EasyScript Speed Writing

EasyScript Speed Writing is a speedwriting method that was developed by Lenny Levin and was introduced at a public seminar in Bedford, Massachusetts in 1990. EasyScript, like other speedwriting methods, has an advantage over traditional shorthand methods in that it can be learned more easily, at the cost of reduced maximum speed. In other words, a person using EasyScript will still write in the traditional longhand form but everything he writes will be shortened.

Rules

The EasyScript system has five rules. They have divided the entire English vocabulary into five groups.

• SIMPLE WORDS. A simple word is a word without a prefix or a suffix. Examples are and, have, able, any, should, paragraph.

• PREFIX WORDS. A word that has a participle before the root. Examples are con in contest, pro in propose, under in understand

• SUFFIX WORDS. A word that has a participle after the root. Examples are ment in commencement, ness in tenderness, ly in happily

• PREFIX-SUFFIX WORDS. A word that has participles before and after the root. Examples are de and tion in detention, un and able in unavoidable

• COMPOUND WORDS. A word that is made up of two words joined together to form another word. Examples are copyright, counterdevelop, overmeasure

Usage

• For Simple Words, one simply has to take 1, 2, or 3 letter codes to abbreviate the word. An example is tk for take. The system also provides shortcuts for commonly used words such as d for and.

• For Prefix Words, one has write the code for the prefix followed by 1, 2, or 3 letter codes for the root word or just the first two or three letters from the root word. For example, the word understand has two parts: the prefix under and the root word stand. The code for the prefix under is u so the word will be in EasyScript as ust if only 2 letters are borrowed from the root, usta is 3 letters are taken, or ustn, if vowels are omitted from the root.

• For Suffix Words, one has to write 1, 2, or 3 letter codes for the root word followed by the suffix code. For example, the word shipment will be abbreviated as shim (shi for ship + m for ment).

• For Prefix-Suffix Words, one has to write the prefix code followed by 1, 2, or 3 letter codes for the root word followed by the suffix code. For example the word unsuccessful would be abbreviated as usucf (u for un + suc for success + f for ful).

• For Compound Words, one has to write the first two letters of the first word followed by a "/" sign followed by the first two letters of the second word. For example, bloodtest would be bl/te, clubhouse would be cl/ho, and copyright would be co/ri.

References

• EasyScript Express, Hardcover, Leonard Levin, Legend Publishing, (2001). ISBN 1893726002 [1]
• EasyScript I, Book & 1 CD, Leonard Levin, Legend Publishing, 1995. ISBN 1893726010 [2]
• EasyScript II, Book & 2 CDs, Leonard Levin, Legend Publishing, 1993 ISBN 1893726029 [3]
• EasyScript III, Book & 4CDs. Leonard Levin, Legend Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1893726053 [4]