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How to brief -- the philosophy and practice
I am a 180-level student. I have many steno weaknesses, but one thing I feel I am a master at is briefs. If you are not much of a briefer or you want to improve your briefing, read on.
While people vary, and some reporters will use many more briefs than others, I have never seen a reporter that doesn’t brief anything. It seems impossible really. We all have at least a few basic briefs. Let’s say you want to increase your use of briefs. So how do we get these briefs? Other than learning them in your first theory class, which is great --
The best briefs come from you, yourself. It is often hard to remember a brief someone else gives you, but if you came up with it on your own, you will think of it again. These “natural” briefs stick.
So how do you come up with briefs? The best way is to clear your mind, and say “okay, when I hear this word, what is the first thought that comes to my mind of how to one-stroke it?” Recently, I wanted a brief for redirect, and DRAOEK immediately came to mind. It works and I have no problems remembering it. I often come up with this type of briefs on the fly, and you can too, with practice.
Another good way to get the natural way to write something is to sit at your machine and say the word to yourself and just stroke it. Tell yourself it is a matter of life and death and you have to quickly think of a one-stroke version of it. Then just write whatever you subconscious directs your fingers to hit. Whatever you hit is the natural way for you and therefore easy to remember. It is better to think of briefs as hand positions than English letters anyway. The more you do this, and the more briefing concepts floating in your subconscious, the easier this becomes.
If these methods don’t work, the next step is to try to think of a good brief consciously. I’ll get into some specifics later, but as for general principles, one method is to squeeze the word. Try to say it really fast and see what comes out, or try to use the main letters such as the beginning and ending of the word.
Examples (these use some letter combos you can frequently squeeze, like DM- KM- DL-):
DLAOENT = delinquent DLAOENS = delinquency DLAIR = declare
DMOET = demote DMOEGS = demotion
KMOEGS = commotion KMARND = commander
HAOIFL = hypothetical HAOIFS = hypothesis
Try switching the vowels around, or taking out the vowels completely. I brief a lot of words with no vowels, such as:
Charge K-RJ
Precedent PR-NT
Prove PR-V
Restrain STR-N
Substantive ST-V
Standard ST-D There are other ways to write these, but these make it easy!
If you can’t think of a brief on your own, there are many great resources for briefs. Besides friends and forum posts, I use the following resources: Brief Encounters by Laurie Boucke, the Brief Machine on stenolife.com, the StenoMaster and Magnum steno books and club by Mark Kislingbury, and of course the Brief-It feature of Case Catalyst. Eclipse also has a feature. All of these are great, but your natural briefs work better when you can come up with them.
What is more helpful than briefing individual words is briefing phrases, especially for those going into court or depos. Everyone should at least brief the common phrases. There are way too many phrases for me to list, but I can at least share the most common phrase parts that I use. You have phrase parts on the left hand for the words that begin phrases and then letters on the right hand for the ends of phrases. When you keep them consistent and practice them, they are easy to remember and stroke.
