Court Reporting XL

Last night I was practicing to 225 qa after doing some intense finger drills. I very seldom practice at 225, I much rather practice at 260-280. However, I am practicing for the RPR, so I decided I should practice every day as if I were taking the test.

Anyway, while I was practicing I realized that I was getting at least 99% of what was being spoken. Another thing I realized is that I was not phrasing.

Phrasing is just as important (if not more) that briefing. It gives you a chance to catch up if you are falling behind, and gives you a perfect rhythm if you decide to trail the speaker.

Less strokes means the potential to get more words.

Now, everyone can understand how dissappointed I felt when I realized I wasn’t phrasing.

Here are some suggestions of phrases that we should incorporate into our everyday writing. This list isn’t much, but it was I picked up from one five-minute 225 QA dictation.

Yes, I know what you are thinking. And yes, you are right. There are many potential conflicts. For example AULT – All though; WHOS- whose; IRS- IRS; SHED- shed; THAU- thank you. Please refer to http://ladysteno.com/?p=131

Now, in order to for these phrasing options to make sense, one must understand the theory behind it.

This is not an exhaustive list; there are so many combinations for phrasing. What I have list above are the most important and easiest to add to your writing.

Now, you have all these great ways to start phrasing. It is very hard to change your style of writing. The way I find that works best to make a permanent change is by setting time aside to focus.

Here is the plan:

-Pick a dictation, any dictation, any speed.

-Take the dictation as you would any other dictation.

-Take the dictation again, keeping your ears alert for groups of words that you want to phrase.

-When you spot these groups of words, write them down in your 30 Words a Day notebook. Yes, your hands will be moving to and from the keys.

-When the take is over, look at your notebook and write down the brief you want to use

-Now, when you start doing the dictation you goal is only to make sure you have phrased the groups of words you wanted to phrase. Your goal is not to get every word, your goal is not even to get a 95%, your goal is for your ears to be trained that every time it hears “there was” your fingers respond with “THR-FS”