MACHINE SHORTHAND

MODULE 1

Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3

1. The Machine Shorthand 1. Steno Order 1. Vowel O, U for OO
2. Parts of Machine Shorthand 2. New Letters: Final S (-S),Initial Z (S) and 2. Abbreviations, Derivatives and Phrasing
3. The First Letters Sat and U. Final Z (-Z) 3. Punctuation Mark: Comma
4. New Words 3. Consonant Compounds –TS 4. Correction Key: Asterisk
5. Abbreviations 4. Abbreviations, Derivatives and Phrasing
6. Punctuation Mark: Period

Introduction
This module aims to develop knowledge, skills, and attitude of the student in learning the basic parts and function of Stenographic Machine, proper
technique in home key fingering, develop listening and transcription skills. Module 1 is divided into three lessons these are Lesson1, 2 and 3, Lessons
includes parts and function of Machine Shorthand, importance of sounds, home key positioning, techniques in writing letters and words with S, A, T and –
T, U, consonant compound ST and punctuation period; Lesson 2 contains Steno order, keys with sound of final s (-s), initial z (s), final z, consonant
compound –ts, machine shorthand abbreviation, derivatives and phrases while Lesson 3 includes new letter and number: vowel o, u for oo, comma and
asterisk. This module is developed to help the students familiarize with parts and functions of machine shorthand, read tape notes and transcribe dictated
materials with proper punctuations.
Learning Outcomes
1. Familiarize yourself with the parts and functions of steno machine shorthand.
2. Write sounds, words, and basic abbreviations and phrases.
3. Develop the ability to accurately.
4. Record notes.

Lesson 1

1. The Machine Shorthand - Shorthand Machine provides an overview of the machine shorthand keyboard. It also describes machine shorthand and
how an individual uses the writer. The shorthand machine is designed to accurately make a written record of spoken words at high speeds. Using
sounds instead of spelling out each letter, a machine shorthand writer presses down several keys at once to record a word.
• This is much faster than a typewriter or computer keyboard where you can only press one key at a time.
• This means that the machine shorthand writer, using sounds, can write whole words or even a phrase in just one downward motion of their fingers.

2. Parts of Machine Shorthand

Keyboard - A nice place to start learning Machine Shorthand is with its most obvious feature - the keyboard. As you look at it, some letters seem to
be missing, others seem to be duplicated.

The Four Divisions of Keyboard - The sound of a word in English is written on the keyboard. It is divided into four sections, these are:
 1. Number Bar - the long solid bar at the top of the keyboard. The Number Bar is used in conjunction with the upper bank of keys to write numbers.
Example, when the Number Bar is depressed along with the initial "S" on the left side of the keyboard, it produces the number 1.
2. Upper Bank - the row of 10 keys just below the number bars.
3. Lower Bank - the remaining consonant keys located below the Upper Bank.
4. Vowel keys - slightly lower than the other three banks of keys. This allows for the natural position of your thumbs. Unlike the typewriter where each
key is pressed one at a time.

Home Position on the Keyboard - As you begin, place your finger on the keyboard in a naturally
curved position. And this is the home key position. Always start writing with your fingers at the
home key.

Left Hand - The left hand fingers are placed on the keys S, T, P, H at the upper part of the
keyboard. This is the left thumb rests lightly over the vowel keys A and O.
Right Hand - The right hand fingers are placed on the keys F, P, L, T at the upper part of the
keyboard. This is the right home key. The right thumb rests lightly over the vowel keys E and U.

3. The First Letters Sat and U

Initial S - The first letter to be learned in this course is initial S which is written by the left small finger.
With the other fingers on the home key position, depress initial S with the left small finger several times.
You will see that initial S appears on the far left. Always release the key after each stroke to allow the
machine to space.

Vowel A - This vowel is written by the left thumb. Move the left thumb to the far left of the bottom row
and depress vowel A several times to get a clear print of vowel A.

4. New Words

New Word: Say - In Machine Shorthand, the first principle that you will learn is to write only the sound of a
word, like SAY. Write the letters S and A together in one stroke. You will not write Y because you do not
hear the sound of Y in the word SAY. Practice writing SA several times and SA appear as it sounds and
written.

