UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES vERSITY of CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES LIBRARY LICHTENTAG PARAGON SHORTHAND Jl Vast Improvement in the Jlrt of Shorthand SEVEN EASY LESSONS Having Learned which, the Student is in Possession of a System of Shorthand wherewith Anything and Everything in the Language can be Written Briefly and Legibly. By A. LICHTENTAG PUBLISHED BY PARAGON SHORTHAND INSTITUTE 311 SIXTH AVENUE, NEW YORK. N.Y. 1919 Copyright 1906 Copyrilhl 1918 | Pj-J PARAGON SHORTHAND. FOREWORD. The preface which follows was written for the first edition of Paragon Shorthand which 'appeared in the year 1906. Since that time thousands of copies have been used and Paragon Shorthand now counts its devotees in almost every part of the civilized globe where there are English-speaking people. The author is in possession of stacks of letters from students of Paragon, many of whom previously wrote some other system, expressing complete satisfaction with Paragon Shorthand and setting forth that the system has more than fulfilled every claim made for it. Business schools are now using this book and Boards of Education of various cities have adopted it for their High Schools, discarding the systems previously taught. Journals of the shorthand profession are now' beginning to publish editorials and articles by expert reporters, which support the correctness of the principle on which Paragon Shorthand is founded: That speed in writing shorthand is more a matter of manual dexterity than the result of the use of an abundance of expedients for contracting the writing, special short cuts, etc.; all of which hinder speed because they cause a tremendous mental friction and do not leave the hand free to proceed unhampered and unimpeded. PARAGON SHORTHAND. PREFACE. r Fifteen years of actual use in the offices of the largest corporations and firms, in the service of the United States Government, in law and convention reporting, in newspaper work and in reporting the most technical matter, by per- sons taught by the Author only, either in person or through correspondence, removes Paragon Shorthand from the do- main of theory, stamps it as a positive success, and was the test to which the Author, himself, desired the system subjected before he would publish it in book form and place it before the English-speaking world. Being himself a professional stenographer, a writer of all the generally used systems, and through experience ac- quainted with the defects of the existing shorthand methods, he was thoroughly equipped to produce a system which should meet all the requirements of practical work. Paragon Shorthand is a radical departure from the beaten track in this respect: That, though like all other systems of shorthand it employs for its alphabetic charac- ters segments of a circle and straight lines, it is constructed on the principle that what is required in a practical system of shorthand is a complete alphabet of brief signs for sounds (so that all words in the language can be written therewith) and a simple method of contracting the writing so that the utmost brevity can be attained without resorting to hun- dreds of expedients and special abbreviations for thousands of words, thus giving to the mind the least possible work and leaving the hand free to attain the highest speed. A comparison of the contents of this book with those of any other shorthand text-book will convince any one of the fact that Paragon Shorthand is by far the simplest in construction of any snorthand system in existence. A re- PARAGON SHORTHAND. course to arbitrary means of contracting words is herein reduced to the minimum. The alphabet is imparted in six lessons; therefore, each lesson must be simple indeed. In the seventh lesson is given the method of abbreviating, a few simple word signs and prefix contractions. This is all there is to the system, and yet with it anything and everything in the language can be written briefly and legibly, the only requisite to obtain speed being practice. As far as the Author is able to ascertain, Paragon Short- hand is the only system in existence whose every alphabetic character is made with bub a single stroke or movement of the pencil. Unlike almost every other system, it has only one sign for any given sound or letter. Instead of obtaining sufficient symbols by making strokes light and shaded, in Paragon Shorthand the strokes are short and long as in ordinary longhand, where half the alphabet is composed of short letters and the other half long, viz: / & * t ^ ^ ^ The alphabet is so arranged that the most frequently occurring sounds are represented by signs which are the easiest to execute, and those sounds which happen together the oftenest, such as tr, dr, st, sk, sw, skw, etc., are allotted signs which make the best .