hand travels, the more rapid must be its speed. If the hand is moving rapidly, control of it is not so easily maintained as when writing at a slower speed, and in consequence the notes will lose in symmetry. At the beginning of the study, make the characters small and accurate; they will very likely increase somewhat in size when you begin to take dictation. If you have had considerable training in penmanship, the notes should be in keeping with the size of your longhand letters. Avoid a cramped style as much as you would a large one. Make a close study of your notes and adopt a size that is adapted to your hand, but if there is any doubt in your mind select the smallest possible size you can execute with freedom of movement.
The Studies in the earlier lessons provide much valuable material for practice, and the student should aim to incorporate the characteristics of the examples in his writing. He will soon find that he is acquiring a grace of motion in writing and a comfortable feeling of being unhampered by mechanical difficulties that is as gratifying to the mind as it is conducive to speed in writing.
Value of Compactness.—Writing on this subject, the accomplished shorthand reporter, H. W. Thorne, said:
"Acquire the habit of writing neatly and compactly. This conduces to speed. Large, sprawling outlines have the opposite tendency.
The argument that small characters produce a cramped action of the hand, and, hence result in loss of speed, while a large, free, swinging style carries the writer forward with "leaps and bounds," thereby enhancing speed, was effectually controverted a quarter of a century ago."
The illustration following is intended to show the difference between small, compact notes and large, widely spaced writing:
