Where to start????

[Yvette Heinze]

Okay. I just went to Mark's seminar last Saturday, and I just got the book yesterday. I did take advantage of the free week trial of the Magnum Steno Club, and I've decided to join that. But, now what? There's SO much. I've started working on the ~DZ for "ing" and the "these/those" endings, since I learned that at the seminar.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestions of what worked for them as far as getting started. Were there some that were easier to implement? Which ones do you feel you use the most?

[Gary Wolpow]

So, would I be correct in saying that -TD is used for -ded, -ted, -they (final side they in phrases)?

Are there any word conflicts between any -TD and -TED words? If yes, how are they handled?

Is -TD used for anything else?

[Gary Wolpow]

I take it that -DZ is used for -ING in words where tucking -g would be impossible, or where readability is increased, or by just choice.

However, correct me if I'm wrong, but -DZ is also (probably) used for -DS words.

Does this pose any conflicts? If yes, how are they handled?

[Tami]

Gary,

I have found so few situations where the -DZ -ing conflicts, and right now I can't even think of one. It was -- I really think I can say it was the easiest Magnum Steno Theory concept that I incorporated. It was an overnighter for me. I have heard the same success story with the -DZ -ing from lots of reporters.

As far as the -TD conflicting, yes, there are a couple, BUT it is few and far between. It also is such an awesome theory concept, was an easy transition for me, and I am so happy to have it.

The most common conflict that comes to mind for me is "patted" and "padded."

I have worked through the few conflicts by just adding an asterisk with the words ending in -ded, as the -ted words were, of course, already in my dictionary prior to incorporating the inverted -ed.

[Tami]

Oh, and I also use the -TD for the final side "they," and I can't think of ever having an issue come up with it.

I also use -- thanks to my son who ran with the concept I had given him of T*D for "the defendant" -- *TD for "the defendant" in phrases.

So many phrasing opportunities in court and school settings . . .

and when the defendant SKPWH*TD
did the defendant D*TD

[Amy]

I use -DZ for side...inside, outside, reside.

[Gary Wolpow]

I've posted this on several other forums, and been shot down each time... but here goes anyway

For -TD words, drop a -B into the outline.

(Just can't think of any right now).

[Tami]

Hate to take another shot, Gary, but I just don't think it's necessary. I've been writing my -ted words -TD since theory over 30 years ago. Yes, I learned on wide keys back then.

It still works really great for me. :)

[Susan Swanson]

Yvette,

I would say to start with tucking in the inflected endings if that is something you are not yet doing.

Then pick a few things to incorporate, work on them. When you feel you've got them down, pick a few more. This is one mistake I made - I tried to incorporate way too much right away. I was a mess for about a month, but I got through it.

It's so hard for me to say what I use the most. Changing to his could/would/should and the -SD for said was at the top of my list when I started. His -R and -RZ for year/years was quick to pick-up for me. I like the need and went strokes too. -NS and -LS for ness and less.

Like I said, hard to pick because it's all great stuff.

Welcome to the club!

[Cathryn Bauer]

I use ~TD for did. Works nicely with he did = E-TD, I did = EU-TD, she did = SHE-TD, they did = THE-TD, etc.

[Diana Van Dyke]

Please excuse my newb (to MS) question, but is it correct to assume that I will need to get and utilize wide keys to get the full benefit of MS? I'm reading a lot of the suggestions here for the endings and thinking "How the heck am I supposed to write in crack like that?" Only to realize I never had wide keys on my writer, and, thus, have never been able to implement the -TD outlines.