The Gregg Group was founded 22 May 2004, prompted by the lack of online shorthand resources. As the primary use for shorthand — business and legal recording — has waned in recent decades, we generally acclaim the skill as a hobby or personal tool. The purpose of the group is to promote the use of Gregg systems of shorthand by providing advice to beginners, support for students, and an association of users of this efficient, attractive, and enjoyable method of writing.
I wanted to write overly (as in “he was not overly tired”).
I wrote the usual o-hook above the line, and then the e-circle ON the line (e-circle as a word-ending indicating ‘ly’). Thus ‘over’ + ‘ly’:
But it looks open to misinterpretation (though I cannot yet think what else it might mean). I tried spelling it out more fully in various way, but that was worse, or more cumbersome. I could not find the word in my dictionary.
If I need that word again, am I safe with my method?
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That's exactly how it is shown in the Diamond Jubilee dictionary.
Thanks Brian. I feel reassured.
I tried my Simplified dictionary (after looking in the anniversary) but that did not have it either. Perhaps I need more dictionaries!
I'm surprised that the DJ dictionary has the e written on the line. Were I to try to write "overly", without looking it up first, I'd attach the e to the o, in analogy with things like "-cally".
I agree with you – it's so much quicker without the pen-lift. The word is not very common in British English, so I can't remember needing to write it up till now, but I think it's how I'll write it when I do.
The general rule of being able to combine affixes applies between prefixes and between suffixes, not between a prefix and a suffix. That's why the strokes in words like "overage" and "superior" are not written together. However, in your own writing, you can do whatever you want as long as you can transcribe it.
I'm not sure the -ly ending is "on the line" in the DJS dictionary. It's just disjoined from "over", and slightly below it. The actual placement would depend on where you wrote "over".