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My latest Venture

Gregg Shorthand (my latest venture!)

I received a fabulous enquiry yesterday to translate some 1948 documents from an FBI file. Well, I was pretty excited until I saw it was Gregg shorthand and not Pitmans. Sometimes you need a push and I have decided to have a crack at trying to learn Gregg. I know Pitmans New Era is the original, best and quickest shorthand method, but Gregg seems to be the favoured American method and it really doesn't hurt to be able to do both.

That being said, I have the books and the enthusiasm but Pitmans is in my head and I think it may take some time to stop thinking about the system I know and love every time I write an outline. It may be a frustrating journey.

Added 27 October - Frustrating isn't the word!! I have taken to spending at least half an hour every day studying and at the moment it is very hard. Because I am finding it quite tricky to separate Pitmans from Gregg (my brain sees Pitmans in Gregg outlines which is not what I want!!), I have been advised to use a technique developed to help dyslexics and that is to write in a different coloured pen. So red ink it is!

I am also watching the YouTube videos but the lecturer still hasn't got off the subject of how great Gregg is and I have watched six videos so far! (Over 40 minutes of my life which I won't get back!) Hopefully we will start on lesson 1 soon.

More of my latest venture to follow - I hope!

My aim is to be able to offer a translation service covering the two main shorthand methods, Pitmans and Gregg.
by Tracey Harding 13 February 2023
Tihis book was written by Rory Palmer and I did the editing - a first for us both!
by Tracey Harding 13 February 2023
This is the result of my latest undertaking. My very good friend, Rory Palmer, has written his first book and he somehow managed to persuade me to get involved in his endeavours. He can now say he is an Author and I can say I am an Editor. This is a case of teamwork, between us we have managed to achieve something of which we are immensely proud. Certainly last year I would never have dreamed of doing something like this but you never know until you try.
by Tracey 13 September 2022
My first Video
by Tracey 19 April 2022
I have recently completed the transcription of the journal belonging to a lady during what I can only describe as pioneering years. It was an insight into the life of a young woman who worked extremely hard but I think she had a fulfilling life too! “ Hello Tracey, Just wanted to take a few minutes to tell you what a wonderful job you have done on transcribing the 1851-1855 shorthand diary left from an ancestor. We were excited to find out from the Bentley Historical Library of the University of Michigan, U.S. that there was an additional 70-page diary, but our hearts soon sank hearing it was in shorthand. Finding you was a blessing! Thank you for all your hard work, for your patience with us constantly sending lists of names and places and for so kindly answering endless questions in working with us to allow the present and future generations of our family to have this account of their lives in the 1800s in America. So, for anyone reading this with diaries or writings written in shorthand, take heart because this wonderful woman in the United Kingdom can open up a whole new world for you too! Thank you, Pat “
by Tracey 13 April 2022
This is the reference I received after transcribing an 1860 letter written during the American Civil War. Other testimonials can be found it the here Be sure to check them out!
by Karen Harding 5 April 2022
This was a good job - I have been working with Beehive Books in Philadelphia writing in shorthand the Jonathan Harker journals from Bram Stoker's Dracula. It was a most fascinating project and one that I thoroughly enjoyed, I really got hooked on the story. Anyway here is a lovely reference from the company ...
by Tracey 30 March 2022
*** So a lovely lady contacted me recently. She had read the Alan B Shepard transcription and had pointed out one change so I have added a revised version below.*** I only transcribe Pitmans Shorthand (all versions) but occasionally I get sent other stuff too. Unfortunately, unless it is Pitmans, I have to decline which I hate to do. This enquiry was absolutely fascinating but it was written in Gregg shorthand but I was able to pass it onto a friend of mine who did such a good job that customer, Bill, sent all the stuff back to me for interest and also to put on my site. Thank you Bill. I really wished I could have done this one, it is a love letter from the mid 1940’s that was written to America’s first man in space, Alan B Shepard. It was written by a young woman named Fran (aka Dashing Dizzy), who it turns out from subsequent letters was madly in love with Shepard. This particular letter was penned in shorthand and intended to be deciphered as a playful challenge. This is the letter and revised solution ...
P C Owen
by Tracey 30 March 2022
This dedication was in the front of an old book. It is a quotation by P C Owen. The writer did miss a few words out but you can get the sentiment.
by Karen Harding 22 March 2022
An Art Installation I have been working with a most delightful artists, David Brognon and Stéphanie Rollin. David wanted me to write a phrase in shorthand, but it had to be in French! The beauty of shorthand is that it is phonetic - you write what you hear. He very kindly sent me a photograph - isn't it absolutely fantastic! David Brognon & Stéphanie Rollin Nous allons observer une minute de silence, 2016 Blue Neon 500 x 30 cm Trad: Tracey Jennings Unique Edition It's hanging on "place d'armes" in Luxembourg-city centre. I am credited on the exhibition for the traduction. The neon may move to Lyon on France after the show. I have done the same sentence in other languages and David and Stéphanie plan to produce them in a smaller size. One will be show in ArtBrussels in April, and the Arabic version in a French museum in September.
by Karen Harding 16 March 2022
One of my lovely friends just sent me this link to an interesting article on the BBC about shorthand. It is really interesting, give it a read! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34603886
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