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Plover Practice Exercises

18 More Briefs

18.1 Learning Objectives

  • Learn how inversions work
  • Learn pronoun briefs
  • Learn how to write common -er and ry ending words with inversions
  • Learn to write months

18.2 Inversions

Sometimes, a word requires two strokes by regular theory due to steno order. For example, wolf would be WOL/-F. Inversion is used to save strokes by switching two sounds next to each other and if the resulting stroke does not conflict with another word. For example, L and F are switched in order to stroke wolf as WOFL. Another example is twelve as TWEFL rather than TWEL/-F.

WOFL

wolf wolf wolf wolf

TWEFL

twelve twelve twelve twelve

Another example is heading, which can be stroke HED/-G or HEGD.

HEGD

HED -G

heading heading heading heading

Metal is written with PHE*LT.

PHE*LT

metal metal metal metal

Note the existence of the \(*\), necessary here to distinguish metal from melt.

Inversions can be used on either hand. One example is the use of the prefix dis-. For example, dislike can be stroke with TKEUS/HRAOEUBG. But it is possible to invert the d and s sound, resulting in the stroke STKHRAOEUBG.

STKHRAOEUBG

dislike dislike dislike dislike

There are many words where -L is the final consonant but the consonants before L is D or T. These are cases where inversions could be used to save a stroke.

One example is metal. Without inversion, metal would need two strokes.

PH*ELT

PHET A*L

The same reasoning for inversion occurs with medal.

PH*ELD

PHED A*L

“Folding in” of -G and other suffix strokes such as -er covered later are all technically a kind of inversion as they violate steno order.

18.3 Pronouns

Pronouns
Pronoun Stroke Note
himself HEUPLS
herself H*ERS
yours URS
yourself KWRO*URS
yourselves KWRO*URSZ
myself PHAO*EUS
ourself O*URS
ourselves O*URSZ
themselves THEPLS
Pronoun Briefs
Word Stroke Note
male PHAEL
female TPAEL
man PHAPB
woman WOPL
men PHEPB
women WEUPL
Family
Word Stroke Note
nephew TPHEF/AOU
niece TPHAOES
Papa PA*/PA PA/PA should be modified for papaas it does not have a stroke
mamma PHAPL/PHA
mama PHA/PHA PHA*/PHA for Mama
grandmother TKPWR-PL
grandfather TKPWR-F
Grandma TKPWRAPBD/PHA
grandma TKPWHRAPBD/PHA The HR distinguishes lower and upper case word
grandpa TKPWRAPBD/PA
grandson TKPWR-S
granddaughter TKPWR-D
wife WAOEUF
husband HUZ or HUS
sister-in-law ST-RPBL
brother-in-law PWROERPBL
mother-in-law PHOERPBL
father-in-law TPAERPBL
in-law EUPB/HRAU
family TPAEPL
Jr. SKWR*R
Sr. S-R

18.4 Using -er with inversions

-er can be “folded in” and used in common word briefs such as other and brother. Using inversion, many more words can be written in one stroke.

ER-ending words
Word Stroke Note
batter PWAERT compare between batter, better and butter
better PBAOERT
butter PBAOURT
flatter TPHRAERT
latter HRAERT
letter HRERT
matter PHAERT
paper PAEUP not the same case, but useful brief

This works for words with -ter, but also for other consonants such as -ker, mer, and ser. Examples include baker, gamer and lesser.

PWAEURBG

baker baker baker baker

TKPWAEURPL

gamer gamer gamer gamer

HRERS

lesser lesser lesser lesser

18.5 Folding in -y with E

For some common words ending in -y, briefs will use E in order to achieve a single stroke. Some examples are carry and marry.

KAER

carry carry carry carry

PHAER

marry marry marry marry
ER words
Word Stroke Note
baby PWAEB
carry KAER
family TPAEPL
glory TKPWHROER
happy HAEP
Gary GA*ER
library HRAOEURB Has the inversion of R and B
marry PHAER
Mary PHA*ER
query KW*ER
scary SKAER
sorry SOER
story STOER
temporary PRAER
vary SRAER
worry WOER

18.6 Names and Dimunitives

The Plover dictionary contains many common names, and also their diminutive forms. For many dimunitives which end in ie, AO*E is used to write the ending. For example, Lizzie and Robbie.