Here are the main ones, with just a few examples of phrases using them. Sorry if I forget any!:
Left hand –
If F- examples: FUKD = if you could FIFS = if I was
In TPH- examples: N-T = in the NAK = in that case NIRM = in this matter
Is S- examples: S-T= is the SA = is a ST = is it
As S* S*T = as the ST* = as it SU* = as you
It T- T-FS = it was T-D = it had TWAENT = it wasn’t
This TH- TH-FS = this was THURP = this you were
That THA- THAD = that had THAFS = that was
Are R- RU = are you R-T = are the RUMD =are you employed
Did D- DU = did you DUD = did you do
Does SD- SDE = does he SD-RB = does she SD-TSDZ = does this
Do DAO DAOU = do you DAOURL = do you recall
Can K KU = can you KURM = can you remember KUBL = can you believe
Could KAO KAOUBL = could you believe KAOUFD = could you find
Would WAO WAOT = would the WAOLGTS = would that
Should SHAO SHAOUFD = should you find SHAOUG = should you go
Will L- LUG = will you go LUFD = will you find
And SKP - SKPU = and you SKPURP = and you were SKPETD = and he did
About B B-FP = about which BU = about you B-LGTS = about that
Ask SK- SKU = ask you SK-T = ask the
What WA WAT = what the WAETD = what he did WAULGT = what you thought
Where WR- WRUD = where you had WRUG = where you go
Why KWR- YUTD = why you did Y-T* = why it
Who WHO WHOD = who had WHORP = who were
Which KH- KHUTD = which you did KHURP = which you were
Before BR- BRUG = before you go BR-X = before the accident BRUFD = before you find
I do AO YAO = yes, I do AONT = I do not AOLGTS = I do that
Too TAO TAOFP = too much TAOLGTS = too little TAOLT = too late
Some SM- SM-F = some of SM-FT = some of the
For FR- FRU = for you FR-M = for me FRER = for her
From FRO- FROT = from the FROT* = from it FROM* = from my
Right hand –
Was -FS IFS = I was T-FS = it was SKP-FS = and was
Were -RP URP = you were ST-RP* = as it were THERP = they were
Much -FP SOFP = so much TAOFP = too much
Of -F -FT = of the S-F = is of
Little -LGTS ALGTS = a little ABLGTS = a little bit SOLGTS = so little
Had - D UD = you had T-D = it had
Did -TD SKPUTD = you did SHETD = she did THETD = they did
Want -FRPB IFRPB = I want UFRPBT = I want to HEFRPBTS = He wants to IFRPBTD = I wanted to
Say -S DUS = did you say DES = did he say SKP-S = and say
Says -SZ T-SZ = it says ESZ = he says THASZ = that says
Said -SD T-SD = it said THESD= they said THASD = that said
See -Z DAOUZ = do you see DUZ = did you see SKP-Z = and see
Saw -FZ IFZ = I saw FIFZ = If I saw SKPUFZ = and you saw
Thought -LGT ELGT = he thought SKPULGT = and you thought
Believe -BL DUBL = did you believe SKPUBL = and you believe YOBL = I don’t believe
Know *N DUN* = did you know DAOUN* = do you know
Think *NG DAOUNG* = do you think INGS* = I think so
Recall -RL DAOURL = do your recall KURL = can you recall
Remember -RM DAOURM = do you remember SKPURM = and you remember
Go -G DUG = did you go DAOUGT = do you go to WAOUGTD = would you go to the
Be –B WAOUB = would you be LUB – will you be
Agree -RG IRG = I agree IRG* = I don’t agree DAOURG = do you agree
Explain - X LUX = will you explain KAOUX = could you explain WAOUX = would you explain
Accident -X AFX = after the accident DAIFX = day of the accident TAOIFX = time of” (no conflicts)
Ask -VK DUVK = did you ask IVK = I ask
Side -DZ BADZ = back side FRODZ = front side OERDZ = other side
That -LGTS F-LGTS = if that SKP-LGTS = and that D-LGTS = did that
This -TSDZ D-TSDZ = did this SKP-TSDZ = and this
Find -FD DUFD = did you find THAFD = that find
Can -K FUK = if you can SKPUK = and you can
Could -KD SHEKD = she could T-KD = it could
Should -RBD T-RBD = it should URBD = you should
Would -LD T-LD = it would THALD = that would
The -T SKP-T = and the SD-T = does the
It *T D-T* = did it N-T* = in it
She -RB D-RB = did she S-RB = is she
Her -ER FRER = for her FROER = from her SKPER = and her
Me -M FR-M = for me FROM = from me SKP-M = and me
My *M FROM* = from my SKP-M* = and my
Him IM FRIM = for him SKPIM = and him TOIM = to him
His IZ FRIZ = for his SKPIZ = and his
Your UR FRUR = for your SKPUR = and your DUR = did your
For phrases beginning with people, use I for I, U for you, E for he (too many conflicts with HE), SHE for she, THE for they, WE for we and then add the above ending parts on your right hand.
Not all of the above phrases make sense looking at the English, but remember it’s not about that. It’s about the finger positioning. Try them and you will probably like them! Also, there are a few conflicts here and there but largely, the words these conflict with are not common (you’ll write “will you go” much more than “lug). Use the asterisk to stroke the other words. Do not give up on invaluable briefs because of a few conflicts. Nearly every question and answer you ever write will you use some of these above word parts.
