What is Pitman Shorthand?

Pitman shorthand is one of the most widely used shorthand systems in the world, developed by Sir Isaac Pitman in 1837. It is a phonetic system, meaning it is based on sounds rather than the conventional spelling of words.

Basic Principles

The Stroke System

Pitman shorthand uses a series of geometric shapes — lines, curves, and loops — to represent consonant sounds. The key principles are:

  1. Weight: Strokes can be light (thin) or heavy (thick)
  2. Length: Short, medium, or long strokes indicate different sounds
  3. Position: The position of a stroke relative to the writing line indicates the vowel sound

Consonant Strokes

The basic consonant strokes form the foundation of Pitman shorthand:

SoundStrokeExample
PLight downstroke”pay”
BHeavy downstroke”bay”
TLight horizontal”tea”
DHeavy horizontal”day”
KLight curve right”key”
GHeavy curve right”go”

Vowel Representation

In Pitman shorthand, vowels are represented by dots and dashes placed beside the consonant strokes:

  • Heavy dot: represents “ah” sound (as in “father”)
  • Light dot: represents “a” sound (as in “at”)
  • Heavy dash: represents “aw” sound (as in “law”)
  • Light dash: represents “e” sound (as in “bet”)

Practice Exercise 1: Simple Words

Begin by practicing these simple three-letter words:

  1. pay — light P stroke + “ay” vowel
  2. bay — heavy P stroke + “ay” vowel
  3. tea — light T stroke + “ee” vowel
  4. day — heavy T stroke + “ay” vowel

Writing Tips for Beginners

  • Use a fountain pen or ballpoint pen for clean strokes
  • Maintain consistent stroke size throughout your writing
  • Write at a comfortable pace initially; speed comes with practice
  • Practice each stroke 20-30 times before moving on

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Inconsistent stroke weight — The light/heavy distinction is crucial
  2. Ignoring vowel placement — Always mark vowels when learning
  3. Rushing — Build accuracy before attempting speed
  4. Skipping theory — Understanding the phonetic principles helps memory

Next Steps

Once you master the basic strokes, you can move on to:

  • Consonant blends and compounds
  • Common word outlines
  • Phrases and shortcuts
  • Speed building exercises

Practice these fundamentals daily for 30 minutes, and within 6-8 weeks, you should be writing at 60-80 words per minute.