’s about controlling time in the record.

And when you control time…

you control the rhythm. 😉

Phrase WH and you’ll be on your way to cleaner, faster writing! 💛

 

🎉 The Magic of -SHIP = OEUP 🚢

 

Today we’re unlocking a beautifully simple briefing strategy that is going to make you feel like a steno genius.

✨ The Pattern:

If a word ends in –ship, your fingers say:

👉 OEUP

That’s it. That’s the magic.

Your brain hears “ship”…

Your fingers sail right to OEUP. 🚢

🌊 Let’s See It in Action

💡 Examples:

• friendship → TPROEUP
• leadership → HROEU P
• championship → KHOEU P
• citizenship → STKOEU P
• membership → PHOEU P
• ownership → OEU P
• partnership → POEU P
• relationship → ROEU P

Do you see it? 👀

Every single one ends the same way.

No reinventing the wheel.

No writing out S-H-I-P separately.

Just OEUP and you’re done.

🧠 Why This Strategy Works

Students sometimes think briefing is complicated.

But this one is actually:

• Predictable
• Repeatable
• High-frequency
• Realtime-friendly

Court, captioning, CART — these words show up constantly.

When you train your fingers to automatically attach OEUP to anything ending in –ship, you:

✅ Reduce strokes

✅ Increase speed

✅ Build confidence

✅ Look brilliant in realtime

🚀 Your Mission

This week, notice every –ship word you hear in your practice routine:

• scholarship
• dealership
• township
• partnership
• proprietorship

And smile to yourself because your fingers already know what to do.

OEUP = ship.

Simple. Powerful. Elegant.   How many MORE -ship words can you think of and how would you write them?   

✨ The Magic of the Asterisk: Turning Words into -LY Words

If you’ve ever wished you had a “turbo button” on your steno machine…

you do.

It’s the * asterisk.

We can use the asterisk as your adverb-maker. It’s the tiny key that quietly says:

“Hey — make this word end in -LY.”

🧠 Think of It This Way

You already know the base word:

• normal
• legal
• careful
• usual

Now you want to turn it into an adverb:

• normally
• legally
• carefully
• usually

Instead of writing a whole new outline…

👉 You add the asterisk.

That’s it.

🔑 The Pattern You’re Seeing

Looking at this list, the pattern is beautifully consistent:

Base Word	Add *	Result
normal	TPHO*RL	normally
legal	HR*EL	legally
usual	AO*URBL	usually
careful	KA*EUFL	carefully
gradual	TKPWRA*UL	gradually

  The base stays recognizable.

The asterisk signals to add -LY.”

🎯 Why This Works (And Why It’s Smart)

1. It protects your fingers.
2. There’s only so much speed in your hands. Writing full endings every time wastes motion.
3. It protects your brain.
4. You don’t memorize two completely separate outlines (normal / normally).
5. You memorize one — then modify it.
6. It builds pattern recognition.
7. Your brain starts thinking in families:

• legal → legally
• final → finally
• critical → critically
• practical → practically

One structure. One adjustment.

1. It increases speed automatically.
2. Shorter stroke = less movement = more control at higher WPM.

🪄 The Secret to Making It Stick

When practicing, don’t just drill the -ly words randomly.

Practice them in pairs:

• normal / normally
• careful / carefully
• political / politically
• usual / usually

Your brain loves contrast. It locks the pattern in faster.

⚠️ Important Mindset Shift

The asterisk is not “extra.”

It is not decoration.

It is not random.

🌟 SKILL-BUILDING BONUS!

The more you recognize patterns like this,

the less you feel buried by vocabulary.

You don’t have 500 new words.

You have:

• a base word
• a pattern
• and one smart key that transforms it

That’s not memorization.

That’s system mastery.

And mastery is what builds skill.

 

 

Tiny Endings that Pack a Punch!

 

The -LS Word Family

(a.k.a. tiny endings that pack a punch)

These words all like to end the same way, which means our fingers want to treat them like cousins. If we’re consistent, they become automatic.

Meet the Family

You already know:

unless → N-LS

The exception word
“Everything’s fine unless…”

Let’s expand upon the concept:

regardless → RARLS

I’m doing it anyway
“I’m going regardless of the weather.”

worthless → WORLS

No value
“That receipt is worthless.”

more or less → MORLS

Approximately
“It’s done, more or less.”

nonetheless → NONLS

Still true
“It was hard; nonetheless, we finished.”

nevertheless → NEFRLS

Formal cousin of nonetheless
“It was risky; nevertheless, she agreed.”

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Pattern Spotting 👀

Notice the magic trick here:

• -LS stays steady
• The front of the word does the work
• Your fingers only have to make one small decision

Same ending → smoother writing → fewer hesitations.

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Pro Tip ✨

When words sound alike at the end, teach your fingers to trust the pattern. Consistency now = speed later.

Your dictionary loves families.
Your fingers do too. 💛