Gregg Speed Studies/Speed Study 2

by John Robert Gregg

Layout 2

SPEED STUDY II
SECOND LESSON

Speed in the execution of the consonants presented in the Second Lesson of the Manual can be increased by combining muscular movement with a slight closing of the fingers with the downward sweep of the pen. Speed is vastly increased by eliminating all unnecessary movements. Analyze the movements necessary to execute a form. Pass from one character to another in the most direct line, with the pen barely clearing the paper. Do not stop at the end of a character.

Observe length very carefully—but write the characters.

Drill 1

Consonants Joined.—The combinations pr, br, fr, pl, bl, fl, are of very frequent occurrence, and special attention to the writing of them is highly essential. These frequently recurring combinations should be written with one sweep of the pen. Distinction in length is of vital importance.

Study very carefully the following types of joinings—the dotted lines indicate slant:

Frequent Consonant Combinations.—Note that in pr, pl, the first movement is from right to left; in br, bl, the first movement is downward.

Drill 2

Key to second and third lines: pray, bray, play, blame, apple, prate, brain, plain, bred, preach, pledge, blade, brim.

The "Fr" Blend.— The fr, fl, and vr, vl combinations—or blends—should also be executed with one movement. Study particularly the slant of f and v as indicated by the dotted lines:

Incorrect forms:

Intervening Vowels.—When a circle vowel intervenes between the f or v and a following r or l, and in other similar joinings, the angle is restored and the circle placed outside, thus:

Key: fear, feel, fair, fail, vary, valley.

In harmony with the fr and fl blends, such combinations as the following should receive study and practice:

? ? Key: keep, can-be.

Practice the following words, which form a nucleus for other combinations of this character, until facility in writing the fr and fl blends is acquired:

Drill 3

Key: free, fray, frame, flay, flame, flat, freed, fresh, flee, frail, flit, flash, flail, flag, French.

Repeated Consonants.—In placing a circle between repeated strokes the distinctive form and slant of the consonants must be properly observed. Note the following:

Correct Forms: ? ? ? ?

By comparing the following incorrect forms with the foregoing the importance of correct slant will be evident:

Incorrect forms: ? ? ? ?

Note the different slants, as indicated by the dotted lines.

Facile Joinings.—In the following joinings, observe how each consonant stands out distinctly, and how both slant and economy of effort in joining are fully preserved:

Drill 4

Key: par, bail, parade, berry, billet, ballad, shelf, cash, jail, cage, gash, cave, peel, pallid, pallet, gage.

In such joinings as p-a-r, for example, the circle should close up snugly.

In such combinations as the following a very full curve produces a more facile joining:

Drill 5

Key: deep, evade, fish, batch, calm, latch, peach, chap, chief, knave.

Straight Strokes.—Attention must also be given to the execution of straight lines. Because of the apparent simplicity, the execution of the straight stokes is often neglected. Better outlines will be made automatically if the methods of joining the circle explained on page 23 of the preceding Study are observed. Note particularly in the following that the straight characters are really straight and that the curves are distinct:

Drill 6

Key: each, hatch, edge, age, she, jay, if, after, every, I-have, pay, believe.

Reverse Curves.—There are a few words in which the reverse curves in this lesson are found in combination. The following illustrations should be practiced carefully:

Drill 7

Key:' beef, pave, fib, bevy, peevish.

Modification of Circles.—The mastery of the joinings illustrated in paragraphs fifteen and sixteen of the Manual is of very great importance.

Drill 8

Key:' rap, leap, chat, dish, rave, lash, fickle, bit, taffy, cab, raft, fade, vague, gap, back, abate, brief, beam, brave, cap.