-joinings. In Paragon Shorthand the writing is placed on one posi- tion, as in ordinary handwriting, unlike those systems where the identical mark has different meanings when placed above the line, on the line or across or below the line; in some PARAGON SHORTHAND. systems as many as five different positions being employed. In Paragon Shorthand, when vowels are used they are written in the word with the consonants in the order in which they occur, unlike the old systems where vowels are represented by little dots and dashes disjoined from the con- sonants and inserted after the consonants of a word are written. In Paragon Shorthand, the vowels having distinctive signs, initials of names (when they are vowels) can be written, which is impossible in the old systems. The marvelous simplicity of the Paragon system makes it easy of acquisition within a brief space of time by any person of average intelligence who can read and write. It, therefore, will appeal to the millions, who, not wanting to follow shorthand as a profession, still can profitably employ a brief system of writing in making their memoranda, re- cording incidents and thoughts, reporting lectures, etc. To the person desiring to adopt shorthand as a voca- tion, Paragon Shorthand is of the utmost value, in that it can be mastered and put to money-making use in a few weeks months sooner than would be possible by any other system. Besides, the remarkable ease with which the notes can be read, the facile outlines, the freedom from the per- plexities and complications of the old systems, the relatively little mental and nervous strain imposed, makes it the most practical and most efficient working instrument for the pur- pose extant. To the progressive schools, whose ambition it is to turn out the greatest percentage of proficient stenographers, capable of reading their notes, this text-book comes as a boon. Backed by fifteen years' demonstration of its utility, Paragon Shorthand is submitted as the simplest system in existence, the quickest to learn, by far the easiest to read; and, as for speed, one's common sense will enable one to PARAGON SHORTHAND. concede the fact that the system whose writing is all light- line, all on one position; which has only one sign for any letter therefore, only one way in which a word can be written; which has only about twenty-five simple word signs, and where any desired brevity of outline can be obtained by the application of its single rule of contraction; must be capable of much faster execution than the writing in those systems where time is occupied in making heavy strokes, in placing the words on different positions (on the line, above the line, across or below the line) ; which have several different signs for many sounds, thus making it pos- sible to write words in a great variety of ways (thereby giving cause for hesitancy in determining the right way) ; which have hundreds, in fact thousands of arbitrary word signs to burden the memory; and which, when employing vowels, must dot them in after the consonants of a word are written; and whose multiplicity of rules and exceptions all tend to confuse the mind, and, therefore, hamper the hand . THE AUTHOR. PARAGON SHORTHAND Consonants. v F v. H \ V V_ Sh , P ^ Th IB , K /T /D ^ Ch L ] Write - N ^ W _M y Vowels and Diphthongs: A E I O U Aw (all) Oo Oy Cw 3 O <J O < I> C 4# C is either K or S: viz: Cat (Kat) City (Sity) Q is a combination of K and W; viz: Quire (Kwire) X is a combination of K and S; viz: Box (Boks) A way for representing the different shades of vowels is pro- vided for in the Lessons. The above is a complete practical Phonetic Alphabet. This alphabet and the method of abbreviating given in Lesson VII is all that constitutes Paragon Shorthand. When learned, the student is in possession of a system of shorthand with which anything and everything in the language can be written briefly and legibly. , PARAGON SHORTHAND. General Directions. 1. Write with a medium lead pencil. Hold it loosely and near the point, and write as light outlines as possible. This will be conducive to high speed. 2. Cultivate a habit of writing small and compactly. Make the short letters the size of mere ticks. Thus, the distinction between them and the large letters will be great. 3. In practicing the alphabetic characters, to more readily memorize them^ utter their names aloud. 