A few other indispensable phrase families for anyone taking testimony:
YO = I don’t YORL, YORM, YONG*
YA = I can’t YARM, YANG*, YAS
YU = I couldn’t YURM, YUBL
YI = I didn’t YIRM, YIBL, YIBLS = I didn’t believe so
THART = that is right
THAKT = that is correct
THAEKT = that’s correct
YAEKT = yes, that’s correct
YAERT = yes, that’s right
STHAR = is that right (leave off the –T to avoid confusing “that is right”)
STHARK = is that correct (again, avoid the –T) (add asterisks to make these “isn’t”) (define with semicolon in front)
YITD = yes, I did
YIFS = yes, I was
NINT = no, I didn’t
NAONT = no, I do not
NOENT = no, I don’t
So now that we have covered the most important phrases, what about briefing words? First, some main principles to remember:
1) Keep briefs in consistent families. If you can remember one, you will remember them all if they flow from each other. For example, inform is N-F, informant is N-FT, and information N-FGS.
2) Short theory principles help much more than individual briefs for random words. Learn how to do –MP and –RCH on the right side, rather than learn a brief for a random word.
3) Always or nearly always do inflected endings on the same stroke. Use –D for ed, -G for ing, and –Z for plurals. Do not use –S if you can avoid it. The Z keeps it more conflict free and frees the –S up for briefs. However, when the word ends in –T, you have to use –S. You can’t reach the –Z on those. I also use –S as my ‘s for possessives. I c an even do a few in one stroke, such as PLF-S = plaintiff’s J-S = judge’s DR-S = doctor’s
4) Keep briefs as short as possible. If they are too hard to stroke, they are useless.
Ok, so lets go over some of the “theory principles” that I use for letter combinations:
Left hand-
STP (SF) = inf, inv, enf, env SFAOER = inferior SFAOIT = invite
KPW (KB) = emp, emb, imp, imb KBROR = emperor KBANL = impanel KBAOU = imbue
SPW = int, ent, ind, end SPW = interest SPWER = inter(prefix) SPWENT = intent
SD = dis, des SDORT = distort, SDERT = desert SDENS = dispense
S* = Z SAO* = zoo SAOLG* = zoology
Right hand –
-FRP = mp DAFRP = damp KLUFRP = clump
-FRPBLG = nch IFRPBLG = inch KWIFRPBLG = quench (again, finger position, not English!)
AUFP = arch STAUFP = starch PAUFMT = parchment (a lot of people can’t/don’t pronounce their R’s)
OIFP = rch (except arch) LOIFP = lurch BOIFP = birch POIFP = porch POIFP* = perch (this is the Brooklynese method – talk like you’re from the Big Apple)
-LGTS = tle SHULGTS = shuttle TAOILGTS = title (this is also the phrase ending for “little” but there are no major conflicts)
-LGDZ = dle MILGDZ = middle HURLGDZ = hurdle SWINLGDZ = swindle (this is a bit tricky one)
-FM = sm KHAFM = chasm SKIFM = schism
-FK = sk DUFK = dusk FLAFK = flask
*S = st BUS* = bust KAS* = cast
*T = th BAT* = bath YAOUT* = youth
Okay. And finally, some specific tips on how to brief individual words.
1) Tuck common endings. Tuck the –V (*F) for ive endings so DEVK = detective, SUVJ = subjective N-V = informative. Any time you are hitting a word, and you can reach up for the V to add it to the end, do so. Saves a stroke and can be done on almost any ive word.
You can also tuck –L for ly. For example, PRENLT = presently. To avoid confusion and dragging in the –L when you mean to just hit PRENT, you can usually drop the –T for the ly ending. So, PRENL = presently, SKWENL = subsequently
Also, tuck the –R for er. Since mast is MAS* then master is MARS*. PAIRNT = painter. You can also add E for er if R is already in word. Like WOERK is worker, and PAERK is Parker
The –E can also be used to tuck –ly or-y endings such as STAERBL for substantially, KAER for carry, and WOER for worry.
