# What is the best way to learn shorthand?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-learn-shorthand/466315>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 3, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-learn-shorthand/466315 "2008-10-03T14:08:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-learn-shorthand/466315/1 "2008-10-03T14:08:40Z")

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Sorry to post so many in one day–

But I need to take notes of a meeting, and can’t record it, so (for future use), what is the best shorthand system for me to learn? I’m not a secretary but such note taking should be useful.

Also, does anyone have experience with EasyScript? Superwrite?

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**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-learn-shorthand/466315/2 "2008-10-03T17:27:07Z")

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I learned Gregg shorthand in school and it does seem to be a bit easier to learn than  
Pitman which uses line thickness and that makes it harder to read other people’s notes. Well it did for me.

I haven’t used shorthand in years and years but I can still read most of it.

EasyScript is speedwriting not shorthand but may be better for your needs. I would just hide a tape recorder in your pocket and hope for the best

🙂

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**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-learn-shorthand/466315/3 "2008-10-03T22:42:58Z")

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I learnt teeline out of a book. It’s pretty easy, took me about three weeks although I never really got to use it.

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**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-learn-shorthand/466315/4 "2008-10-03T23:32:03Z")

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> [@Markxxx](#):
>
> I would just hide a tape recorder in your pocket and hope for the best
> 
> 🙂

There are some awesome quality digital recorders that easily fit into a shirt pocket like a pen. Why can’t you record at these meetings? If it’s because it wouldn’t look good carrying a recorder, then I’d definitely recommend one off these devices.