4. Spell altogether by sound. Do not write silent letters. Pronounce the word and then write the sounds actually heard. For example, "knob" is pronounced nob; "bore" is pronounced foor. In speaking the word ' ' meadow ' ' you will hear only medo. 5. Throughout the entire course some part of the daily practice should be devoted to that part of the alphabet already learned. In this system all the words in the lan- guage are written with the alphabetic characters, and it therefore follows that if the alphabet can be written easily and quickly, the words which they compose will also be written, rapidly. 6. To become a proficient stenographer it is necessary to possess a complete mastery of the principles of the system. The student is, therefore, urged to become thor- oughly familiar with each lesson before proceeding to the following one. 7. In the beginning do not strive for speed. In fact no effort to write rapidly should be made until the student has mastered the entire system. Accuracy and neatness of writing should be the sole aim of the student until he reaches that point. PARAGON SHORTHAND. FIRST LESSON. Lines. F V PB TD LR N M \ / \ \ il / / 8. L and R are written np, and are made more inclined than T and D. N and M are written from left to right. The others are written down. There is no exception. 9. The foregoing constitute all the "lines" in the system. The remaining consonants are represented by curved strokes and are given in the Sixth Lesson. 10. Practice as follows and continue until memorized: FV \x\x\\\ \ \ \ \ N \ \ PB.I -I ,1 ,1 ,1 ,1 ,1 ,1 ,1 ,h( TD ,/,/ ////// ,/,/,/,/ L R ( Write up) ^^ ^ ^" ^ ^-"^^" 11. After the foregoing are thoroughly memorized copy the following, writing not less than one line of each: Ft Fl Fd Fr Pt PI Bd Br Nt Ml Dm Rm Md Mr Rd Dr 12. "E" is a very small circle. o "O" is a large circle. O 13. When at the beginning or end of "lines" the circle is written on the left side of the upright strokes, and above N and M, viz. : \ 1 / ^ <^_ PARAGON 'SHORTHAND. 14. When between two "lines" written in one and the same direction, the circle goes to the left side of the upright strokes and above N and M, viz: 15. When between two "lines" not written in one and the same direction (therefore forming an angle), turn the circle out- side the angle, viz: Deaf Feet Fear Pot Pole Meat Meal Dream 16. The small circle represents the sounds of e, as heard in feet and fed; also the short sound of * and^, as beard in pity. In practical work, where isolated words are seldom written, there will rarely be any difficulty in correctly reading words con- taining the small circle, as the context will almost invariably de- termine the shade of the vowel. However, if desired, the student may indicate the long sound of e by placing a small dash or tick near it; and the short sound of and_y may be indicated by placing near the small circle a dot, Feet Fit Ream Rim 17. The large circle represents the sounds of o, as heard in dote, dot. Though unnecessary in practical work, the long sound may be distinguished by placing a small dash near the circle, viz: Boat 18. So as to become familiar with the application of the foregoing rules for combining the circles with the consonants, copy carefully and neatly the examples given below. Having done this, 'coyer the printed key and endeavor to read the short- hand forms. PARAGON SHORTHAND. Examples. Eat Ebb Owed Tea Dough Own Knee / 1 / </ </ Q. - Tone Neat Modern Noble Elope Meat V Model Belt Beam Bent Bled Middle Eleven Velvet Pepper Bonnet Reed Poultry Trophy Trim Lily Little <fc^ Writing Exercise.. 19. Copy in longhand the following list of words, writing each word at the beginning of a line. Write next to each word the shorthand representation thereof. After the entire list has been written in shorthand, examine same carefully so as to dis- cover and correct any errors that may have been committed. Then practice each word to the end of the line. If Fee Evil Ever Fever Fib Feet Feed Fiddle Feel Fear Fin Folly Volley Over Foe Fop Fob Four Foam Pivot Peep People Pope Pebble Pet Pot Peddle Peel Pelt Pole Poultry Pier Pore Pen Ponder Pimple Pomp Beer Bin .Bib Bob Bet Boat Bell Bowl Bond Bore Bolt Bold Tip Top Tot Tell Toll Ten Tone Team Tome Dove Deep Debt Dot Deal Doll Dear Door Den Done Deem Dome Left Leave Level Loaf Leaf Letter Leap Love Let Lot Lead Load Lily Loll Lean Loaf Limb Reef Rivet Reveal Rover Reap Rope Rib Rob Wrote Read Rode Riddle Real Roll Rear Roar Rent Roam Ream Never Nip Novel Knob Net Note Need Nod Kneel Near