Pitman Shorthand Instructor & Key

About This Book

The Pitman Shorthand Instructor and Key is the original textbook written and published by Sir Isaac Pitman himself — the inventor of the Pitman shorthand system. First published in 1837 and continuously revised, this book remains the most authoritative, complete, and widely respected shorthand textbook ever written.

Every serious shorthand student should own and study this book. It is the ultimate reference for the Pitman New Era system, which is the standard accepted for all Indian government examinations including SSC Stenographer, Parliament Reporter, Court Stenographer, and state-level exams.

What This Book Covers

Part 1: The Consonants

• Introduction to the phonographic principle — writing by sound
• The complete consonant alphabet — all 25 strokes with full explanation
• Light and heavy strokes (representing voiced and unvoiced consonants)
• Straight strokes, curved strokes, and their correct proportions
• Double-length and half-length strokes
• Initial and final hooks

Part 2: The Vowels

• The vowel system — first, second, and third position
• Short vowels: A, E, I, O, U
• Long vowels and their indicators
• Diphthongs and triphones
• Vocalization — when to write vowels and when to omit them

Part 3: Word Building

• Word beginnings (prefixes) — Con-, Com-, Mis-, Trans-, etc.
• Word endings (suffixes) — -tion, -ment, -ness, -ful, etc.
• Double consonants and their special strokes
• Special outlines for common words

Part 4: Phrasing

• The principles of phrasing
• Standard phrases for correspondence
• Government and legal phrases
• Advanced contraction rules
• High-frequency word groupings

Part 5: Advanced Theory

• Grammalogues — single strokes for complete words
• Logograms for very common words
• Special business and professional vocabulary
• Speed development through systematic phrasing

The Key

• Complete key to all exercises
• Reading plates in shorthand with transcription
• Speed dictation passages with answers

Why This is the Most Important Shorthand Book

Sir Isaac Pitman designed the system with mathematical precision — every rule has a reason, every stroke has a rationale. Reading this book in Pitman’s own words gives you a deep understanding of why the system works the way it does, not just how to write it.

Students who study the Instructor alongside practical dictation consistently achieve higher speeds and better retention than those who learn from secondary sources alone.

Recommended Study Approach

For Beginners

Work through the book chapter by chapter. Do not skip ahead. Each chapter builds directly on the previous one.

For Intermediate Students (60–80 WPM)

Focus on Part 4 (Phrasing) and Part 5 (Advanced Theory). These sections contain the techniques that separate 80 WPM writers from 120 WPM writers.

For Advanced Students (80+ WPM)

Use this as a reference to check the authority of specific outlines and phrases. When in doubt about any outline, the Instructor is the final word.

Historical Significance

The Pitman system has been used for over 185 years and remains the standard for:

• Indian Government Examinations
• UK Parliamentary Reporting
• Legal and court proceedings worldwide
• Professional secretarial work

This is not just a textbook — it is a piece of history and the foundation of the stenography profession in India.