The GREGG Shorthand Manual Simplified

Rating:
Summary: Study this book! It's well worth your time.
Review: Gregg Shorthand Simplified takes a lot of time and constant repetition, but it is well worth taking that time. Brief forms make for easy, quick and efficient note-taking, once memorized. Initially, notehands and speedwriting are easier to learn, but take much longer to write than shorthand. In the long run, Gregg shorthand wins out. My students learned to love it, even though at first they thought they would never, ever understand it!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, but requires discipline/repetition.
Review: Gregg Shorthand Simplified takes a lot of time and constant repetition, but it is well worth taking that time. Brief forms make for easy, quick and efficient note-taking, once memorized. Initially, notehands and speedwriting are easier to learn, but take much longer to write than shorthand. In the long run, Gregg shorthand wins out. My students learned to love it, even though at first they thought they would never, ever understand it!

Rating:
Summary: Learn EasyScript!!!
Review: I purchased EasyScript Express, EasyScript II and Gregg Simplified Shorthand books. I"ll keep the EasyScript books and return the Gregg book. The Gregg system is based on rote memorization of a long of non-alphabetical symbols. To me, it's like learning Chinese language which I will never be able to do. And could you justify in this age of high technology learning a method based on non-alphabetical symbols? The Gregg book does not provide abbreviations for a full vocabulary and you to create your own codes for the missing words. On the contrary, EasyScript method is based on English alaphabet and it makes sense. I need to learn only 5 basic rules which took me literally 1 hour to understand and the abbreviations are easily read. I was able to take verbatim dictation 40 wpm after a half-day study. As opposed, to the Gregg system, with EasyScript you can abbreviate any word. In addition, EasyScript can be adjusted to your application or personal style and can be integrated with your own method. It's a very sound concept. Easyscript has helped to take fast notes and dictation very effectively. Also, the option of EasyScript with the computer increases the benefits of learning this method. Amazon should discount EasyScript books because they're better even though more expensive and as glossy as the Gregg book.

Rating:
Summary: They couldn't learn
Review: I tried to teach Gregg shorthand in my secretarial school. The students had very difficult time with it. As a result, their attitude was not positive and it affected their attendance. I had to make the tests easier so that many would not fail.

Rating:
Summary: this was pretty disappointing
Review: i've found this book good for learning what the shorthand symbols are, but when it comes to practicing writing them, it was seriously lacking. i used gregg-ruled notebooks to practice writing, but in the book, the symbols are shown without lines so it's impossible to learn placement of symbols. how do you know if symbols are supposed to extend above or below a line? you don't. learning to write english as a child, you were taught how to properly place letters on lines...it helps give perspective. otherwise an "h" could look like an "n" and vice versa. this book is very frustrating and i'm going to look into finding another that is more appropriate.

Rating:
Summary: this was pretty disappointing
Review: i've found this book good for learning what the shorthand symbols are, but when it comes to practicing writing them, it was seriously lacking. i used gregg-ruled notebooks to practice writing, but in the book, the symbols are shown without lines so it's impossible to learn placement of symbols. how do you know if symbols are supposed to extend above or below a line? you don't. learning to write english as a child, you were taught how to properly place letters on lines...it helps give perspective. otherwise an "h" could look like an "n" and vice versa. this book is very frustrating and i'm going to look into finding another that is more appropriate.

Rating:
Summary: I wish I could have found an easier method
Review: I've really spent time to learn this method but it was very difficult memorize the symbols. When I took notes and dictation I had trouble reading them. I wish I could have found an easier method to learn and use.

Rating:
Summary: Every Skill Takes Practice Practice Practice
Review: In order to become proficient in shorthand, you have to work at it. It is a skill that you must practice daily, not just when you feel like it. I found that if I would sit in from of the TV and try to take dictation from commercials, dialogue, or write a passage from a book, it helped me with becoming use to different cadences of speech. When you draft a letter, draft it with shorthand then transcribe it. If you do not practice you will never achieve any speed or accuracy. I learned shorthand during high school. It developed a dicipline that carried over to my work ethic. Although I only was a secretary for a short time, I loved being able to take notes for my college and MBA classes, then transcribe accurate information to study. All my classmates were jealous of my notes and bought many copies from me. Gregg is the best source of shorthand you will find today. It has been around for a long time. It trains your mind to think quickly because you are not bogged down with letters. It helps you learn to spell, because you are writing phonetically and know that sympols mean certain letters or blends. I have used it to teach my children spelling. IT WORKS GREAT. The poor ratings this book has received are probably from people who do not have the dicipline to stay with something that may be difficult at first. I highly recomment this series of books. You will succeed if you only have the courage to stay with it!

Rating:
Summary: Every Skill Takes Practice Practice Practice
Review: In order to become proficient in shorthand, you have to work at it. It is a skill that you must practice daily, not just when you feel like it. I found that if I would sit in from of the TV and try to take dictation from commercials, dialogue, or write a passage from a book, it helped me with becoming use to different cadences of speech. When you draft a letter, draft it with shorthand then transcribe it. If you do not practice you will never achieve any speed or accuracy. I learned shorthand during high school. It developed a dicipline that carried over to my work ethic. Although I only was a secretary for a short time, I loved being able to take notes for my college and MBA classes, then transcribe accurate information to study. All my classmates were jealous of my notes and bought many copies from me. Gregg is the best source of shorthand you will find today. It has been around for a long time. It trains your mind to think quickly because you are not bogged down with letters. It helps you learn to spell, because you are writing phonetically and know that sympols mean certain letters or blends. I have used it to teach my children spelling. IT WORKS GREAT. The poor ratings this book has received are probably from people who do not have the dicipline to stay with something that may be difficult at first. I highly recomment this series of books. You will succeed if you only have the courage to stay with it!

Rating:
Summary: Hard to learn and use
Review: It was difficult to learn these "scribbles" which don't mean anything. I"ll have to spend weeks and months to remember them. I could not keep them in my memory all the time to use them when I needed to.