Nor Known Nimble Mop Met Metal Mottle Medal Meadow Mode Meal Molten Mere More Mean Moan Member Flip Flit Fled Floor Fret Freed Freer Frill Friend From Pleat Plead Implore Plenty Bolt Blend Blonde Brief Brevity Bread Pretty Bid Trip Treat Trod Trill Dreary Drone Dream, PARAGON SHORTHAND. SECOND LESSON. A U 3 C. 20. When A and U occur between two "lines", A is represented by a small hook at the end of the first stroke, viz: Bad Bare Bale Ban Fate Fail Fan Dave Dale V I I I Z Rave Rate Rain Map Mail Brain U is represented by a small hook at the beginning of the second stroke, viz: Bud Burr Bull Bun I i Rough Rut Run Mute Mule Brunt 21. The student will observe from the foregoing examples that the hook, whether for A or U, Always opens or faces inside angles. 22. When between two upright "lines" written in one and the same direction, the .hook must always be turned forward to the right; when between the horizontals, it is turned downward or below, viz; Favor Babble Date Rail Name Bubble v I * ^ - \ Duty Rule Nun PARAGON SHORTHAND. 23. When the hook for "A" is madelsroad, it represents the broad sound of "A, " "aw, "and the sound "ah, "as heard in Fall Ball Farm \f 24. Broad "U" represents the sound "oo" as heard in Brood Food Boot Root Examples. Tall Maul Fruit Proof Prune Brute Room Moon Noon Mood ^ -^ -9 25. Though unnecessary in practical note-taking, you may indicate the long sound of a and u by writing a short dash or tick near the hook, viz: Fat Fate Mull Mule 26. When no vowel occurs between two lines written in the same direction, a tick may be employed to indicate the separa- tion, viz: Purely (Pur-le) ^^^ However this is rarely necessary in practical work. PARAGON SHORTHAND. Writing Exercise. Favor Fable Fate Foot Fade Fatal Futile Future Fail Full Fare Farm Fur Fan Infant Fun Fame Fume Vapid Vat Vale Valley Vulture Van Puff Pave Pap Pup Puppy Pupil Pat Put Patter Pad Paddle Puddle Pail Pull Paltry Pulp Pulpit Pare Part Pure Purple Purity Purely Pander Pant Panel Pun Pamper Pump Baffle' Buff Rebuff Babble Bubble Bat Battle Batter But Butter "Button Bud "Bad Bale Bull Bare Burr Barber Barter Barn Burn Taffy Tough Tap Table Tub 'Tattle Tutor Tale Tally Tar Tart Turtle 'Turbid Turn Turf . Tan Tame Tamper Tumble Tumult Dabble Dub ' Date Duty Dad Dull Dare Dart Endure Damp Dump Laugh Lap Late Lately Later Latent Lute Flute Lad Ladder Flail Flurry Lard Lurid Lane Lame Lamp Lump Lumber' Raft Rough Rave Ruffle Rap Wrapper Rabbit Rabid Rubber Rate Raid Rudder Rail Rule Ran Run Rain Ram Ramble Rum Rumble Enough Navy Nap Neighbor Native Nut Nail Null Name Muff Map Maple Mat Mute Matter Mutter Mad Mud Muddle Mail Malt Mule Mare Mart Marble Man . Mandate Mantle Manner Money Flavor Fluffy Flap Flute Flail Flame Prattle Prayer Brave Bran Bramble Plate Player Plan Plum Bluff Blood Blur Blunt Blame Trap Trouble Trait Trail Train Trump Drab Drain Dram Drum. Fall Brood Ball Tall Maul Fruit Proof 'Prune Brute Bloom Room Moon Noon. PARAGON SHORTHAND. THIRD LESSON. 27. When A and U begin and end "lines." A is a. small hook to the left of upright "lines," and above N and M, U is a small hook to the right of upright "lines." and below N and M. A \ I / U \ Examples. Aft Affair Avail Few Review Up Renew V Due Pew Allay Array May Repay v I c? Obey Able Under Art Ray Raw 3 \ f ^ ^ Awful Pray Adde.r Adam Adieu ;? ?/ 9 9 <v v^ r / / Writing Exercise. Aft Afar Affable Avail Aver Ape Pay Apple April Apt Repay Up Pew Upon Bay Obey Ate Utter Add Day Adder Adept Ail Alto Alarm Alone Ult Allay Array Air Art Arbor Ardor Arm Ural Urn Europe Anvil Anna Aunt And Annul Animal Unto Under Ample Humble Amber May Mew. PARAGON SHORTHAND. FOURTH LESSON. I u 28. The long sound of I and of Y, as heard in Pie. Idle, By, is represented by a small half-circle. 29. When 1 is the first letter in the word, the concave or inside of the half-circle must face awiv from the stroke, viz: A ^ / ^ ,_ 30. When it is the last letter in the word, the concave side must face away from the end of the word, viz: V I I s~ -. 