Tuck –T for ed when you already have –D. So KHAOITD is chided, KLAOITD is collided. The main conflict to resolve is RORTD for reported/recorded.
2) Use the asterisk. This can be used for endings like –ly when you already have the –L, or just –Y. So RUN* = runny and LEG* = leggy. KARBL* = casually PARBL* = partially
You can also use asterisk for –ing when you can’t fit it. –KT is account, *KT is accounting
Of course, the asterisk is also used to differentiate the lesser common word or phrase when it would be stroked the same as another word or phrase. Like, MERJ = members of the jury and MERJ* = merge
3) Use vowel combinations that are available. The OI and AE combos are frequently unused in words. So most people brief their –way family (freeway, roadway, etc) as FROI, ROI or FRAE, RAE, etc. These vowels are great for lots of other briefs though. Some examples:
MOIK = motorcycle
BOIK = bicycle
LOISD = like I said
WAE = weigh
BAE = by the way
AEMT = amendment
Etc, etc. (Remember you can often make a good brief by leaving out the vowels, also)
4) Make good use of your –S and –Z
PALS = palace PALZ = pals
MENS = menace MENZ = men’s
GLASZ = glasses SGLASZ = sunglasses
SIRSZ = scissors
5) When a word begins with a-, drop it out or tuck into the word
WAE* = away
BAED = abide
BAORT = abort
LAON = alone LAON* = loon
BRAER = arbitrary
So these are the main things I can think of that help me brief. The more of these concepts you learn, the easier it will be for you to brief everything naturally, on the fly, with ease. There are lots of other great concepts out there too (including some ones I forgot I’m sure), so please reply to this post with anything to add, or any questions.
While people vary, and some reporters will use many more briefs than others, I have never seen a reporter that doesn’t brief anything. It seems impossible really. We all have at least a few basic briefs. Let’s say you want to increase your use of briefs. So how do we get these briefs? Other than learning them in your first theory class, which is great --
The best briefs come from you, yourself. It is often hard to remember a brief someone else gives you, but if you came up with it on your own, you will think of it again. These “natural” briefs stick.
So how do you come up with briefs? The best way is to clear your mind, and say “okay, when I hear this word, what is the first thought that comes to my mind of how to one-stroke it?” Recently, I wanted a brief for redirect, and DRAOEK immediately came to mind. It works and I have no problems remembering it. I often come up with this type of briefs on the fly, and you can too, with practice.
Another good way to get the natural way to write something is to sit at your machine and say the word to yourself and just stroke it. Tell yourself it is a matter of life and death and you have to quickly think of a one-stroke version of it. Then just write whatever you subconscious directs your fingers to hit. Whatever you hit is the natural way for you and therefore easy to remember. It is better to think of briefs as hand positions than English letters anyway. The more you do this, and the more briefing concepts floating in your subconscious, the easier this becomes.
If these methods don’t work, the next step is to try to think of a good brief consciously. I’ll get into some specifics later, but as for general principles, one method is to squeeze the word. Try to say it really fast and see what comes out, or try to use the main letters such as the beginning and ending of the word.
Examples (these use some letter combos you can frequently squeeze, like DM- KM- DL-):
DLAOENT = delinquent DLAOENS = delinquency DLAIR = declare
DMOET = demote DMOEGS = demotion
KMOEGS = commotion KMARND = commander
HAOIFL = hypothetical HAOIFS = hypothesis
Try switching the vowels around, or taking out the vowels completely. I brief a lot of words with no vowels, such as:
Charge K-RJ
Precedent PR-NT
Prove PR-V
Restrain STR-N
Substantive ST-V
Standard ST-D There are other ways to write these, but these make it easy!
If you can’t think of a brief on your own, there are many great resources for briefs. Besides friends and forum posts, I use the following resources: Brief Encounters by Laurie Boucke, the Brief Machine on stenolife.com, the StenoMaster and Magnum steno books and club by Mark Kislingbury, and of course the Brief-It feature of Case Catalyst. Eclipse also has a feature. All of these are great, but your natural briefs work better when you can come up with them.