New Letters: Initial T and Final T (-T) - Initial T is written by the left ring finger on the home key and Initial T
appears on the left side of the paper tape. To write -T depress the key under right small finger and -T
appears on the right side of the paper tape. Be sure to check that you are stroking the correct key with your
little finger.

Consonant Compounds: ST - Two or more consonants occurring together in a word as ST in the word STAY
(ST A) are called consonant compounds. Write ST by depressing initial S and T together.

Examples of consonant compounds ST:

STAY - to write STAY depress consonant compounds ST and vowel A together.
STATE - to write STATE, depress consonant compounds vowel A and –T simultaneously. Practice writing them new words.

New Words: ATE and SAT - To write the ATE, depress vowel A and –T at the same time. SAT is written by depressing initial S, vowel A and –T
simultaneously. Practice writing ATE and SAT several times.

New Letter & Words: Vowel U - Vowel U is written by the right thumb at the far right of the vowel keys.

New Words - YOU, SUE, STEW, YOU is written by depressing the U key. To write the word SUE, depress
initial S and vowel U simultaneously. STEW is written by depressing consonant compounds ST and vowel U
together. STEW YOU

5. Abbreviations

6. Punctuation Mark: Period - To write the period depress the right home keys FPLT altogether. Repeat period in number of times until FPLT appear
side by side on the right side.

Lesson 2
1. Steno Order - Written out as a single string of characters, this looks like STKPWHRAO*EUFRPBLGTSDZ. Memorize this string of characters until it
comes absolutely naturally to you. It's the cornerstone of the entire system.

Looking at the chord for a word within the steno order string, you will notice that all each key can be done entirely by reading from left to right, consider
the example from previous lesson.

2. New Letters: Final S (-S), Initial Z (S) and Final Z (-Z)

Write –S with the right little finger on the key just below –T key. Reach for –S without
removing another fingers from their home key position.
Initial Z is represented by initial S which is controlled by the left small finger.
Final Z is adjacent to –S. Depress –Z by extending the right little finger sideward.

3. Consonant Compounds -TS

To write consonant compounds –TS depress the crack between –T and –S by the right small finger.
Write suits –SUTS in one stroke and states - STATS in one stroke.

4. Abbreviations, Derivatives and Phrasing

Abbreviations

Words which are frequently used in conversation and other commonly-used words are written by abbreviating these words during
dictation. Here are the first sets of abbreviations.

WORDS ABBREVIATION SENTENCES

Is, his His suit is Sue’s

at, the, it Sue ate the stew
take Take a suit
Saturday Stay Saturday
street State the street

Derivatives

TAKE as an abbreviation is represented by TA. The word takes is written in Machine

Shorthand by adding S to the abbreviated word – TAS. A variation of an abbrev iation is
called derivative. Another example is STS for streets.

Phrasing

Phrasing in Machine Shorthand is writing more than one word in one stroke. An example is IS THE (S – T) which is written in one
stroke.

PHRASES MS PHRASES SENTENCES

Is the State is the street

Is a Sat is a state street
At the Sue stays at the street
Take the Take the stew
Lesson 3

1. Vowel O, U for OO

Vowel O is controlled by the left thumb and is located on the left side of the vowel keys. This is also represents number zero (0).

Letter U for OO

Use letter U for words containing double letter O like too. Practice the following sentences with double letter O.

too Take the suits too

soot State the soot
zoo The zoo is over the street

2. Abbreviations, Derivatives and Phrasing

Write these another set of abbreviations as accurately as you can. Remember these are used to save time.

WORDS SENTENCES

you You ate the stew

a, an Take a suit
on, over Take over another
Toss another stew
Tuesday Take the suit Tuesday

3. Punctuation Mark: Comma

To write comma, reach for the letters RBGS located below the right home keys. These are controlled by the right fingers.

4. Correction Key: Asterisk

The asterisk key is located between two index fingers. One asterisk indicates that an error has been committed. Reach the asterisk key with either
index finger and depress once before writing the correct word. When you read or transcribe your notes, the asterisk (*) warns you to ignore the word
preceding it and continue reading the notes that follow the asterisk.

Words of more than one syllable

Words of more than one syllable are written as each syllable sounds and thus become a stroke.

Sasa Sasa stays at the street.

Tato Tato ate the stew
Statue Take the statue
Statute State the Statute