31. When it occurs between two strokes forming an angle," the concave side must face the way the angle points, viz: Dive Fight Life File Dine Rhyme Bite Ride / 32. When it occurs between two upright strokes written in one and the same direction, the concave side faces to the left. When between two horizontals, it faces up, viz: Fife Pipe Tight Rile Nine Ninety \ Y / -v- 33. The student is reminded that the short sound of I and Y is represented by the small circle. The sign given in this lesson must never be used for the sounds of I and Y as heard in Pity, Bit Mit. Writing Exercise. Ivy Idle Isle Ire Fie Vie Pie By Untie Tie Die Nigh My Fife Five Fibre File Fire Fine Viper Invite Vial Vine Pipe Pile Pyre Pine Biped Bible Bite Abide Bile Buyer Bind Type Tight Tide Tile Tire Tiney Time Dive Indite Died Dial Dire Dine Dime Life Alive Library Light Lied Lyre Line Lime Rife Arrive Ripe Right Ride Deride Rile Rhyne Rhyme Knife Night Nile Mile Mine Might Mire Flight Fright Fried Plight Private Pride Prime Blight Blind Bride Brier Bright Brine Trifle Tripe Tribe Trite Tried Trial Drive Dried Dryer. PARAGON SHORTHAND FIFTH LESSON. Oy i)w 34. The sound "oy," as heard in Boy. Oil, and the sound "Ow,"as heard in Bow. Plough, Out, are represented as follows: By a small and large circle written opposite to where E and O would be placed; viz: 35. Beginning and ending "lines (. T the right, and below Between two "lines" in one direction j N and M Vo\v Boy Bough Toy Out Now Oil \D I b i> ^ -o <r Doubt Royal Trowel Noun Lawyer 36. Between two Lines not in the same direction. The circle for Oy or Ow is joined to the first stroke &o as not to cross it: It resembles "A" in the respect that it is traced in the direction of the following letter; viz: "Bowed Bower Boil Turmoil b" L Proud Down Found 37. As in the case of "round," for the sake of easy execu- tion, the ow may be made as a loop. Writing Exercise. Out Oil Owl Our Envoy Vow Boy Bow Bound About Toy Now Annoy Foible Foil Fowl Found Pout Powder Power Point Bound Bowed Boil Bower Rebound Bounty Toil Towel Tower Town Doubt Dower Loiter Loud Loyal Loin Adroit Route Rowdy Royal Round Noun Turmoil Mound Frown Proud Broil Brown Trout Trowel Drown. It is as. important to be able to read shorthand as to writt it. After having written an exercise, cover the longhand key and read the shorthand. From day today read some of the short- hand written several days before. You will note, an increased facility in reading your writing. 10 SIXTH LESSON. "Carves" H Sh Th K G Ch J S-Z W Y Ng <v- V ^\ S S" S ^ ^ ^ ^-^ ) Pronounced Hay Isti 1th Kay Gay Today Jay [ss. Zee Wav Yea Ing 38. Hay. Ish, 1th are inclined like the letter V \ and are written down. 39. Kay, Gay. Tchay and Jay are usually written up, having the slant of R (See Paragraph 55) 40. Ess or Zee, Way and Yea are written from left to right, 41. Ing is a perpendicular, and is written down. 42. Ish represents the sound of sh, as hoard in shif>, motion (moshun). 43. Itb represents the sound of th. as heard in think, though. 44. Gay is employed for the hard sound of G only, as heard in God. bag 45. Tchay represents the sound of ch or tch. as heard in chip, match 46. J represents the sound of J as heard in July, Badge (baj) Page (paj) Gem (jem). 47 S and Z. No ambiguity will result from the employment of one sign for S and Z. City would not be read Zity nor would Zero be read Cero 48. Ing represents the soting of ng, as heard in Wrong, English, Ink (ingk). Anxious (angkshus). 49. In Phonography (sound- writing), there are no alphabetic characters for C. Q and X. because: C can be represented by either K or S. viz: Cat (kat) City (sity). O is a combination of k and w. viz Queen (kwen). Quire (kwir). Squeal (skwel). X is a combination of k and s, viz: Ox (oks). Box (boks). 50. Practice the curved consonants the same as you did the "Lines". untiMhey are thoroughly memorized. PARAGON SHORTHAND 11 51. Beginning and Ending Carves: (a) A. E and O are written inside the curve; viz: Aha They Ache Say Weigh ^> f **3 jT^ Key Each Oak Sew T <*> 6~ \> (t>) U, Oy and Ow are written onlside the curve; viz: Youth Cue Us Sue Chew ) S^* <*-* wX? ^/> Coy Oyster Thou Cow 52. "I" is written as hitherto taught, with the concave side of the half-circle facing away from the beginning or end of the word, as the case may be; viz: Ice Sigh Thy Guy 53. The rules for writing the vowels, and diphthongs oy and ow. when they occur between two "Lines," also apply when they occur between any two ''Curves," or a Line and a Curve, viz; Hull Shade Share Hale Hang Throng Shout ^ Shingle s Kill Shower Jim Shed V Join Came Gun Gore Hatch Match Box Gold 1 Fox Guide Cheer Sheer V July Wing ^ Batch Sauce Wander Sane Sun Wonder Sale Sought 12 PARAGON SHORTHAND 54. K and G are written down when before L, R, W, N and M, and when after L, R and S, also in the words Seek, Sick, Soak, Soggy, Cigar. Cigarette, viz: Acme Ignore Clear Clean Gloom Glide <L^ fr vS * ~ & Queen (kwen) Quail Quick Sky Squander* ^, Lignite Scream Scroll Ark Milk Seek v ---^^ ~~Z^^ &s* *rf Y* Soak Cigar Skill Scale Gwendohn Squeal Square 55. Ch and J are written down when