m 
 
 ■
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 >/
 
 BOYD'S 
 
 Syllabic 
 Shorthand 
 Text Book 
 
 A SYSTEM OF SHORTHAND IN WHICH CHARACTERS REPRESENT SYLLABLES, 
 THEREBY GREATLY SIMPLIFYING THE SCIENCE 
 
 THIS SYSTEM CAN BE I EARNED IN ONE FOURTH OF THE TIME REQUIRED 
 
 FOR OTHER SYSTEMS 
 
 BY 
 
 ROBERT BOYD, A. B. 
 
 (UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO) 
 
 THOROUGHLY REVISED AND ENLARGED 
 BY 
 
 WM . D. FANNING, B. L. 
 
 Chicago 
 CHICAGO CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOLS 
 
 mck::;:
 
 second edition, improved 
 
 copyrighted, i9o3, by 
 
 Chicago Correspondence School.'
 
 tl.' 
 
 / 
 
 BOYD'S 
 SYLLABIC SHOBTHAND.
 
 CHARACTERS 
 I I 
 
 4CX. 
 5 C_ 
 
 all 
 
 asr 
 
 jal 
 lan 
 
 4e 
 
 9 
 
 a 
 
 avv 
 
 ar\ [af 
 
 'ay 
 
 etc 
 
 esc 
 
 -Del 
 
 Den 
 
 e.u; 
 
 o ec ed o 
 vev eb\ 
 
 .eg 
 
 e\ 
 
 am 
 
 az 
 
 itC 
 
 |to 
 — th 
 
 ^\ ir\ 
 ^e bp) 
 
 —Ail 
 
 '/I K 
 
 rMn 
 
 em^ j^iy 
 
 'P/Vv" 
 
 if 
 
 in\\J 
 
 Ot Ci. 
 0SC7" 
 
 -ZDol 
 
 O 
 
 oP 
 
 oc 
 
 p°' 
 
 "oon 
 
 od ^ 
 
 "^-^^^^ 
 
 oy 
 
 omVC' 
 
 /ex i/ix 
 
 IP' ::;:^'.^ p^ 
 
 \sp ch/ 
 
 St -^ 
 
 ut< 
 us< 
 
 ur] (uf 
 
 'Ul 
 
 >un 
 
 - uc") fuel ^ 
 
 cr€_ 
 dr<s- 
 
 -S ce 
 
 (j\ 
 
 dw. 
 
 gr 
 
 
 fD 
 
 ■c) ly 
 
 gl 
 
 tu 
 
 SC (Ji 
 
 sm 
 
 ELEMENTS OF THE SYLLABIC SYSTEM.
 
 CO 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 ''PHE present-day use of shorthand is so universal 
 that any argument in its favor is unnecessary. 
 In the business world it is recognized as absolutely essen- 
 tial. The courts now refuse to receive documents that 
 are not in typewritten form. Professional men of all 
 kinds are obliged to resort to stenography, and as a 
 matter of convenience many have taken up the study of 
 some system of shorthand for personal use. The only 
 reason a great many more persons have not undertaken 
 tZ -to master the science is that until recently no system 
 >. had been devised by which shorthand could be learned 
 § without a long course of study, necessitated by the com- 
 25 plicated and confusing systems in vogue. About fifty 
 different styles of shorthand have been placed before 
 j^ the people during the last half century, all based upon 
 Ki the k'tter, or consonant, system, but that system of 
 ^ shorthand requires so many different characters to ex- 
 press the different words that even moderate proficiency 
 ^ is extremely difficult to attain. 
 
 t The system known as the Syllabic System of Shorthajid, 
 2 has been recently invented, and as its name implies, is 
 based oil the svllal)l('. The author discovered that the 
 English language may be exi)ressc(l in one hundred and 
 twelve syllables; of this numlxT only sc\ciit y-(i\-(' are 
 used in anything hnl very technical words, and of this 
 number only thirty-five syllables arc used in forming 
 about three-fourths of ;ill the words used in ordinary 
 conversation or business eorres[)ondence. 
 
 9 
 
 44S278
 
 10 PREFACE. 
 
 It has been clearly demonstrated that the Syllabic 
 System may be mastered in one-fifth of the time re- 
 quired for the older systems. It is marvelous in its 
 simplicity, and, as in the case of all other great inven- 
 tions, the only wonder is that it was not discovered 
 many years ago. In every respect it is a logical system. 
 Based as it is ui)on the syllable, it does not impair the 
 ability to spell correctly, as do the older systems. 
 
 It is not difficult to tell what many words are if they 
 are abbreviated by using the first syllable. In the 
 Syllabic System, therefore, it is possible to secure a 
 maximum of brevity by simply writing the sign for 
 the first syllable of many words, and still not confuse 
 the writer. This combines brevity with clearness and 
 makes speed — which, after all, is the most important 
 thing — easily attainable. 
 
 Another great advantage lies in the fact that the 
 longest words can be written without lifting the pen: 
 this is true of no other system. With respect to the ruled 
 copy paper, the system utilizes no positions for char- 
 acters, that is, above, on, or below the line; there is no 
 shacHng of the characters, and it is especially adapted 
 to phrasing because of the possibility of using only 
 one syllable for each word of a phrase. 
 
 In general, this system is in tune with the present 
 busy world, and truly meets a long-felt want. Any 
 time-saving device saves money, and this system of 
 shorthand will revolutionize the stenographic world. 
 
 The Publishers.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 Introduction ...-..- 13 
 
 Part I. 
 The Characters 19 
 
 Part II. 
 Consonants ....... 27 
 
 Part III. 
 Characters Numbers 6, 7, 8 and 9 - - 35 
 
 Part IV. 
 Speed For.ms and Phrases - - - - 41 
 
 Directions ior Stuhv — Miscellaneous - - 61
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 n^HE nineteenth century will ever be memorable for 
 its strides of development along the line of scien- 
 tific discovery. The forces of nature have become, to a 
 large extent, the servant of man and not his master. In 
 the mechanical world the substitution of machinery in 
 many cases has eliminated the operations of the hand. 
 Great upheavals have taken place in the field of dis- 
 covery and invention, but a little reflection will show 
 how narrow the scope has been, and that in many phases 
 the desired goal has stood far-set. 
 
 The art of writing, from a universal standpoint, has 
 undergone no appreciable change by way of speed or 
 legibilit\ through the course of its history from its earliest 
 records. The twenty-six characters known as the al- 
 phabet in our language had their origin in the anci- 
 ent Hebrew or Semitic language, which was made up 
 of characters resembling shapes of various objects in 
 nature. In those ancient days when thought was re- 
 corded upon skins of animals, papyrus, barks of trees 
 and blocks of w^ood or stone, when commerce had neces- 
 sitated no extensive correspondence, brevity in writing 
 was a small consideration. Present conditions, de- 
 pendent upon a highly developed commerce, have pro- 
 duced new demands in chirography, and our slow and 
 irritating process of commiting thought to paper sug- 
 gests modification. 
 
 i3
 
 14 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Characters which arc formed in imitation of crude 
 shapes of animals, and processes of chiving them are 
 stih used today, with httle modification, and from a 
 practical standpoint we still perform the operation of 
 swinging the oxgoad, and riding the double-humped 
 camel with sated complacency. In the art of writing 
 we have been patronizing the stage coach, as a means 
 of transportation^ when we might have had a parlor car 
 at cheaper rates. 
 
