In this article
Quick overview
What you will learn
Strokes
Core foundation
Consonants, curves, circles, vowels and diphthongs.
8 weeks
Beginner path
Move from stroke chart to sentence dictation.
20 words
First outlines
High-frequency words that appear in most passages.
If you are learning Pitman shorthand for SSC Steno, court steno or any government skill test, the stroke chart is your first foundation. Every speed-building drill depends on clean strokes.
Pitman shorthand is phonetic, thickness-based and positional. You write sounds, not spellings; you use light and heavy pressure to show different consonants; and you place outlines around the ruled line to indicate vowels.
Straight Strokes: Consonants
| Sound | Stroke Type | Light or Heavy | Common Error |
|---|---|---|---|
| P | Downward vertical | Light | Too thick, confused with B |
| B | Downward vertical | Heavy | Too light, confused with P |
| T | Short downward horizontal | Light | Too long or unclear |
| D | Short downward horizontal | Heavy | Too light |
| Ch | Right-leaning 45 degree stroke | Light | Wrong angle |
| J | Right-leaning 45 degree stroke | Heavy | Pressure unclear |
| K | Left-leaning 45 degree stroke | Light | Confused with Ch |
| G | Left-leaning 45 degree stroke | Heavy | Too light |
All downward strokes must be written from top to bottom. Reversing direction creates bad habits and unreadable shorthand.
Curved Strokes and S Circle
Curved strokes include S, Z, N, M, L, R, Sh and Zh. The S circle is especially important because it appears before and after many common consonants.
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Start on WhatsApp- Keep S circle tiny.
- Attach it on the correct side of strokes.
- Do not replace S circle with full S stroke when a circle is correct.
- Maintain size difference between N and M.
- Learn upward and downward L/R rules early.
L and R Direction Rules
L and R have upward and downward forms. The purpose is smooth joining. After N and M, upward L and upward R are often smoother. In other common positions, downward forms are usually used.
Beginners often use only downward L and R everywhere. This creates awkward joins, cramped outlines and slower writing.
Vowel Signs
| Type | Examples | Beginner Note |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy vowels | pay, far, saw, go, too, boy | Write dots/dashes clearly beside strokes |
| Light vowels | it, cat, bed, but, book, cow | Do not skip vowels too early |
| Diphthongs | I, oil, how, you | Use special signs for blended sounds |
Vowels must be written beside strokes, not through them. Their position tells the reader which vowel sound is present.
Position Rules
- First position: outline above the line for first-position vowels.
- Second position: outline on the line.
- Third position: outline through or below the line.
- Memorize word position with every new outline.
- Do not write every word on the line.
Common Beginner Stroke Errors
- Inconsistent stroke sizes.
- Unclear light-heavy pressure.
- S circle on the wrong side.
- Vowels cutting through strokes.
- Ignoring word position.
- Changing notebook size too often.
Fix these errors early. The longer a wrong stroke habit continues, the harder it becomes to correct at speed.
20 Important Outlines to Learn First
| Word | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| the | Most common word, tick sign |
| a/an | High-frequency hook sign |
| and | Very common connector |
| is | Everyday sentence word |
| it | Very common |
| in | Very common |
| of | Very common |
| to | Very common |
| that | High-frequency word |
| for | Common in official text |
| have | Essential verb |
| has | Essential verb |
| with | Common phrase word |
| be | Common verb |
| this | Common demonstrative |
| not | Common negation |
| are | Common verb |
| at | Common preposition |
| on | Common preposition |
| we | Common pronoun |
How to Use This Chart
Spend Weeks 1-2 on straight strokes, Weeks 3-4 on curved strokes and S circle, Weeks 5-6 on vowels, Week 7 on diphthongs and direction rules, then start sentence-level dictation.
Keep a theory book nearby. The chart is a reference, but feedback on your actual handwriting is what prevents bad habits.
Ready to Start?
If you want personal stroke correction and daily beginner dictation, join the online shorthand course or ask for batch details.
Resources
Helpful links for this topic
Your biggest questions, answered clearly
Browse the most common questions students ask before they start speed building seriously.
Start with consonant strokes, light-heavy distinction, S circle, vowels and basic word positioning.
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