preceded by N, viz: Enjoy Fringe Injure Engine Enchant 7 \S 3 1 56. In words like when, while, where, omit the h for the sake of brevity, viz; m- /-w* 57. When the hook for A or U occurs between two curves going in one and the same direction, write the book inside the curve to which it belongs, viz. Was Jag J u g^ Cage Chuckle 58. When E or O occurs between two curves running in one and the same direction, turn it inside the first curve, viz: Coach PARAGON SHORTHAND. U Writing Exercise. Hay Aha Ash She Show Had Hail Harp Ham Hum Hymn Shade Shed Shoddy Share Sharp Shame Shine Ship Bush Push Thief Thought Thine Then Thick These Those Thiis Thousand Cuff Cave Cover Keep Quote Cat Cut Kite Code Kill Coal Cold Call Cull Core Car Cart Cur Curve Kind Cone Can Came Calm Cash Kick Cake Keg Coach Cows Catch Kiss Cost Cast Gave Govern Gap Get Got Gate Giddy Guide Gill Goal Gold Gale Gull Gear Gore Gone Gain Gun Game Gum Gimlet Gash "Gush Gather Gag Gauge Guess Gas Gust Chief Chaff Chip Cheat Chap Chat Chide Child Cheer Chair Churn Churl Chain Check Chuckle Cheese Chase Choice Jiffy Jove Japan Jib Job Jobber Jot Joe Jolt Jar Jolly Jury Jeer July Jane Join Jim Jumble Josh Jack Joke Jig Jug Jest Just Joist Swift Soft Sofa Safe Syphon Sap Supper Soap Set Settle Sat Suit Said Sadden Sad Side Sell Sole Sale Sulphur Sardine Surface Sire Seen Sand Soon Sign Same Sash Seethe Southern Seek Sack Suck Segar Sag Satchel Siege Scene Saucy Wafer Wife Wave Weep Wipe Wet Wait White Woo Wade Wide Wood Wail Wool While Where Wore Ware Wire When Wan Wash Wither Week Awoke Wake Watch Wedge Waste Yet Yellow Yore Yonder Shrivel Shrove Shred Shrewd Shrill Shrimp Shriek Thrift Thrive Thrill Thresh Thrust Throw Threw Cliff Cleave Clove Clip Club Cold Clear Clean Claw Clash Click Close Craft Creep Crop Crib Creek Croak Crease Cross Crust Crew Glove Glad Gleam Gloom Glum Gloss Glee Glue Grief Gruff Grave Grip Grope Gripe Grub Great Greed Grime Grease Grass Slave Slap Slim Slay Slow Fish Fresh Batch Trash Dash Flesh Rush Breath Doth Drouth Wrath Mother Fake Fleck Flock Frock Knock Meek Make Fig Fag Peach Patch Batch Page Badge Budge Feast Vase Vice Voice Pass Price Boast Bust Breast Toast Dress Last Rest Split Spit Spat Spike Strife Streak Street Stripe Stray Straw Strew Smile Smear Smack Skip Skiff Skill Scale Scream Scroll Sweep Swift Swap Swim Twenty Dwell Dwarf Dwindle Equip Quip Quality Queer Queen Quantity Quick Quest Request Square Squander Finger Ring Throng Among Linger Strong Strung Swing Spring Hang Shingle. 14 PARAGON SHORTHAND SEVENTH LESSON. Some words occur so frequently that it is desirable to repre- sent them in the briefest way possible. Each alphabetic character can be employed to stand for one or more words of which it happens to be a prominent sound. These are designated "Word Signs." The following list, though small, is so well selected that it represents from one-third to one-half of the words found in any article or speech. They must be thoroughly committed to memory, until they can be repeated aloud with a degree of speed. Hord Signs. \ For If v. He Him How \ Of Have Very V. Shall Sure Wish I Put Party Particular "^ Think Them Thank By Be Been >> That (short "ith") / To It /- Can Come / Do Had Go Give -n Good God ^ Will Well -x Which Much ^" Are Or ^/ Just Judge _ No Not In ^/ So Such Is - - . Me More Most ^ What We Would z A, An , s Your -s Yes ^ I Who Whose e. You C Whom . The (a dot) ) Thing Long PARAGON SHORTHAND 15 Phrasing. Bv "Phrasing" is meant the writing of two or more words together, by which means speed is gained. Only such words should be joined which seem to have a natural connection when speaking them. The examples which are given below are not to be memorized. They should be copied and not less than three lines of each written. ^ For a ~>\ I will be \ Have you ^ I will do t/ To a a . I am 6 To you > = lama _ In a \ I have _, Know you \^_-^I have your \. You have You will be </ Had a <& You will do / Do you. Had you d. Do you know <^ You will c/ Do you think .