 In many words of very frequent occurence the writing 
 which obtains today is wonderfully crude. For ex- 
 am.ple, the words " the" and " with," monosyllabic in 
 sound, and each pronounced wdth one effort of the vocal 
 chords, are long in formation and are not in harmony 
 with the processes of the mind. For the last two hun- 
 dred years repeated attempts have been made to shorten 
 our system of writing, but the mechanical operations 
 devised are not satisfactory, as the writing is indistinct 
 and so laborious to learn that only the few, after many 
 months of memorization of hundreds of disconnected 
 rules, are capable of recording the words of a speaker 
 with a partial degree of accuracy. 
 
 The consonants in our language, which alone the old 
 systems represent in shorthand, are not sounds but mere 
 articulations, and consequently the name "phonetic," 
 as applied to the old systems of shorthand, is a misnomer. 
 The name might appropriately be applied in the old 
 systems if the vowels were represented with the con- 
 sonants, but if this were done, the so-called shorthand 
 would be longer than the longhand. The name "pho- 
 netic," according to the scientific principles of acoustics,
 
 INTRODUCTION. 15 
 
 can only be applied to a distinct, individualized sound 
 as represented in syllables. 
 
 The title ''Syllabic Shorthand" has been applied for 
 many years to systems based entirely on the letter, and 
 differs in no particular from so-called phonetic systems. 
 The reason why this name should have been used is dif- 
 ficult to find. The only explanation appears to be that 
 the systems have no system, that the representations 
 of sounds are in accordance with no sound, that there 
 is no beginning, middle or end, and that it matters not 
 what name may be given to it. 
 
 The word " syllabic " is derived from two Greek words; 
 the first means "with" or "together with," and the 
 second means "to take" or "to place," so that the word 
 is applicable to the union of two or more letters in one 
 sound. Our words, for the purpose of clearness in spell- 
 ing or pronunciation, are divided into syllables. The 
 old notion obtained that the number of syllables in our 
 language was very great, even tens of thousands; but 
 this belief is a mistake. It is possible to form tens of 
 thousands of syllables from the alphabet, but many of 
 these syllables are difficult to pronounce and very un- 
 pleasing to the ear. The natural instincts of the human 
 race chose only the most euphonious, and these are 112 
 in number, and of this number about fifty are rarely 
 usfd. 
 
 The proposal to eni]>loy cliaricters to repi'esent sylla- 
 bles at first suggests the thought that this involves the 
 use of a vast number of characters; but nine different 
 characters, arranged in different positions, \\illi three 
 rules, are sufficient to obtain the difierentiation of each
 
 l() INTRODUCTION. 
 
 syllable. This explains how in one month the average 
 student may attain a speed of 100 words per minute, 
 and this speed, by subsequent practice, can be extended 
 to 200 words per minute, and the writing is read as 
 easily as longhand. 
 
 The voice is given by nature. Its elements are pure, 
 brief, and admit of little alteration. The characters 
 which represent voice-sounds are purely human, and 
 are subjected to change and improvement. The move- 
 ments of the hand in writing may be made to correspond 
 to the movements of the vocal organs in speech. This 
 book sets forth the principles upon which these opera- 
 tions are practical. 
 
 ROBERT BOYD.
 
 PART 1
 
 1, 
 
 THE CHARACTERS. 
 
 1 t T^HE characters used in the Syllabic Sys- 
 
 2 C tern are nine in number, as shown in 
 
 7 the accompanying design. With this sys- 
 
 g <; tem you will notice that the vowel charac- 
 
 fce ters are the base of the system while the 
 
 ^"^^^ consonants are shown by the position which 
 9 — the vowel character assumes. Before study 
 
 is commenced this caution is pertinent: Be exact and do 
 not try to get speed at the expense of exactness, as on 
 this depends the legibility after acquiring speed, Keep 
 this in mind and the student will be successful. 
 
 Plate I shows the sixteen varied positions which 
 each of the first five characters assumes. Note that 
 character 1 rej^resents all syllables in a; character 2 
 all .syllables in e; characlci-.') all syllables in ?'; character 
 4 all syllables in o; character 5 all syllables in u. 
 
 Note that character 1 assumes sixteen different posi- 
 tions — four liorizontal, four Ncrtical. foui- ii,<!;li1 obrKjue 
 and four left oblicjue. 'I'lie same arrangenienl holds 
 for all of the fi''st five ch;ir;icters (with the exception of
 
 20 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 
 
 the I character, in which four variations — it, is, in and 
 im — are made for the sake of simpler characters). 
 
 all lal 
 
 asi — - — — I an 
 
 ar][af 
 acj [ad 
 
 etc -—3 el itC — ^11 
 
 esc— j^^en '^^AtP'^^ 
 
 er\ |ef ir| |if 
 
 ^C^ey en^ ^^^fy ,^^ 
 
 use — ' ''— ^un 
 ur) (uf 
 
 , ^Ax\ ub\ . 
 
 PLATE I. 
 
 Note that in each of the five groups characters repre- 
 senting i^ s, I, and n are horizontal; e.g., al, el, il, ol, 
 and ul are horizontal. Characters representing r, c, /, 
 and d are vertical; e. g., ar, er, ir, or, and ur are vertical. 
 Characters representing p, w, v, and y are oblique, and
 
 BOYD'S S^T^LABIC SHORTHAND. 21 
 
 are made with an upward movement at an angle of 
 forty-five degrees. Characters representmg h, m, g, and 
 z are obHque, and are made with a downward movement 
 at an angle of forty-five degrees.^ 
 
 Note that each character assumes sixteen different 
 positions. Fix firmly in mind the fact that: 
 
 t, s, I, n, characters are horizontal; 
 
 r, c, f, d, characters are vertical; 
 
 p, w, V, y, characters are oblique (upward movement) ; 
 
 b, m,g, z, characters are oblique (downward move- 
 ment). 
 
 The student's first step is to practice in making and thoroughly 
 memorising the a syllables. 
 
 When you have done this then you know the sixteen positions 
 for five vowels, or eighty syllables. 
 
 Now practice the other characters (and the four variations it, is, 
 in, and im). 
 
 Practice until you can make them without any variations. Be 
 exact. 
 
 EXERCISES. 
 
 1. Write out all of these characters in a row, then 
 close the book and under each character write the letters 
 for which it stands. 
 
 2. With the book closed write the a, e, i, o, and u 
 groups as they are written in Plate I. 
 
 3. Practice these exercises until you arc perfectly 
 familiar with every character, whether it is in the group 
 or standing alone. No |)rogresscan be made until you 
 have mastered these elements. 
 
 ' The syllaljlt'S ia\ iy and uir d<j not occur in ordinary iMigl sii. 
 They appoar in the Plato to coniph^to the group. 
 
 The consonants y, li,<j and r will be considered in a Hub.se- 
 quent l(!.sson, together with doiiblc consonants and special cluirac- 
 ters introduced for the sake of speed.
 
 22 
 
 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 
 
 RULE I. 
 
 JOINING SYLLABLES. 
 
 In this system of shorthand each word is a complete 
 line, regardless of the number of syllables. The pen 
 should not be raised in forming any word. Each char- 
 acter is added to the right of the preceding one, and the 
 movement tends to the right, upward, or downward, as 
 convenience permits. 
 
 Note. — The letter k is represented by the character for 
 c. All silent letters are omitted. There is no doubling 
 
 of letters. 
 