What is more helpful than briefing individual words is briefing phrases, especially for those going into court or depos. Everyone should at least brief the common phrases. There are way too many phrases for me to list, but I can at least share the most common phrase parts that I use. You have phrase parts on the left hand for the words that begin phrases and then letters on the right hand for the ends of phrases. When you keep them consistent and practice them, they are easy to remember and stroke.
Here are the main ones, with just a few examples of phrases using them. Sorry if I forget any!:
Left hand –
If F- examples: FUKD = if you could FIFS = if I was
In TPH- examples: N-T = in the NAK = in that case NIRM = in this matter
Is S- examples: S-T= is the SA = is a ST = is it
As S* S*T = as the ST* = as it SU* = as you
It T- T-FS = it was T-D = it had TWAENT = it wasn’t
This TH- TH-FS = this was THURP = this you were
That THA- THAD = that had THAFS = that was
Are R- RU = are you R-T = are the RUMD =are you employed
Did D- DU = did you DUD = did you do
Does SD- SDE = does he SD-RB = does she SD-TSDZ = does this
Do DAO DAOU = do you DAOURL = do you recall
Can K KU = can you KURM = can you remember KUBL = can you believe
Could KAO KAOUBL = could you believe KAOUFD = could you find
Would WAO WAOT = would the WAOLGTS = would that
Should SHAO SHAOUFD = should you find SHAOUG = should you go
Will L- LUG = will you go LUFD = will you find
And SKP - SKPU = and you SKPURP = and you were SKPETD = and he did
About B B-FP = about which BU = about you B-LGTS = about that
Ask SK- SKU = ask you SK-T = ask the
What WA WAT = what the WAETD = what he did WAULGT = what you thought
Where WR- WRUD = where you had WRUG = where you go
Why KWR- YUTD = why you did Y-T* = why it
Who WHO WHOD = who had WHORP = who were
Which KH- KHUTD = which you did KHURP = which you were
Before BR- BRUG = before you go BR-X = before the accident BRUFD = before you find
I do AO YAO = yes, I do AONT = I do not AOLGTS = I do that
Too TAO TAOFP = too much TAOLGTS = too little TAOLT = too late
Some SM- SM-F = some of SM-FT = some of the
For FR- FRU = for you FR-M = for me FRER = for her
From FRO- FROT = from the FROT* = from it FROM* = from my
Right hand –
Was -FS IFS = I was T-FS = it was SKP-FS = and was
Were -RP URP = you were ST-RP* = as it were THERP = they were
Much -FP SOFP = so much TAOFP = too much
Of -F -FT = of the S-F = is of
Little -LGTS ALGTS = a little ABLGTS = a little bit SOLGTS = so little
Had - D UD = you had T-D = it had
Did -TD SKPUTD = you did SHETD = she did THETD = they did
Want -FRPB IFRPB = I want UFRPBT = I want to HEFRPBTS = He wants to IFRPBTD = I wanted to
Say -S DUS = did you say DES = did he say SKP-S = and say
Says -SZ T-SZ = it says ESZ = he says THASZ = that says
Said -SD T-SD = it said THESD= they said THASD = that said
See -Z DAOUZ = do you see DUZ = did you see SKP-Z = and see
Saw -FZ IFZ = I saw FIFZ = If I saw SKPUFZ = and you saw
Thought -LGT ELGT = he thought SKPULGT = and you thought
Believe -BL DUBL = did you believe SKPUBL = and you believe YOBL = I don’t believe
Know *N DUN* = did you know DAOUN* = do you know
Think *NG DAOUNG* = do you think INGS* = I think so
Recall -RL DAOURL = do your recall KURL = can you recall
Remember -RM DAOURM = do you remember SKPURM = and you remember
Go -G DUG = did you go DAOUGT = do you go to WAOUGTD = would you go to the
Be –B WAOUB = would you be LUB – will you be
Agree -RG IRG = I agree IRG* = I don’t agree DAOURG = do you agree
Explain - X LUX = will you explain KAOUX = could you explain WAOUX = would you explain
Accident -X AFX = after the accident DAIFX = day of the accident TAOIFX = time of” (no conflicts)
Ask -VK DUVK = did you ask IVK = I ask
Side -DZ BADZ = back side FRODZ = front side OERDZ = other side
That -LGTS F-LGTS = if that SKP-LGTS = and that D-LGTS = did that
This -TSDZ D-TSDZ = did this SKP-TSDZ = and this
Find -FD DUFD = did you find THAFD = that find
Can -K FUK = if you can SKPUK = and you can
Could -KD SHEKD = she could T-KD = it could
Should -RBD T-RBD = it should URBD = you should
Would -LD T-LD = it would THALD = that would
The -T SKP-T = and the SD-T = does the
It *T D-T* = did it N-T* = in it
She -RB D-RB = did she S-RB = is she
Her -ER FRER = for her FROER = from her SKPER = and her
Me -M FR-M = for me FROM = from me SKP-M = and me
My *M FROM* = from my SKP-M* = and my
Him IM FRIM = for him SKPIM = and him TOIM = to him
His IZ FRIZ = for his SKPIZ = and his
Your UR FRUR = for your SKPUR = and your DUR = did your
For phrases beginning with people, use I for I, U for you, E for he (too many conflicts with HE), SHE for she, THE for they, WE for we and then add the above ending parts on your right hand.
