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.
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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.