 Note how the syllables are joined in the following 
 exercise: — 
 
 1. adage 2. ever 3. oven 
 
 6. abate 7. aged 8. oval 
 
 11. attai 12. abet 13. abut 
 
 16. elate 17. alum 18, upon 
 
 21. it is 22. evil 23. item 
 
 4. above 5. alight 
 
 9. afore 10. animal 
 
 14. annoy 15. apiece 
 
 19. union 20. acid 
 
 24. Adam 25. alas 
 
 M 
 
 14. *
 
 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAXD. 
 
 23 
 
 Write the shorthand for the following (write the words with 
 their numbers and opposite each write the proper character: — 
 
 1. 
 
 arab 
 
 2. 
 
 emit 
 
 3. 
 
 aware 
 
 4. 
 
 evade 
 
 5. 
 
 imitate 
 
 6. 
 
 iris 
 
 7. 
 
 opal 
 
 8. 
 
 adder 
 
 9. 
 
 amiss 
 
 10. 
 
 unaware 
 
 11. 
 
 iron 
 
 12. 
 
 attic 
 
 13. 
 
 offer 
 
 14. 
 
 amuse 
 
 15. 
 
 unaided 
 
 16. 
 
 even 
 
 17. 
 
 acute 
 
 18. 
 
 aback 
 
 19. 
 
 agate 
 
 20. 
 
 isolate 
 
 21. 
 
 anon 
 
 22. 
 
 eaves 
 
 23. 
 
 aside 
 
 24. 
 
 abide 
 
 25. 
 
 amative 
 
 26. 
 
 abed. 
 
 27. 
 
 abode 
 
 28. 
 
 abuse 
 
 29. 
 
 afoot 
 
 30. 
 
 amature 
 
 31. 
 
 awed 
 
 32. 
 
 alive 
 
 33. 
 
 awake 
 
 34. 
 
 avail 
 
 35. 
 
 efface 
 
 36. 
 
 afar 
 
 37. 
 
 utter 
 
 38. 
 
 apace 
 
 39. 
 
 align 
 
 40. 
 
 allege 
 
 41. 
 
 used 
 
 42. 
 
 allow 
 
 43. 
 
 elude 
 
 44. 
 
 eager 
 
 45. 
 
 unison 
 
 46. 
 
 Elen 
 
 47. 
 
 arise 
 
 48. 
 
 abase 
 
 49. 
 
 arrow 
 
 50. 
 
 abated 
 
 51. 
 
 amid 
 
 52. 
 
 ideal 
 
 53. 
 
 occur 
 
 54. 
 
 atone 
 
 55. 
 
 office 
 
 56. 
 
 anal 
 
 57. 
 
 unite 
 
 58. 
 
 await 
 
 59. 
 
 assess 
 
 60. 
 
 attack 
 
 61. 
 
 edit 
 
 62. 
 
 error 
 
 63. 
 
 alike 
 
 64. 
 
 accede 65. 
 
 appear 
 
 66. 
 
 omit 
 
 67. 
 
 olive 
 
 68. 
 
 amass 
 
 69. 
 
 attain 
 
 70. 
 
 uneven 
 
 71. 
 
 anew 
 
 72. 
 
 arose 
 
 73. 
 
 amaze 
 
 74 
 
 . enough 75. 
 
 , adjure
 
 PART II,
 
 n. 
 
 CONSONANTS. 
 
 TDART I took up the various characters used in the Syl- 
 labic Sj''stem of Shorthand in the five vowel groups. 
 The student is now ready to take up the subject of con- 
 sonants. Of the five characters used in the five vowel 
 groups, the second character, or e syllable, is the most 
 easily written, therefore the e syllable is taken as a 
 basis of the character for the consonants. 
 
 RULE II. 
 
 To write any one of the sixteen consonants use the e 
 syllable one-half the size that it is written in the e vowel 
 group. For example, t is written one-half the size of 
 et] /is written one-half the size of el; and so on for all 
 of the sixteen consonants; thus, to write the word tar, 
 write / one-half the size of et and add the regular vowel 
 syllable for ar. 
 
 As the student becomes more practiced the initial 
 consonant of many words may be discarded, as there 
 is no possible cliance for confusion. Similarly, conso- 
 nants beginning a syllable in the middle of a word (me- 
 dial Cf)nsonants) may l)e discarded, as also may final 
 con.sonaiits except in making delicate discriminations.
 
 28 BOYD ^S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 
 
 EXERCISES. 
 
 1. Write the character for each of the following 
 sixteen consonants: t, s, I, n, r, c, f, d, p, w, v, y, b, m, 
 
 g, z. The characters for these consonants need not 
 necessarily be one-half the size of the corresponding e 
 syllable, but may be written as small as possible. 
 The only consideration is that they be distinct. In 
 beginning it will be to the student's advantage to 
 write them one-half size. After practice they may 
 be reduced in size and finally, as suggested above, 
 in many cases they may be totally discarded. 
 
 2. The following words show how the initial conso- 
 nants are joined to vowel syllables. (Practice these un- 
 til you are perfectly familiar with them and can write 
 them rapidly) : 
 
 1- n -u- -^ ^ < ^ 
 
 7. ^ /o — I 
 13. -^ -£_ 
 
 19- ^- ^ ^ "1 ^^ 
 
 25. ■ _ ^ _Z -v^ ^ i 
 
 37. ? "^
 
 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND 
 
 29 
 
 43. 1 
 
 49. 
 
 55. 
 
 I \ ^ \ i 
 ^ ^ ^ -^ \ 
 
 61. 
 
 P-D 
 
 t 
 
 ^ 
 
 1. tar 
 7. war 
 13. leg 
 19. pen 
 25. tin 
 31. fit 
 37. mit 
 43. nor 
 49. wot 
 55. tug 
 61. fun 
 
 2. sat 
 8. van 
 14. net 
 20. web 
 26. sir 
 32. fig 
 38. gin 
 44. rod 
 50. vow 
 56. sup 
 62. dug 
 
 3. nap 
 9. gap 
 15. gun 
 21. ye\\'^ 
 27. lip 
 33. tip 
 39. zip 
 45. cob 
 51. yon 
 57. lug 
 63. pun 
 
 4. ran 
 10. ted 
 16. red 
 22. bid 
 28. nip 
 34. win 
 40. ton 
 46. fop 
 52. boy 
 58. nub 
 64. bur 
 
 5. fag 
 11. sew 
 17. rew 
 23. men 
 29. rib 
 35. vim 
 41, sob 
 47. bog 
 53. nop 
 59. run 
 65. yum 
 
 6. pad 
 12. mud 
 18. den 
 24. gem 
 30. cid 
 36. big 
 42. lop 
 48. pod 
 54. God 
 60. cub 
 66. nun 
 
 Write in shorthand the following (write the words 
 with their numbers, and opposite each write the proper 
 character). 
 
 1. tar 2. sap 3. lad 4. naj) 5. raz 6. cab 
 7. fag 8. dan 9. pal 10. wag ll.cit 12. yam 
 13. bar 14. mat 15. gas 16. zag 17. t;iii 18. set
 
 ;50 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORlHAND. 
 