Not all of the above phrases make sense looking at the English, but remember it’s not about that. It’s about the finger positioning. Try them and you will probably like them! Also, there are a few conflicts here and there but largely, the words these conflict with are not common (you’ll write “will you go” much more than “lug). Use the asterisk to stroke the other words. Do not give up on invaluable briefs because of a few conflicts. Nearly every question and answer you ever write will you use some of these above word parts.
A few other indispensable phrase families for anyone taking testimony:
YO = I don’t YORL, YORM, YONG*
YA = I can’t YARM, YANG*, YAS
YU = I couldn’t YURM, YUBL
YI = I didn’t YIRM, YIBL, YIBLS = I didn’t believe so
THART = that is right
THAKT = that is correct
THAEKT = that’s correct
YAEKT = yes, that’s correct
YAERT = yes, that’s right
STHAR = is that right (leave off the –T to avoid confusing “that is right”)
STHARK = is that correct (again, avoid the –T) (add asterisks to make these “isn’t”) (define with semicolon in front)
YITD = yes, I did
YIFS = yes, I was
NINT = no, I didn’t
NAONT = no, I do not
NOENT = no, I don’t
So now that we have covered the most important phrases, what about briefing words? First, some main principles to remember:
1) Keep briefs in consistent families. If you can remember one, you will remember them all if they flow from each other. For example, inform is N-F, informant is N-FT, and information N-FGS.
2) Short theory principles help much more than individual briefs for random words. Learn how to do –MP and –RCH on the right side, rather than learn a brief for a random word.
3) Always or nearly always do inflected endings on the same stroke. Use –D for ed, -G for ing, and –Z for plurals. Do not use –S if you can avoid it. The Z keeps it more conflict free and frees the –S up for briefs. However, when the word ends in –T, you have to use –S. You can’t reach the –Z on those. I also use –S as my ‘s for possessives. I c an even do a few in one stroke, such as PLF-S = plaintiff’s J-S = judge’s DR-S = doctor’s
4) Keep briefs as short as possible. If they are too hard to stroke, they are useless.
Ok, so lets go over some of the “theory principles” that I use for letter combinations:
Left hand-
STP (SF) = inf, inv, enf, env SFAOER = inferior SFAOIT = invite
KPW (KB) = emp, emb, imp, imb KBROR = emperor KBANL = impanel KBAOU = imbue
SPW = int, ent, ind, end SPW = interest SPWER = inter(prefix) SPWENT = intent
SD = dis, des SDORT = distort, SDERT = desert SDENS = dispense
S* = Z SAO* = zoo SAOLG* = zoology
Right hand –
-FRP = mp DAFRP = damp KLUFRP = clump
-FRPBLG = nch IFRPBLG = inch KWIFRPBLG = quench (again, finger position, not English!)
