Gregg Shorthand

Gregg Shorthand is a form of shorthand that was invented by John Robert Gregg in 1888. Like cursive longhand, it is completely based on elliptical figures and lines that bisect them. Several editions have been made of this system: Pre-Anniversary, which includes the first five editions, the first being first published in two small paper-covered pamphlets in 1888, the second being published in 1893, the third in book form in 1897, the fourth being published in 1903, and the fifth being published in 1916; Anniversary, a revised and simplified form published in 1929, called Anniversary because it was to be published on the fortieth anniversary of the system (1928), but there was some delay in publication; Simplified, a version created in 1949, in which many of the principles and memorized forms were removed or simplified due to findings of studies by the publishers and suggestions of many shorthand teachers; Diamond Jubilee, published in 1963, again simplified from the Simplified version; Series 90, published in 1978, which brought even more simplifications to the system, which has a lifespan that occurs during a decline in verbatim shorthand reporters; and Centennial, published in 1988, with several similarities to the Diamond Jubilee system earlier. Centennial is the current version.

Versions of Gregg Shorthand

Throughout the history of Gregg shorthand, numerous different forms of Gregg have been created. All the systems are similar and use the same alphabet, but they differ in memory load and speed. Pre-Anniversary is the fastest, and most condensed version, but it is also has the largest memory load. Series 90 Gregg has the smallest memory load, but it also the slowest version of Gregg.

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Pre-Anniversary Gregg Shorthand

Pre-Anniversary Gregg was first published in 1888 by John Robert Gregg himself. However, it was in a very primal stage, and therefore did not gain much success. Five years later, a much better version was published. This version was published in a book entitled "Gregg Shorthand" in 1897. This version of Gregg has been deemed the hardest due to its large number of brief forms and phrases. This version is known for its large number of "common" affixes, brief forms and phrases, such as a prefix for "patri-".

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1888 - John Robert Gregg - 1897

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Anniversary Gregg Shorthand

In 1929 another version of Gregg Shorthand was published. This system reduced the memory load on its learners by decreasing the number of brief forms to 318, and removing uncommon prefixes. Regardless of the deletions, this system was still incredibly efficient. Most Gregg literature uses this series.

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Simplified Gregg Shorthand

Simplified Gregg Shorthand was published in 1949. The manual for this version of Gregg is still available to be purchased through McGraw-Hill. This system reduced the number of brief forms that needed to be memorized drastically to only 181. Even with this reduction in the number of brief forms, one could still reach speeds upward of 150 WPM. Many people believe that this system has the best balance in terms of memory load without sacrificing speed.

Related Topics:
1949 - McGraw-Hill - WPM

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Diamond Jubilee Shorthand

The Diamond Jubilee series, also known as DJS, ran through most of the sixties and the seventies (1963?1977). It was simpler than the Simplified version, and reduced the number of brief forms yet again to 129. For those Diamond Jubilee students who wanted to use advanced shortcuts like those of Anniversary, an edition of "Expert" Diamond Jubilee was available to push speeds upward. Diamond Jubilee was the most common form of Gregg that was offered in schools.

Related Topics:
1963 - 1977

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Series 90 Gregg Shorthand

Series 90 (1978?1987) was an even simpler version, which used a minimal number of brief forms and placed a great emphasis on clear transcription, rather than reporting speed. Some people say that with this version, McGraw-Hill may have gone too far in terms of brevity. Due to the minimal number of brief forms, this system is not suitable for taking dictation. Shorthand was beginning to dwindle in popularity during this series's usage. According to some, its lack of speed among its users caused the decline of shorthand. However, this is mostly considered an indirect factor.

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Centennial Gregg Shorthand

Published in 1988, this was the final series of Gregg Shorthand. It is sometimes considered a revival of Diamond Jubilee. A very regular and relatively simple version, Centennial is appropriate for office dictation. Centennial Gregg has 132 brief forms.

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