 19. led 20. new 21. red 22. fed 23. dew 24. peg 
 25. wet 26. yet 27. bed 28. met 29. get 30. tip 
 31. sit 32. lip 33. nil 34. rip 35. fig 36. dip 
 37. pin 38. wit 39. vis 40. bid 41. gib 42. zip 
 43. toy 44. sop 45.log 46. nod 47. rod 48. cow 
 49. fog 50. don 51. pot 52. won 53. bon 54. yon 
 55. boy 56. mot 57. God 58. tub 59. sun 60. lug 
 61. nut 62. rub 63. cup 64. fur 65. dug 66. pup 
 67. yew 68. bun 69. nub 70. gut 
 
 Write the following characters with their numbers, 
 
 and the words which they represent : — 
 
 li j '^ p '^ ^ /r ^ J? \ ^0 ^ zt \ 
 
 U '\ ^3 3r ^^ \ -■> iL_ xi 0^ 27 \^ jr ^ 
 
 i? •<._ JO ^^-^ 3/ (^ Ji Cj S3 1^— jy ^ ss ([ 
 
 io i — SI ^ ^^ \ ^3 «5< ^^ '^ — ' ^^ '^ ^-^^ ^ 
 
 .3 7 <i-^ SS- '^^-^ S7 ^3-o (,0- j/ t/ ^— U -^ Ui ~\ 
 
 7/ ^ -^-2 C* ''■' "^ — 3 y ^ — ^^ ^ '^ \. ^^ ^ — ' 
 
 }r ^ ^? C* w "^-^ ti V^ fi -?_^ rj ->— , !-■/ -^ 
 
 Hi <_ /"/ 1 /ot 3s^ /Of V /IO \ /// ^ //^ x,
 
 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND 31 
 
 "■3 I Hi 2 Hi b ^ \ "^ \/ '"' '^ — • "^ \_ 
 
 liO c—^ /il c— ' It! C-— a U3 e-°^ -' - cr-^ .-^S c-^ /^ t e O 
 
 /i/cr-j /;r e<> lif c^ IJO cxy /J/ e^ 1 3i C^ /Jj c^ 
 
 I3Y «^ /3i- «T /j;. c ' /J/ c-x^ /jf- e_c^ /j;? c^ //^ 00/ 
 
 !•// c-/ hi ^ o /y « «-/ />-y c^^ --' c ^ ->. t 3 /r/ c_ 
 
 Iftt^ /if c_, /y^' « 1 /^/ c, . /SJ yXj /^i/i — , /ir y^ 
 
 iss ^ is(. J/ — . /v «/« — /•^■^ t< z-^/ </^ "■" <r~^ /'•^ /
 
 ?ABT III
 
 III. 
 
 OliARACTERS NUMBER 6, 7, 8 imd 9. 
 
 ITN Parts I and II oiil}- the first five of the nine 
 
 characters of this system have been used. After a 
 
 thorough master}^ of these characters the student is 
 
 ready for the remaining four, wliich are more or less 
 
 arbitrary, though quite as simple and as easily learned 
 
 as the others. 
 
 Notice that character 6 falls 
 
 ■ n ^ ^x ere s>ce 
 
 mto a group snnilar to the drs aly 
 
 vowel groups, and is used in gr^ ^gl 
 
 writing the following : — cr, dr, 
 
 ce, ly, gr, ph, gl, sc, tr, dw, sw, tr^^cJ io^^^a^ 
 
 tw, sn, sm, ax. (There is no . . ^/s^ s"\ 
 
 syllable for the character at (2^^^ ^"^^ 
 
 the lower right hand corner.) 
 
 y f 1 >. The use of character 7 may be 
 
 /^ " ^ shown, as in the accomjmnying de- 
 
 i/x , sign, by a broken circle. The eight 
 
 (p. 
 
 vc^r W^ P"" different positions which it assumes 
 determine the following d()ul)le 
 v^p ch/ consonants: — /)/, rl, jl, si, pr, eh, 
 
 _SL_ d, sj). 
 
 Four other characters are shown in this d(»sign, 
 namely, ex, ox, ix and ux. Th(!se characters must not 
 be confused with the character for the i syllabic of 
 which they would form a part but for the siini)lf'r 
 characters used in that group to take their place.
 
 36 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 
 
 Character 8 is used in four different posi- ^j jp| 
 tions, as shown in the accompanying ^ 
 
 design, namely, to represent hi, jr, re, br. ^ -^ 
 
 Character 9, the simple straight line, is 
 used to represent the four double conso- I ° 
 
 nants shown in the accompanying design— 
 to.th.sKwh. sh/ wfN 
 
 The student now has before him all the characters 
 of this system in all the different positions which they 
 assume, with the exception of several convenient char- 
 acters, speed forms, and ph^-ases, which will be consid- 
 ered in Part IV. 
 
 It is necessary to explain that all monosyllables begin- 
 ning with a consonant, other than those shown in the 
 preceding designs, are represented hy the corresponding 
 e syllable written in the regular way. 
 
 \ = be, by, buy — > = no, know, knee 
 
 I die, do, dye / = pa, pie 
 
 P = fee, foe c — = sea, so, see 
 
 \ = go, guy y^ = vie 
 
 — ^ = lee, lie, lo, lye cy^ = we 
 
 ^ = ma, me, my <^ 
 
 you, ye 
 
 For example. — be, by or buy are written with the eb 
 character, but the context will readily show which of 
 the words the character represents.
 
 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SPIORTHAM). 
 
 37 
 
 EXERCISES. 
 
 Write in shorthand the following words using the characters 
 learned. 
 
 1, show 
 6. shed 
 11. Fred 
 16. whim 
 21. this 
 26. text 
 31. frog 
 36. rely 
 41. whom 
 46. fox 
 51. fix 
 56. sham 
 61. ship 
 66. whip 
 71. into 
 76. unto 
 81. brow 
 86. rest 
 91. thud 
 96. box 
 101. plot 
 106. plus 
 111. fiat 
 116. flap 
 121. chew 
 126. slip 
 131. spar 
 136. crab 
 141. crib 
 146. draw 
 151. -na,'> 
 156. plow 
 
 2. brook 3. 
 
 7. relax 8. 
 
 12. bride 13. 
 
 17. fresh 18. 
 
 22. thine 23. 
 
 27. freak 28. 
 
 32. whirl 33. 
 
 37. topaz 38. 
 
 42. afhx 43. 
 
 47. shake 48. 
 
 52. those 53. 
 
 57. j)rone 58. 
 
 62. glare 63. 
 
 67. trace 68. 
 
 72. smite 73. 
 
 77. pluck 78. 
 
 82. ample 83. 
 
 87. chord 88. 
 
 92. slang 93. 
 
 97. spend 98. 
 
 102. glass 103. 
 
 107. track 108. 
 
 112. smack 113. 
 
 117. steal 118. 
 
 1 22. sleet 
 
 127. 
 132. 
 137, 
 142, 
 117, 
 152, 
 157, 
 
 123. 
 128. 
 133. 
 138. 
 
 '■lime 
 groan 
 snuff 
 j)lume 143. 
 chunk 148. 
 speed 153. 
 glide 158. 
 
 brute 
 
 where 
 
 reach 
 
 shine 
 
 thief 
 
 break 
 
 brine 
 
 share 
 
 annex 
 
 wheat 
 
 clear 
 
 proof 
 
 greet 
 
 train 
 
 blaze 
 
 flank 
 
 flash 
 
 chess 
 
 sleep 
 
 crape 
 
 grave 
 
 twist 
 
 dwell 
 
 cheap 
 
 spice 
 
 gleam 
 
 track 
 
 dwarf 
 
 flare 
 
 cliff 
 
 craze 
 
 grain 
 
 4. 
 9. 
 
 14. 
 
 19. 
 
 24. 
 
 29. 
 
 34. 
 
 39. 
 
 44. 
 
 49. 
 
 54. 
 
 59. 
 
 64. 
 
 69. 
 
 74. 
 
 79. 
 
 84. 
 
 89. 
 
 94. 
 
