# I've decided I want to learn how to write in shorthand. Which system should I use?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-decided-i-want-to-learn-how-to-write-in-shorthand-which-system-should-i-use/613589
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [February 22, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-decided-i-want-to-learn-how-to-write-in-shorthand-which-system-should-i-use/613589 "2012-02-22T03:10:44Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-decided-i-want-to-learn-how-to-write-in-shorthand-which-system-should-i-use/613589/1 "2012-02-22T03:10:44Z")

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Being the nerd I am I have figured that learning shorthand would be fun/useful. A lot of my teachers lecture without powerpoint. They stand in front of the class, talk, and you write down what they say. I think shorthand would allow me to write what they say easier and then I can go home and transcribe them.

I’ve thought about taking a laptop to class, but I really don’t like having my laptop there, but some teachers don’t allow them. Plus, the odds are I’ll just end up watching the Youtube or something.

I know there are multiple types of shorthand available, from Pitman to Gregg, and so on. Which type should I try? One thing I want to be able to do is look at my original, shorthand notes in the future and be able to read what they say, so I don’t want to do that thing where you just drop the vowels and need to rush to transcribe, else you forget what you wrote.

Thanks!