h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hmmmm, I must admit, although I learned the theory behind Teeline, I never practiced enough to get my speed up - consequently, I never used it during my time as a journalist.

Very, very bad, I know.

I heard at major newspapers you don't get rated unless you get proficient in shorthand. But I am going into research soon, so that doesn't really matter anymore.

But I have always felt that shorthand is a skill that would always be useful.

It's a shame you went to all the trouble of learning the theory to end up not using your shorthand. Seems to happen quite often to people who don't want to risk not being able to read back their shorthand taken during interviews etc.

Yet, since I've been teaching shorthand I've been surprised at how well people manage to read back some of the most chaotic looking, technically incorrect outlines.

If you have dictation tapes, do the occasional bit of practice - in case you ever want to get back into print media. Some reporters I know get by without very high speeds.