 99. 
 104. 
 109. 
 114. 
 119. 
 124. 
 129. 
 134. 
 139. 
 144. 
 149. 
 154. 
 159. 
 
 froth 
 
 wheel 
 
 shone 
 
 whine 
 
 broad 
 
 agree 
 
 frock 
 
 white 
 
 brick 
 
 wharf 
 
 slain 
 
 drunk 
 
 tlrive 
 
 smart 
 
 bless 
 
 flake 
 
 stood 
 
 click 
 
 spear 
 
 drill 
 
 grind 
 
 snare 
 
 ])liss 
 
 slant 
 
 crane 
 
 grape 
 
 twine 
 
 bloat 
 
 steam 
 
 clasp 
 
 cross 
 
 gruff 
 
 70. 
 75. 
 80. 
 
 5. thought 
 10. relate 
 15. brother 
 20. oxalic 
 25. frohc 
 30. remain 
 35. throat 
 40. relieve 
 45. explore 
 50. bright 
 55. regret 
 60. shadow 
 65. thrill 
 stately 
 aflame 
 abstain 
 85. plaster 
 90. promise 
 95. prol)ate 
 100. profess 
 105. arrest 
 110. choral 
 115. special 
 120. clinic 
 125. propel 
 130. proflt 
 135. procur 
 140. blight 
 145. execute 
 150. bridfre 
 155. p.-ul!j»: 
 160. tract 
 
 44S278
 
 38 
 
 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 
 
 101. stay 162. twill 163. tally 164. smoke 165. thread 
 
 166. clap 167. block 168. blind 169. scold 170. glance 
 
 171. prop 172. smile 173. snail 174. scene 175. throne 
 
 176. swam 177. tweed 178. trade 179. swell 180. speech 
 
 ISl.bhir 182. drone 183. graze 184. gloss 185. clever 
 
 i86. snow 187. cream 188. crack 189. spell 190. glimmei 
 
 191. crew 192. slate 193. clean 194. chime 195. plush 
 
 196.pl.it 197. stave 198. stone 199. shear 200. whirl
 
 PAKT IV.
 
 IV. 
 
 SPEED FORMS, PHRASES AND LETTERS. 
 
 Parts I, II, and III contain all the shorthand 
 characters used in this system ^ except the characters for 
 the vowels a, e, i, and o, when these letters alone form a 
 syllable; the consonants h, j, and q; speed forms 
 and phrases. These features of the system have been 
 withheld from the student to avoid any possible con- 
 fusion. As the regular forms have been fully explained 
 in the preceding parts, the student, if he has fully mas- 
 tered them, is ready to go on with the work presented 
 in Part IV, the last. 
 
 No special punctuation marks are required. The 
 regular punctuation marks are not similar to any char- 
 acters of the system and their use cannot possibly lead 
 to confusion. 
 
 CONSONANTS h, j, q. 
 
 The letter h is silent except as an initial letter, and in 
 case it is necessary to make a delicate discrimination 
 the letter may be represented by a tick placed before 
 a character. The same tick after a character represents 
 final ]j or ty, as shown on page 42. 
 
 The letter j has no separate character, but is repre- 
 sented by the cliaracter for i. No confusion can arise 
 from tliis substitution. The letters ;/w arc represented 
 by the sign for ujc.
 
 42 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 
 
 SPEED FORMS. 
 
 The following abbreviations and special characters 
 are of extreme importance. Fast writing demands their 
 use. Practice them until you are perfectly familiar 
 with them. Write several short sentences in which 
 the speed forms occur. It is upon the student's mastery 
 of these forms that the degree of success depends. 
 
 c = a or ay A = ant, ent, ance, ence 
 
 ■^ = e = he V = con, com, come 
 
 3 = i or j ^ = final y or ty or initial h 
 
 0=0 — £> = ce, se, selves 
 
 J = c = k ^ = ux = qu , 
 
 r\ = ing 1 = r = wr 
 
 -7 = and — ^ = el = le 
 
 Note the following abbreviations use the consonant 
 beginning the word. 
 
 T == are -^ = laid, lain 
 
 *^ = been -o = new, now 
 
 J = can, came <~ = same, said 
 
 t = done <- = take, took, taken 
 
 f = for <y = with 
 
 ~N = get, got (f = your
 
 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 
 
 43 
 
 The following abbreviations are not arbitrary, but are 
 represented by the first or second syllable or the prin- 
 cipal syllable sounded. 
 
 (^ = able 
 t^ = but, put 
 
 /^ = call 
 
 C 
 
 [ = did 
 
 would 
 could 
 
 = note 
 = our, hour 
 \ = part, particular 
 / = shall, she 
 / = sion, tion, should 
 ^ = seem, seam 
 
 each, such, much \ = some, home 
 
 "~" = file, fill 
 
 ^ = from 
 
 y^ = give- en -ing 
 
 / = have- ing 
 
 n = ear, hear, here 
 
 v^ = him, time 
 
 c7 — = was, house 
 
 \ . = whether 
 
 r 
 
 J 
 
 = will 
 
 = after 
 
 = account 
 
 = city 
 
 = business 
 
 — = the 
 
 - = they, them 
 
 I = difficult- ty- ties 
 
 = that 
 
 \ = who, why, when 
 
 \ = what, which 
 
 = while, whole 
 
 V^*^ = communicate- ed- 
 ing- tion 
 
 N = about 
 
 I = one, first 
 
 \ = again 
 
 X = high 
 
 ^ =^ month
 
 44 
 
 B0Yiy8 SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 
 
 W 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 letter 
 
 gentlemen 
 
 Mr. 
 
 January 
 
 March 
 
 May 
 
 July 
 
 September 
 
 November 
 
 Sunday 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 Thursday 
 
 Saturday 
 
 K 
 
 1 
 
 = today 
 = not, out 
 — firm 
 = February 
 = April 
 = June 
 = August 
 = October 
 = December 
 = Monday 
 = Wednesday 
 = Friday 
 
 Write these one-half of the size of the corresponding 
 
 syllables. 
 
 
 
 *^ = bay 
 
 -* = lay 
 
 ^ = pay y = way 
 
 t> = day 
 
 ^ = may 
 
 1 = ray 6 = yea 
 
 '^ = gay 
 
 -T, = nay 
 
 «»- = say 
 
 H = hay 
 
 ^ = jay. 
 
 Are exceptions to the ru
 
 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. i' 
 
 A SPECIMEN LETTER. 
 
 In the following letter note the characters used for 
 such phrases as "your favor," "at hand," "in reply," 
 "would say that," "must be," "we think," "you will," 
 "we might be able to," "we have," "in reference," "we 
 would," "to hear," "you soon," "we are," and "very 
 truly yours." Practice writing this letter in shorthand 
 until you can write it in one minute. 
 
 Chicago, 111., June 10th. 1903 
 
 John Jones , Esq. . 
 
 Chicago. 
 
 Dear Sir:- 
 
 Vour favor of the 9th inst. at hand, and in reply 
 
 «ould say that the store and basement 152 Vine Street, must 
 
 be rented together. We thinK that if you will make us an 
 'K <( ^^y— p ^ ^ 'i tf-N — . 
 
 offer of $2200 on a lease of two or three years, we might be 
 ^- f -^c ^ P a <] 3 ^ ^^ 
 
 •ble to secure the store and basement for ycu, and in ease 
 you had no use for the basement, we should have no difficulty 
 in securing you a tenant for it. 
 
 r. ^- / c ^->^ r c 
 
 We bave several parties talking in reference to the 
 
 ^ ^ \ X -^ » - 
 
 rental of this store, and we would urge prompt action should 
 you desire to secure it. Hoping to hear from you aooo, 
 
 ^ -} I ^ ( x^ h ^ ,r^ 
 
 «a are, 
 ^ W«ry truly yours.
 