AUFP = arch STAUFP = starch PAUFMT = parchment (a lot of people can’t/don’t pronounce their R’s)
OIFP = rch (except arch) LOIFP = lurch BOIFP = birch POIFP = porch POIFP* = perch (this is the Brooklynese method – talk like you’re from the Big Apple)
-LGTS = tle SHULGTS = shuttle TAOILGTS = title (this is also the phrase ending for “little” but there are no major conflicts)
-LGDZ = dle MILGDZ = middle HURLGDZ = hurdle SWINLGDZ = swindle (this is a bit tricky one)
-FM = sm KHAFM = chasm SKIFM = schism
-FK = sk DUFK = dusk FLAFK = flask
*S = st BUS* = bust KAS* = cast
*T = th BAT* = bath YAOUT* = youth
Okay. And finally, some specific tips on how to brief individual words.
1) Tuck common endings. Tuck the –V (*F) for ive endings so DEVK = detective, SUVJ = subjective N-V = informative. Any time you are hitting a word, and you can reach up for the V to add it to the end, do so. Saves a stroke and can be done on almost any ive word.
You can also tuck –L for ly. For example, PRENLT = presently. To avoid confusion and dragging in the –L when you mean to just hit PRENT, you can usually drop the –T for the ly ending. So, PRENL = presently, SKWENL = subsequently
Also, tuck the –R for er. Since mast is MAS* then master is MARS*. PAIRNT = painter. You can also add E for er if R is already in word. Like WOERK is worker, and PAERK is Parker
The –E can also be used to tuck –ly or-y endings such as STAERBL for substantially, KAER for carry, and WOER for worry.
Tuck –T for ed when you already have –D. So KHAOITD is chided, KLAOITD is collided. The main conflict to resolve is RORTD for reported/recorded.
2) Use the asterisk. This can be used for endings like –ly when you already have the –L, or just –Y. So RUN* = runny and LEG* = leggy. KARBL* = casually PARBL* = partially
You can also use asterisk for –ing when you can’t fit it. –KT is account, *KT is accounting
Of course, the asterisk is also used to differentiate the lesser common word or phrase when it would be stroked the same as another word or phrase. Like, MERJ = members of the jury and MERJ* = merge
3) Use vowel combinations that are available. The OI and AE combos are frequently unused in words. So most people brief their –way family (freeway, roadway, etc) as FROI, ROI or FRAE, RAE, etc. These vowels are great for lots of other briefs though. Some examples:
MOIK = motorcycle
BOIK = bicycle
LOISD = like I said
WAE = weigh
BAE = by the way
AEMT = amendment
Etc, etc. (Remember you can often make a good brief by leaving out the vowels, also)
4) Make good use of your –S and –Z
PALS = palace PALZ = pals
MENS = menace MENZ = men’s
GLASZ = glasses SGLASZ = sunglasses
SIRSZ = scissors
5) When a word begins with a-, drop it out or tuck into the word
WAE* = away
BAED = abide
BAORT = abort
LAON = alone LAON* = loon
BRAER = arbitrary
So these are the main things I can think of that help me brief. The more of these concepts you learn, the easier it will be for you to brief everything naturally, on the fly, with ease. There are lots of other great concepts out there too (including some ones I forgot I’m sure), so please reply to this post with anything to add, or any questions.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Christine (Steno Nerd) on
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Thanks for all that great info, Keith! You could seriously write a book!
I myself am in 160, and I'm concentrating on learning briefs... and I'm going to use A LOT of the ones you just listed here. Thank you for those!!!!!
Do you mind if I post this, what you wrote, in my blog, Steno Nerd? I'll of course make sure everyone knows you are the author. I would just love to spread the word to other court reporter students of this treasure trove on steno briefs! Please let me know! :)
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I'm a Steno Nerd! -
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Permalink Reply by Keith Rowan II on
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Christine,
Thanks for the kind words. I am very glad you found it useful. I would be very happy for you to post it on your site. Steno Nerd -- I like it! Looks like you have some great stuff. I am a big-time steno nerd too! :) -
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Thank you so much, Keith!!!!! I'll post your awesome brief info on my blog sometime this week!!!!! So excited!!!!!
Christine
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I'm a Steno Nerd! -
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Christine,
I updated the file into more of an article, easier to read. So I would prefer if you could post the updated version. It is attached.
Thank you,
Keith - Attachments:
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Updated Brief Primer.doc, 43 KB
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