--^^You are ^ How do you do / V If you will ^v How have you been Vt If vou will be V I am sure 16 PARAGON SHORTHAND. Have you been ^. I a in sure you will be To be / Do not 2L You cannot | I think M It will b \^ I think you are I think that there You have been ^-^/ He is He cao >s T have been X T hav In Phrasing, All may be represented by the "Aw" hook. which, as taught in Lesson II, is a broad A; viz: >> For all J By all c/ To all \> Of all J At all JD In all "Oar" may be represented by the "ow" circle; viz: \D For our D By our 6 To our NQ Of our 3 At our o^ On our In Phrasing, "the," by being lengthened to a tick, may be added to a preceding word. The tick is slanted like a "t," except when after a "t" or "d." when it is slanted like "f;" viz: For the By the In the On the > I To the At the Do the Shall the t * / ^ PARAGON SHORTHAND. Role of Contraction. Abbreviate as in longhand; that is, write only the important sounds of a word, which-are usually the first sounds, and omit the rest. By applying this rule, almost any degree of brevity can be obtained. Naturally, as the student becomes accustomed to reading abbreviated writing he will contract words to a greater extent than at first. This rule dispenses with the necessity of committing to memory thousands of arbitrary word-signs, which students of other systems are compelled to do. The application of this rule, makes it unnecessary to provide special signs for many suffixes, as will be noted below: Ted. Ded, may be represented by along "d;" viz; Loaded Fall. By "f;" viz: Ness. By "n;" viz: Repeated J Hopeful Goodness C Mended 7 Joyful Awful <\ Fullness Ment. By "m;" viz- Ferment Judgment Payment Less. Bv "1;" viz: Hopeless Artless Useless Tion. Tious. By "sh;" viz: Nation Motion Ocean lotion Passion Auction Gracious V Able. Ible. By "b;" viz: Desirable Endurable Sociable Notable Preferable Possible "i r 18 PARAGON SHORTHAND. Ing. This suffix is represented by a dot written immediately following the preceding part of the word; viz: Reading Writing Rowing Singing Saying In^s, is represented by an "s" written across the end of the preceding part of the word; viz: Writings Doings Sayings Prefixes. Supplemental to the Rule of Contraction, it is found desirable to represent a few of the most frequently occurring prefixes in some brief manner. Con. Com. Cum. Co[f. When the first word in a sentence begins with the prefix con, com, cum or cog, represent the same by a dot and write the remainder of the word immediately following it; viz: "Contrive to be good:" "Commit no crime." "Combat wrong." Where the word beginning with con, com, cum, cog, is preceded by another word, omit the dot and write the re- mainder of the word c/ose to the preceding word. The prox- imity will indicate to the writer the omission of the prefix; viz: ' 'He is a competent stenographer. " ''Brown went to Conress. " ^ Where another syllable precedes con, coin, cum, cog, write that syllable, omit the con com, cum or cog, and place the remainder of the word close to the preceding syllable; viz >- Inconvenient ^7 Accommodate Incomplete Uncontrolled *^/ Reconsider ?i* Accomplish Recognition Recognize PARAGON SHORTHAND-. Dist Des. Omit the vowel; viz: L^> Display <Lsx- Descend Ex. (eks) Omit the "k" . <LJ> / Exceed Discl<e ^^ Expert Magjni. Majjne. Magnan. Represent this prefix by "m," and write the remainder of the word across it; vi/.: Magnify Manitude Mananimous Self. Represent by "s," and write the remainder of the word across it; viz: Scifiish Self-esteem Self-reliant Self-imposed Self-made <^ j_^- n ~" vt Trans. Write "tr, " for trans, and place the remainder of the word across it; viz; Transmit fSls' Transgress Transmute Transpose- Transact Transpire Enter. Inter. Represent same by "n,"and write the remainder of the word across it; viz: *z- Entertain a( \ \ rrdependent Interpose International 20 PARAGON SHORTHAND When the short sound of e, i or u, as in "ses, " "sis," "sus, " occurs between a double long letter, omit the vowel and make the stroke double length; viz: Vivid Bubble Did Member Excess Inconsistent V I / Sister Suspend Vases Recess Process An abbreviated word and a word-sign may be joined to form another word: viz: Herein (here, in) Hereto When two vowels occur together, the more prominent of the two is written; the other is usually omitted; viz: Deity Dial Royal ' In some words, where both vowels are distinctly pronounced, they are both written; viz: Aeolian Leo Ohio Iota To indicate the two vowels in Bias, Liable, Sience, e may be inserted in the I; viz: \^ ^-^^ A vowel may be omitted where its use would cause an awk- ward joining; viz: Suppose Submit Book Took M I ^ L-y. /- PARAGON SHORTHAND Copy, and write not less than three lines of each of the following Examples. Able Afterthought Afterward Altogether Although d> Also c: Almost -D Any C* Always <f Acknowledge *_ Acquaintance V Affect / Anxious (angshus) 1 Another America \y- Advantage / / Advertise L. Advertisement r Advertiser ]o Between L But K" Become Because Bank 22 PARAGON SHORTHAND. IT Book /a- Within V* Broker -^TK-^ Notwithstanding If Balance V-_ Insure ^ Different t^a Procure < Difficult V^P^- Himself ^ Deliver Os^^x Ourselves V* Here i, ^ Themselves \o Hereto . Utmost ^o Heretofore * Utterly ^o Hereafter Q \ Moreover VA_ Herein ^7 Maintain V? Herewith V^- Hopelessness 6 Glad S> Happiness ^j Obtain ~~^3 Inasmuch to. Hopeless ~^ v> Insofaras x^ With x ^^^ Receipt PARAGON SHORTHAND. 