 46 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 
 
 Minneapolis, Minn., April 10th, 1903. 
 
 f "^ ) Id 63 
 
 James Black and Co., 
 
 S g - ^ 
 
 New York, 
 
 Gentlemen: 
 
 Your letter of the 25th inst. just at hand and contents 
 
 <:<— 1 S ^^-^ ^-^ ' ' -t v/* 
 
 noted. In our last letter to you we tried to make it 
 
 ^ rx^^ y ^ I ^ ' 
 
 plain that we would not allow freight on shipments 
 from here. 
 
 On account of local difficulties with our men we are 
 unable to ship any orders, and are unable at present to 
 say just when we can. We will, however, ship as soon 
 
 - ^ \ y y-^ y / '-^ 
 
 as possible and notify you of same. Trusting the delay 
 will not discommode you, we are, 
 
 > / c^ 
 
 Yours very respectfully. 
 
 i
 
 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHOKTUAND. 
 
 47 
 
 Philadolphia, Pa., June 27th, 1903. 
 
 PIvinoLith Clothing Co., 
 
 St. Louis, -Mo., 
 -- -<^ N> 
 
 Gentlemen 
 Vv 
 
 We are in receipt ol' your favor of February 25th re- 
 
 que.'^ting nninediate .shipment of your order of Jamiary 
 24th for .March first dehvcry. In reply regret to say 
 
 2i ^ ^y 1 (^ ^ ^ <r-— 
 
 that we .'^hall he unable to ship any portion of this oirler 
 under one week from this date. It was so late before 
 
 -) 1:1 ^ -n ^ c ^^-^ '> 
 
 we got the order started that we have not been able to 
 get same completed as yet. We will get to you partial 
 shipment of it, however, at the earliest possible moment 
 
 > re ^ — u.> \ 
 
 with balance t(j lollow as soon as we can complete the 
 ^ -^ \ L^ ^-^ ^ ^^ 
 
 order. 
 
 1 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 I
 
 48 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 
 
 After learnincr all of the characters and most of the 
 speed forms, each student should practice making the 
 characters for the following sentences from ten to fifty 
 times, until you can make them without special effort. 
 
 Your favor of the 29th ult. is at hand and contents 
 
 ^ ^f D ' 1 -» v/^ 
 
 noted. 
 9— 
 
 We are in receipt of your letter of the 11th inst. 
 
 We are in receipt of your postal card of the 17th ult. 
 
 We are in receipt of your favor of the 9th inst. 
 
 We are in receipt of your esteemed favor of the 14th 
 inst. 
 
 I am in receipt of your favor of the 20th inst. 
 
 We enclose herewith a letter in regard to his standing. 
 
 Please let us hear from you at your earliest con- 
 venience.
 
 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 49 
 
 We may be able to ship you a car next week. 
 
 This property at the price mentioned should be a 
 
 -, y i- j ^ ' ^ 
 
 bargain. V 
 
 We have sent vou to-day by express, one text book.<N, 
 
 ^ ^ V I -\ — t -- J 
 
 We regret that we cannot send you a sample until 
 
 ^ ^ — ^^.__,/ \ ^-^^ 
 
 next week. V 
 
 We hope that you will see this matter in its proper 
 
 light. 
 
 We may be able to extend the time of payment to 
 
 Jan. 1st, 1904. 
 ^ / 0^ 
 In reference to your note, would say that it must be 
 
 paid at once. 
 
 Thanking you in advance for your trouble, I remain. 
 3 ^ rs I, r <f ^ , <— ,
 
 59 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 
 
 In reply to your letter, wc have this day collected the 
 
 account. 
 J 
 
 As we stated in our last letter to you, we may be able 
 
 to fix the matter up soon, 
 
 1/ ^ ?^-^ 
 
 We can fill orders in three weeks time and sometimes 
 quicker. 
 
 T ■ 
 
 We are somewhat at a loss to understand this alter- 
 
 ,ation,5^ 
 
 Please give this matter your immediate attention 
 
 and oblige. 
 
 We have made another shipment on your order at 
 once from stock. 
 
 -^ ^ 
 
 Vou would not want us to do that, as it would not 
 
 <^\^ . ^ "" L — """^ 1^ "^ 
 
 be right.
 
 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 51 
 
 Your valued favor of the V2th inst. is just at hand. 
 
 Trusting vou will see your way clear to give us 
 orders, we remain. 
 
 We refer with pleasure to parties who are using our 
 
 ^ s ^ (- I } \ 1 -- ? 
 
 lights. 
 
 We take the liberty of calling your attention to our 
 
 y ^ - ^\ r ^ -^ 9 
 
 system. 
 
 I am very highly pleased with the work of the ma- 
 
 s ^ ^ ^ -^ ' I r 
 
 chine. 
 
 You will receive full particulars and all necessary 
 
 information. 
 
 We wired you to-day that we would accept your offer. 
 
 y^ / i — -4 y ^ i 
 
 Hoping to hear from you by return mail. j
 
 52 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 
 
 St. Paul, Minn., Dec. 2nd, 1903. 
 
 Mr. William Mullen, 
 
 St. James, Minn., 
 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 } 
 
 We have your favor of recent date at hand requesting 
 us to advise you when we will forward the goods on your 
 fall purchase. We regret to inform you that up to the 
 present date of writing we have not succeeded in com- 
 pleting the shoes, although they are now being bottomed 
 
 ^ ^ ^- - 1 - \ -^ 
 
 and will be ready to go forward in about ten days. As- 
 suring you that the matter will have preferred attention, 
 
 ^ ^— i- -^^^ ^ 
 
 beg to remain, 
 
 \ ^ 
 
 Respectfully yours.
 
 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAOT). 53 
 
 PHRASES FOR PRACTICE. 
 
 ^\rite the Shorthand for these phrases at least ten 
 times for each. 
 
 1. "What is your name and business? 
 
 2. How long were you standing there? 
 
 3. What did you say to him then? 
 
 4. Did you ever see him after that? 
 
 5. We do not have any pens on hand. 
 
 6. Please send me a car of hard coal at once. 
 
 7. We send you our price list to-day. 
 
 8. Please let us hear from you by return mail. 
 
 9. Forward three just such writing machmes. 
 TO. We are receiving new business every day. 
 
 11. We will make you a shipment to-morrow. 
 
 12. I will therefore refer you to him. 
 
 13. We must insist on full payment at once. 
 
 14. We hope to hear from you soon. 
 
 15. We can recommend you to a good firm. 
 
 16. Tell them to hurry the shoes forward. 
 
 17. Your note became due yesterday. 
 
 18. We are somewhat at a loss to understand this. 
 
 19. Shall we return tl'cm to you? 
 
 20. Should this not bo correct, kindly advise us.
 
 54 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 
 
 21. We carefully note what you say. 
 
 22. Thanking you for past favors, I am. 
 
 23. We are in receipt of your favor of the 8th ult. 
 
 24. We are in receipt of your order of the 16th. 
 
 25. Yours of the 13th at hand to-day. 
 
 26. Referring to your favor of the 19th irst. 
 
 27. Awaiting your further communication, we are. 
 
 28. Practice a great deal on a little. 
 
 29. Always do your best ^or your employer. 
 2^. Do not make the e syllable for a copsona7>t. 
 
 \^ "^'iere is only one way<to gain speed, ()r}«cMc,e, 
 32. But first o'" all be acoiirate.
 
