Writing between the lines

I just obtained the Gregg Shorthand Manual Simplified Second Edition. I started the first chapter. I have a couple of questions: what rule of paper should I use? should I keep the outlines between the lines? and I should I focus the center of the outline somewhere (ex. in longhand, words are focused on the bottom line)? 

(by jacobguerrero for everyone)


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  1.  -That helps a lot. Thanks. I was writing on college ruled paper, and it felt cramped. I was begining to get frustrated. -From the line up of the examples in the manual, it seems that the longest lines like "v" get the priority over "a" and "e" and smaller lines like "s" when it comes to position on the bottom line (the longest lines are lined up where they would be when writing them down as one letter). So if this is true, then in the word save (s-a-v) you would start with the "s" from the top, then the "a",  and then end with the bottom part of the "v" touching the bottom line?  Is that consistant, the larger letters being where they are when they stand alone? and will lining my words up right affect the quality of my work?

  2. The typical ruling for writing Gregg is 3 lines to the inch (that is what "Gregg ruling" means). So each space is 1/3 inch. Get a steno pad in any office supply store — more than likely they are Gregg ruled.

    Outlines are written either on the line or on the space in between the lines. To help you visualize how the outlines are written, imagine that the space between the lines is divided in two, and the bottom space is divided again in two, as follows:

    _____________________________________ Top Line

    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1/2
    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1/4
    _____________________________________ Bottom Line

    As a general guide, these are the conventions to help you achieve adequate proportion:

    The right S goes from 1/4 to bottom, the F from 1/2 to bottom, and the V from top to bottom.

    The A takes half space, while the E takes 1/4 space.

    The N and M are written on the bottom line.

    The T goes from Bottom to 1/4, and the D goes from Bottom to 1/2.

    The bottom part of the O, R, and L touch the Bottom line. For the O, make it short and narrow.

    By analogy, the left S goes from 1/4 to Bottom, the P goes from 1/2 to bottom, and the B from Top to Bottom.

    The K and G start and end on the bottom line.

    The Sh goes from 1/4 to Bottom, the Ch from 1/2 to Bottom, and the J from Top to Bottom.

    The Th (left and right) occupy the space between 1/4 and the Bottom line.

    I hope this helps.

    1. Thanks for this! To check an implication: with the bottom of B resting on the line, in a word like "base," the "a" circle will straddle the bottom line, that is, the line will appear to go through the middle of the "a," correct? Likewise, with the right-hand end of G resting on the line, in a word like "gate," the "a" circle will straddle the bottom line, correct?

  3. Yes, I forgot a small detail. When a word starts with S, the outline is started in such a way that the next consonant rests on the bottom line. That's why the word "safe", the S starts a little over the middle of the line and in the word "save", the S starts on the top line, so that the F and V rest on the bottom line. When you write the S, F, and the V, think of writing them as commas. That's how you get the right motion.

    1. Again, checking the implication that, in "save," the top line cuts through the "a" circle, and in "safe," the imaginary 1/2 line cuts through the "a" circle, correct?

      1. No. In "save" the s starts on the top line, with the a just below it. In "safe", since you have the space, start it slightly above the imaginary middle line so that you have room to place the f. Slanting helps to make the outline fit in the space.

  4. Another thing to point out, is that Gregg doesn't require lines to write on. Unlike systems like Pitman Shorthand, the position of the outline doesn't matter, so as long as you keep the proportions of the letters correct, lined paper isn't needed.

  5. That is true in general, however, when you are learning, I highly recommend lined paper, because you use the lines to keep the correct proportion. Once you can keep proportion, then you can write easily on unlined paper, with the same ease and skill.

  6. That's interesting, Chuck. Do you find Gregg easier or harder, harder to transcribe than Spanish Gregg, etc? How is the experience different across the language barrier?

    (For example, English Pitman is far easier to read than Spanish Pitman)

  7. Spanish Gregg is a little harder to transcribe because it is highly abbreviated, it relies on lots of phrasing, and the verb tenses can be a tad problematic.  But once you learn it, it is not much of a problem at all.  Practice, practice, practice …

  8. How do you relate the length of the horizontal strokes (n, m, mn, k, r, l and g) to this, please.
    I imagine that n is the same size as t and sh, are m, k and r like d or longer/shorter?
    Are mn, g and l like td or longer/shorter?

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