Suggested Learning Route
This is just a suggestion for people who are unsure of where to start! Feel free to skip parts, or do things out of order, or do other things entirely. The best way to learn is the one you enjoy and can stick to.
| Learning Level | Suggestion |
|---|---|
| Absolute Beginner | Choose a theory and read a textbook.
Join the discord. It can be easier to learn with other people. The discord is full of friendly people you can chat to and ask questions about steno and Plover. Read the Glossary. There may be a bunch of terms that come up in the textbooks and when discussing stenography that you'll want to know. |
| Learning the Keyboard | Learn the Steno Keyboard on Steno Jig. It can be easier to learn where all the keys are on the steno keyboard separately from learning vocabulary, and not dive into chording right away. You will need to turn off the dictionaries to use this. |
| Learning the keyboard (QWERTY) | Download one of the keyboard cheat sheets. |
| Beginner vocabulary | Practice writing with a steno-focused tool. Popular tools are Typey Type, Steno Jig and Practice Plover.
Start using flashcards. Some people like using flashcards to practice vocabulary and identify problem words. Learn to use tools and plugins. These can help you discover how to write new words and briefs that may not come up in early lessons. Check out the Misleading Strokes in Plover's Dictionary and Top 100 English Words in Plover's Dictionary. It's common to have questions about why a word is stroked that way, or why you should pick one option over the other. |
| Intermediate vocabulary | Practice on other typing sites. Many of these will have you practicing quotes with unseen text. It can be useful to learn fingerspelling and punctuation before you try these so you don't get stuck.
Start adding your own entries to the dictionary. Learn how Plover's Dictionary Format works, and try using the Add Translation dialog to add your own vocabulary and briefs. Every stenographer's dictionary is going to be personal for them (and may be specific to certain contexts). For example, Plover's main dictionary contains many legal and medical briefs which you may want to override with vocabulary you use more often. |
| ~30wpm | Start using stenography in your day-to-day writing. Check out this FAQ answer for tips. (30wpm is roughly where people aren't frustrated with their speed, but this may vary). |
| ~50wpm | Practice with Steno Arcade, or other slow dictation. (About 50wpm is what you need for the slowest song included with Steno Arcade, but it's possible to add your own songs which you may find easier). |
| ~100wpm | Consider investing in steno hardware. Steno hardware is nice to have at any speed, but at about 100wpm it starts to have a bigger impact on your speed and endurance. |
Glossary
For a glossary of terms used in stenography and plover, see the Glossary page.
Tools
Plover comes with a lot of built-in tools which are useful for learning, such as:
- Lookup. Write words here to see how you can write them.
- Stroke Suggestions. Suggests alternative ways of writing the words you write.
- Paper Tape. Shows which keys Plover thinks you're pressing.
Plugins
Check out Plugins for how to install plugins.
Flashcards
You can use flashcards to help you memorize briefs, theory rules, phrases and more. See Using Anki for Learning Stenography for more details on how to get set up and community materials.