 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND 55 
 
 EXERCISES. 
 
 1. Write the following sentences for practice in 
 the use of single vowels and consonants h, j, k, and q : 
 
 1. He came as c^uickly as possible. 
 
 2. I took the oath of office to day. 
 
 3. 0, see the sun. 
 
 4. Always make your notes just as clear as possible, 
 
 5. How is this word written? 
 
 6. Do not be satisfied with inferior results. 
 
 2. Write the following sentences using the speed 
 forms where they should be: 
 
 1. It is apparent that he will be successful. 
 
 2. Where can I go for water? 
 
 3. Twenty men went with him, 
 
 4. AVould you believe what he said? 
 
 5. Always examine your work carefully. 
 
 6. Take time to be thorough. Haste makes waste. 
 
 Write the following sentences in shorthand : 
 
 1. The day is cold, and dark and dreary; 
 It rains and the wind is never weary; 
 
 The vine still clings to the mouldering wall, 
 But at every gust the dead leaves. fall, 
 And the day is dark and dreary. 
 
 2. A knowledge of drawing is the foundation of all 
 pictorial fxjjression. 
 
 3. My very chains and I grow friends, 
 So much a long communication tends 
 To make us what we are.
 
 56 
 
 BOYD'S SYLLABIO SHORTHAND. 
 
 The following abbreviations are not merely to memo- 
 rize but to illustrate how each student can shorten and 
 abbreviate all words. 
 
 ( = apply-ing, application <->'= 
 
 1/ = approach-ed-ing o^ = 
 
 <' = cause ^*— *! — = 
 
 ^ j = desire 
 
 = during 
 
 r = differ-ing-ence 
 
 superior 
 
 labor 
 
 statement 
 
 L^= approve-ed-ing-al 
 V = agree-ed-ing 
 — ^ = charge-ed-ing-able 
 
 = direct-tion-ed-ing 
 
 ^ = distribute-ed-ing-tion J^= accept-ed-ing-able 
 
 -^^ ^ character 
 
 — 5 = deliver-ed-y-mg 
 ^-n = farther, further 
 
 ^^ ^ form 
 
 i/ = forward 
 d — = loss, lost 
 
 I = word 
 
 Y = work 
 
 7 = world '\____^=r between 
 
 --^y - trust-ed-ing /J = collect-ed-ing 
 
 "^ = receive-ed-ing-able g — = credit 
 ^ = pay-ed-ing-able-ment <3^= draft 
 
 / = practical-ly '\ = railroad 
 
 Y =- re[)Iy-ed-ing 3^ == railway 
 
 inclose 
 
 '= enclose 
 
 — %— ' ^ quality 
 
 —■7^ = question 
 
 C^^ = believe 
 
 belong 
 
 beyond
 
 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 
 
 57 
 
 I- 
 
 
 witness-ed-ing 
 
 herewith 
 
 insurance 
 
 just 
 
 never 
 
 yesterday 
 
 anybody 
 
 before 
 
 hereafter 
 
 select-ed-ing-tion 
 
 samples 
 
 = careful-ly 
 
 (^ = apple 
 
 (^ = judge 
 
 ^— ^ = must 
 
 '^ — ' = value 
 
 — j_. = answer ' 
 
 y*-~ = short 
 
 L == beforehand 
 
 \ = become 
 
 V = motion 
 
 x" = parcel 
 
 examine-ed-ing-ation ^x = resignation 
 return V^ = congratulate-ed
 
 58 BOYDS SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 
 
 Ill writing large amounts use (\ ) for hundreds, ( ) 
 
 tor thousands, and (^) for millions, writing the char- 
 acter close to the figures they follow and to the lower 
 side of them, thus: 
 6 — =6,000 7x_ =700,000 84 >» =84,000,000 
 
 Unimportant words may be omitted, as those in 
 italics in the following phrases: 
 
 in the world more and more 
 
 one or two one of the best 
 
 more or less one of our 
 
 regard to glad to 
 
 able to order to 
 
 day or two respect to 
 
 some of those on the question 
 
 do you mean to say one of the most 
 
 yours of the 10th reference to 
 
 The following suggestions for abbreviating need not 
 necessarily be memorized until the student has taken 
 dictation for a while. They have nothing to do with 
 the shorthand proper but are gootl abbreviations to be 
 used with shorthand. 
 
 Write the ($) dollar sign after the figures, as: 
 354-_$ = $354,000.00. 
 
 Make the (%) percentage sign thus, 7y. 
 
 Make the (^) pound or number sign thus: 37^ = 37 
 lbs. 5^37 = No. 37.
 
 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 
 
 59 
 
 1_ 
 
 ^'' 
 
 Land is usually described by sec- 
 tion, township and range. Sections 
 are usually divided into quarters or 
 halves and they are again subdivided 
 into quarters or halves. We can 
 shorten the description very nnich by 
 making the outline foi- the quarter or 
 half followed by the figures only, l.hus: 
 
 = The Southwest quarter of Section 
 Twenty Nine, Township One Hun- 
 dred Thirty Three, Range Twenty 
 Five. 
 
 2 107 39 = The North Half of Section Two, 
 Township One H undred and Seven , 
 Range Thirty Nine. 
 
 29 133 25 
 
 99 13 = The East Half of the Southeast 
 Quarter, of the Northwest Quarter 
 of Section Seven, Township Ninety 
 Nine, Range Thirteen.
 
 DIRECTIONS 
 
 FOR 
 
 STUDY.
 
 BO'iD'S SYLLABIC SHURTH^ilvn. 63 
 
 DIRECTIONS FOR STUDY. 
 
 la beginning- dictation, the first and main object is and 
 should be for every one to acquire a correct style of writ- 
 ing. That is, do not write faster than is consistent with 
 accuracy. 
 
 After thoroughly memorizing the one hundred Fij'id 
 twelve syllables, and the few speed forms, begin writing 
 from dictation slowl}' at first, making the outlines for 
 each word or phrase correctly until you have a speed of 
 about fifty words a minute. If you have been very care- 
 ful up to that time, then it will be safe for you to begin to 
 practice for speed. 
 
 In practicing for speed, one good method is to take a 
 line and practice it at least a dozen times, slowly at first, 
 then increasing speed with each repetition. Then take 
 another line the same wa}-, repeating as before. Prac- 
 tice several lines a day in this way. 
 
 In practicing for speed from dictation the student 
 should take from faster dictation than able to take in 
 full. This is good practice in training the mind and hantl 
 to act (j[uickly in unison, as well as train the memory so 
 one can write a number of words behind Ihc dictaloi . 'f 
 iiocessary. 
 
 Repeated writing of the same exercise':, lines, slioii 
 lettfjrs, and then \ong letters ar(^ the best of practice.
 
 64 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 
 
 Of course it is understood that the student will pn ctice 
 on entirely new matter at times, without repetition 
 
 A speed of one hundred to one hundred and twenty 
 words a minute can very easily be obtained without 
 memorizing many short lines or abbreviations. If, 
 however, one wishes to prepare himself for reporting he 
 should practice a great deal on making short outlines ior 
 long words, and also in phrasing. By practicing in this 
 way, one can acquire the greatest facility in writing, 
 being able to report lectures, sermons, court work, etc. 
 After writing about one hundred words a minute, ths 
 student should always go prepared with notebook and 
 pencil. Select a slow speaker at first. Take what you 
 can correctly. Do not expect to get it all the first time. 
 Get what you can without getting nervous. 
 
