STENO TIP OF THE DAY
Get a piece of every word. It is really important to train yourself to get something instead of nothing for every word. Often we are thrown off by a big word that was unexpected, and we drop the whole thing when we could have easily gotten the first syllable of it. In all likelihood, especially if it's an unusual word or a proper name, it is written on the preview sheet for that SAP; so writing even the first syllable of that word would give you a higher probability of figuring out what it is. Practice this idea by going into a dictation telling yourself that you will get something for everything, even at the expense of accuracy. Stay right on the speaker, and get a stroke for every single word at all costs. Once you get used to it, you will absolutely see how it pays off!
Robert Leifer
High Speed Steno Court Reporting Student
College of Court Reporting