23 Reply Represent x Report Internal / Introduce V- Intervene a Money o Many -t^" x " Enter prise -fr- Entertain f" Interrupt /^ Intercede c- One c- Once Short Shorthand To-hand Please-send I Nothing 7 Under Understand Plausible Feasible Valuable \p F.O. B. dree on board) / C. 0. D., (coflect on delrwrj) S+~ England ,/f English V Naighborhood **> United States L. Dear Sir v Your letter 24 PARAGON SHORTHAND. x- j Yours truly ~Z^- Modest ^ ^x^*^Yonrs respectfully *2f v< x^*\ Relevant -^^ Redeemable ^<^\ Irrelevant o^ Irredeemable c ~^t Understood o( Indifferent \f .Undervalue / Indefinite ^ Undertake z-t Merchandise er^ Underwrite ^t^ Liquidation Xvv. Rational l^ Practical a-^ Irrational ^ X ^ Strange 7^-"" Material -^ Length j*^** Immaterial -^"^^ References ? Mature ^^ Current Q ~~T Immature (>^^^ Original " Refutable Regular o^^ J Irrefutable o^"^ Irregular PARAGON SHORTHAND. Punctuation. All the ordinary punctuation marks may bo employed, except the period, to represent which a stroke is drawn across, the line. Special Abbreviations. The Stenographer will be able to make special abbrevia- tions for words, names, terms or phrases frequently occurr- ing in his own work. For example, the Law Stenographer would adopt \? for plaintiff, < for defendant t '"2? for w ilness, ^-> for "what is your name," ^V"^ for "where do you reside." )j> for "how long hai'e you lived there".'' The words "of the" are omitted when they occur in a sentence that is, when they occur between other words The omission is indicated by writing the succeeding word close to the word preceding "of the." Examples: Your letter of the 8th- End of the season- Top of the hill. Wben "of the" are the first words in a sentence they are written- Example: "Of the many places I saw I prefer Paris: "X PARAGON SHORTHAND. HOW TO PRACTICE FOB SPEED. Having mastered the foregoing lessons, the student is in possession of a system of shorthand wherewith can be written puythinjj and everything in the language, briefly and legibly. If he hns faithfully followed the directions given, if he hns actually written and repeatedly practiced the examples, he is now al.le to drill for speed- For reasons- stated in the Preface, a given amount of practice will produce a higher speed in Paragon sbort.bauJ than is possible with any other system. If the student will carefully observe the following in- structions, ar.d will pursue the plan outlined, he will soon be able to write from dictation fast enough to do practical work. Remember that Speed is the outcome of thorough familiarity with the principles of the system and actual application of the same- a. Always hold the pencil very loosely. In writing let the mere weight of the pencil make the mark- Do not bear on it. Use the Faber No- 2- b. Make small outlines and write close together. Spreading out the writing so that but few words are written on a line, consumes time- c. Copy the shorthand of tbe first letter neatly. d. Then practice for speed by drilling on but one word or "phrase" at a time- Speak the word, or "phrase," aloud, repeating it faster and faster as you proceed, while at the same time endeavoring to keep up with the pencil- When you are able to write the word, or "phrase," as fast as you can utter it, follow the same method with the next, and so on until you have completed the letter. Then write the letter from beginning to end from some one else's reading. The reader can time your speed by the second-hand of a watch, and the letter should be thus read to you many times, until you can write it at a speed of one-hundred words a minute- (The figures in parenthesis are not to be read, and are inserted to enable tbe dictator to ascertain the speed at which the stenographer writes. Every tentb word is numbered). Then practice on tbe second letter in flie same manner- By the time you will have drilled on twenty-five letters, you may venture' to take a dictation on matter not previously practiced. Tbe "Word Signs should be recited daily- i5i oca This book is DUE on the last date stamped below JAN 23 193b APR 1 6 1936 H A V3"^ flpfc * ifiii MAR 9-1961 Form L-9-35m-s.'-_'s 256 L6lp Lichtentag Paragon shorthand . UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY ' -- A 000 591 620 o ,-EKSlTY of CALIFORNiy AT LOS ANSELES