 Remember this is practice work and that your life does 
 not depend on your getting it all. Keep this practice 
 up and you will be surprised in a short time to find that 
 you can report a sermon -or lecture verbatim. 
 
 In transcribing your notes or reading back, you are 
 not expected to do so very readily until you become 
 thoroughly familiar with the outlines. 
 
 Many may think it hard to read shorthand notes when 
 long words are abbreviated, but the following letter 
 written with the letters represented by the outlines as 
 one would write it in Boyd's Syllabic Shorthand will 
 show yhat with a little practice it is very easy to read.
 
 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 65 
 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 Your favor 30 iilt. rec. If your invent contan new 
 and usfl combin there is no dot but that 3'ou can obtan 
 patent and we should be glad to aten to your aplic. In 
 our opin the bst cor for you to prs would be to inter some 
 nifg of this clas of god in your invent or inter some prty 
 in it who would be ilin to pay the fes for obtan a patent 
 for an inter in the invent. Our fes are al pay in adv and 
 we could n(U take the cas as you sugst with the fes pay 
 at some later time but should you get onion inter with 
 you and esir to make the aplic we would be pies to aten 
 to your cas and give it the bst of aten. 
 
 Yours resp. 
 
 A very few of the common words are represented bj' 
 speed forms, many others may be written very short, 
 naturally, with this system, while long words are abbre- 
 viated. Most any one can easily read this lett(M-. After 
 one memorizes the shorthand characters, they can as 
 easily read the shorthand notes. 
 
 Anyone having trouble in reading his notes will in- 
 variably find the trouble in llic formation of the outlines. 
 Therefore be very careful. Always make the same out- 
 line for the same word. Do not make a consonanl for 
 the c vowel syllable or vice versa. There is a great differ- 
 ence in their size. So wil li all oi her characters.
 
 66 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHOKTHAiNr». 
 
 Practice reading your notes until you can read tlieni 
 as easily as longhand. Read the same notes over and 
 over again. Remember that it is more essential to be 
 accurate than fast. Be able to read back accurately; to 
 punctuate your longhand and spell correctly. Do not 
 disturb the one dictating to you. If it is in actual busi- 
 less, gently tell the dictator that he is dictating too fast.
 
 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 67 
 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 AVe are enclosing you herewith statement of your ac- 
 count for $6.40. This account is long past due, and we 
 would appreciate the favor if you would make us a re- 
 mittance covering the amount of the same at once. 
 
 Trusting to hear from you by return mail, we are, 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 We are very much surprised to receive back to-day 
 your unpaid note dated March 10th. This, together 
 with the interest, amounts to $91.04. Although the 
 matter became due May 9th, you seem to have done 
 nothing whatever about it since that date. We think 
 the thing to have done, would be to have remitted bank 
 draft on New York. No remittance has been made, and 
 not a word of explanation in ten days. We are some- 
 what at a loss to understand this. 
 
 Our traveling representative will be in your city the 
 very first of next week, and we trust you will kindly ad- 
 just this matter with him. As soon as received, note 
 will promptly be returned to you. We dislike very iimcli 
 to carry notes after maturity, and do not consider it 
 
 good business. 
 
 Very Inily yours,
 
 68 BOYD'S SYLLABIC RPIOrvTIIAND. 
 
 Dear Miss: 
 
 Acknowledging receipt of your esteemed favor, we beg 
 to state that special pair of shoes such as you require 
 could be made to order for you at a charge of 50 cents, 
 or a total of 75 cents over and above the regular adver- 
 tised price covering express charges. 
 
 In case you desire to order a pair, we suggest you call 
 upon our representatives, Plymouth Clothing Co., and 
 present this letter and permit them to order the shoes 
 
 Yours respectfully, 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 In returning you herewith enclosed receipt for your 
 remittance of the 15th inst., beg to thank you for keeping 
 all of the trimmings that I sent you and trust that you 
 will be able to use a quantity of these in the near future. 
 
 I am constantly getting out new designs in trimmings 
 and if you so desire will continue to send you a few pair 
 at a time, from time to time, which will keep you con- 
 stantly supplied with new things. I have a number of 
 customers with whom I pursue this plan and would be 
 glad to add you to the list if satisfactory to you. 
 Awaiting your favor, I am, 
 
 Yours respectfully,
 
 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 69 
 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 We are receiving much of our new business from ])or- 
 sons already insured with us. We respectfully ask the 
 privilege of increasing your insurance in the Mutual Ben- 
 efit. We make this request knowing that no other com- 
 pany can do as well by you. 
 
 If you will kindly send us on the enclosed blank the 
 names of persons who are able to carry insurance, you 
 will be doing a good service for them as well as help the 
 company to do all the better by those already insured. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 Gentlemen: 
 
 AVe are sending you under another cover one of our 
 catalogues showing the various style fall goods which 
 we carry in stock. We can fill orders on these either 
 with or without our stamp. Can fill orders the day that 
 they are received. 
 
 We hope you will find something in this catalogue that 
 will interest vou and that we shall receive orders from 
 you on them for the fall season. We feel certain we can 
 please you and would like you to try our goods. 
 
 Hoping for a favorable reply, we are, 
 
 Yours truly,
 
 70 BOYD'S SYLLABIC SHORTHAND. 
 
 Dear Sir: 
 We send you to-day our price list of some of our lands 
 
 together with map and circulars. If you are able to pro- 
 cure a purchaser for any of the lands described in lists 
 we will allow you a commission of $1.00 per A. on same, 
 said commission being included in prices quoted. 
 
 Trusting we may see you up with some men, we are, 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 Yours of the 29th ult. received. I notice in looking 
 over your order given me August 5th that you marked 
 your stock No. 1216 to be made with a patent tip, and 
 a quarter fox. 
 
 I did not notice this in copying the order. It was 
 simply an oversight. 
 
 It is very seldom we make a kid cack with a patent 
 leather quarter foxing n'ow. 
 
 We are making you the shoes ordered by mail same 
 as you had before, except that the quarter foxing will be 
 a little heavier kid than you have had, and think you will 
 have no more trouble with them wearing off on the heel. 
 
 Our close attention is being given to your order, and 
 will try to ship the goods as fast as they come out of the 
 works. Yours respectfully,
 
 STUDY BY MAIL 
 
 After examination of this manual (wliicli 
 was nut arranged for correspondence work), if 
 you wish to take up the study by mail, enroll 
 in our corresjKjndence department by cash or 
 installment-plan. After finishing the course 
 and i>assing the regular examinations by at 
 least a percentage of 90 points, -we will send 
 you our regular class diploma properly tilled 
 out. 
 
 This study by mail course is under the 
 charge of competent instructors and is the 
 only course in Shorthand known today where- 
 by a student can acquire proficiency without 
 a teacher. Look over this manual carefully 
 and decide to take up the study aright. Send 
 your enrollment or send for terms for com- 
 plete course. 
 
 Chicago Correspondence Schools, 
 Wr Chicago Opera House Block, 
 
 CHICAGO, ILL. 
 Sole Owners of Corresfiondeiicc Dep't.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 'm t s '9^1^^ 
 
 Form L9-25/H-9,'47(A5618)444 
 
 UNlVEkSlTt 01 CALif UKP«1A 
 
 AT 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 T1-»T^ & Ti'V
 
 Z56 
 
 B69s 
 
 1903 
 
 Bovd*s svllabic 
 shorthand text 
 book. 
 
 JMLL 
 
 o -IQrtK 
 
 UC SOUTHFRN RFGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 AA 000 482 952 9 
 
 Z56 
 
 B69s 
 
 1903
 
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