Shorthand Tips for Journalists

Teeline is the preferred shorthand system for journalists. It can seem intimidating at first, but with the right approach it can soon feel like second nature.

Be Prepared

Use a gel ink pen. They write clearly and are unlikely to leak all over the page. They're also said to increase speeds by up to five words per minute.

Never rely on just one pen. The worst thing that can happen is to run out of ink halfway through an exam. Have at least three others close to hand with their lids removed.

Use a ring-bound reporter's notepad. They're far easier to hold steady than A4 sheets of paper and are easy to flip from page to page - saving valuable time.

Invest in a good  textbook. They will take you through the basis of the shorthand alphabet and special outlines, as well as providing useful exercises.

Learn the Alphabet

Teeline textbooks will contain the basic outlines for the 26 letters of the alphabet. Students should familiarize themselves with these by "drilling" - or writing each one over and over again.

Once the student has mastered these symbols, and the way they blend with each other, they should be able to start forming outlines based on Teeline's basic theory.

Learn the Special Outlines

Quick outlines have been devised for some of the most common words in the English alphabet. These include "and", "from", "would" and "like".

Other special outlines cover prefixes, suffixes and common combinations of letters, such as "pr", "ing", "able" and "nce".

Some word groupings tend to crop up in test passages again and again. Phrases like "for example", "as far as", "I am not sure", and "I would like to be able" can be reduced to several strokes of the pen.

There are also special outlines for less generic words and phrases (many of which will be found in Teeline exams), including "European Union", "supermarket" and "multi-storey car park"

Create Individual Outlines

As students progress, some may start to develop their own outlines for common words and phrases. As long as they feel comfortable and they save time, there should be problem with this.

However, students must ensure they are completely familiar with their outlines (and that they have some connection to basic Teeline theory) so they won't cause confusion when transcribing.

Keep Practicing

Some teachers encourage two hours of practice a day. But students should try and get as much in as they can whenever possible.

Most teachers will be able to provide taped dictations at varying speeds. Students can also obtain passages to tape themselves or get a fried or family member to dictate to them.

Having a pad handy while watching TV news reports can be another way of getting to grips with words and phrases that will crop up during exams.

Before the Exam

Be relaxed and breathe slowly. Hands and fingers sould be stretched and rotated to make sure they're as supple as possible.

Block out all distractions and try not to think of anything except the task ahead.

During the Exam

Sit up straight with the pen poised. The other hand should always be ready to turn the page over (sloppy page-turning can make all the difference to your speed).

Don't press down too hard with the pen. Make sure it glides lightly across the page and so writing becomes faster and more fluid.

Don't Stop

If a word is unfamiliar, don't stumble over it.

Either write down the first outline that comes to mind (even if it's just an unrecognizable squiggle) and quickly circle it.

Transcribing

As soon as time is up, go back to the outlines that are circled, or any gaps that have been left. The chances are the context of the sentence will act as a clue.