HREUZ AO*E

Lizzie Lizzie Lizzie Lizzie

ROB AO*E

Robbie Robbie Robbie Robbie

Many of the names below have multiple ways to write (using KWRE in place of AO*E), but some of them only have one stroke outline with AO*E.

Names and Dimunitives
Dimunitive Stroke Full Stroke
Abbie AB/AO*E Abigail AB/TKPWAEUL
Aggie AG/AO*E Agnes AG/TPHES
Allie AL/AO*E Alice A*LS, AL/EUS
Annie APB/AO*E Ann, Anne AEPB, A*EPB
Archie AFRPB/AO*E Archibald AFRPB/PWAULD
Barbie PWARB/AO*E Barbara PWARB/RA
Bernie PWERPB/AO*E Bernard PWERPB/ARD
Carrie KAEUR/AO*E Caroline KAEUR/HRAOEUPB
Cassie KAS/AO*E Cassandra KAS/SAPB/TKRA
Charlie KHARL/AO*E Charles KHARLS
Christie KREUFT/AO*E Christine KREUS/TAOEPB
Connie KOPB/AO*E Constance KAUPB/STAPBS
Debbie TKEB/AO*E Deborah TKEB/RA
Fannie TPAPB/AO*E Frances TPRAPB/SES
Freddie TPRED/AO*E Frederick TPRED/REUBG
Georgie SKWRORPBLG/AO*E George SKWRORPBLG
Jamie SKWRAEUPL/AO*E James SKWRAEUPLS
Jeannie SKWRAO*EPB/AO*E Jean SKWRAO*EPB
Jimmie SKWREUPL/AO*E Jim SKWR*EUPL
Jodie SKWROED/AO*E Judith SKWRAOUD/*EUT
Judie SKWRAOUD/AO*E Judith SKWRAOUD/*EUT
Julie SKWRAOUL/AO*E Julia SKWRAOUL/KWRA
Katie KAEUT/AO*E Katherine KA*ET/REUPB
Laurie HRAUR/AO*E Laura HRAUR/RA, HRA*UR
Lizzie HREUZ/AO*E Elizabeth HREUZ/PW*ET
Louie HRAOU/AO*E Louis HRAOU/WAOE
Minnie PHEUPB/AO*E Mary PHA*ER, PHAEUR/REU
Ralphie RAFL/AO*E Ralph RA*FL
Reggie REPBLG/AO*E Reginald REPBLG/TPHALD
Robbie ROB/AO*E Robert ROBT, ROB/ERT
Rosie ROES/AO*E Rose RO*ES
Stevie STAOEF/AO*E Stephen STAO*EFPB, STAOEF/-PB
Susie SAOUS/AO*E Susan SAOUFPB, SAOUS/A*PB
Suzie SAOUZ/AO*E Suzanne SAOUZ/APB, SAOUZ/A*EPB

18.7 Exercises

18.7.1 Write

  1. himself himself himself herself herself herself yours yours yours yourself yourself yourself yourselves yourselves yourselves
  2. myself myself myself ourself ourself ourself ourselves ourselves ourselves themselves themselves themselves
  3. male male male female female female man man man woman woman woman men men men women women women
  4. nephew nephew nephew niece niece niece Papa Papa Papa mamma mamma mamma mama mama mama
  5. grandmother grandmother grandmother grandfather grandfather grandfather Grandma Grandma Grandma grandma grandma grandma grandpa grandpa grandpa
  6. grandson grandson grandson granddaughter granddaughter granddaughter wife wife wife husband husband husband family family family
  7. sister-in-law sister-in-law sister-in-law brother-in-law brother-in-law brother-in-law mother-in-law mother-in-law mother-in-law father-in-law father-in-law father-in-law in-law in-law in-law
  8. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr.
  9. batter batter batter better better better butter butter butter
  10. flatter flatter flatter latter latter latter letter letter letter matter matter matter paper paper paper
  11. baby baby baby carry carry carry glory glory glory happy happy happy Gary Gary Gary
  12. library library library marry marry marry Mary Mary Mary query query query scary scary scary
  13. sorry sorry sorry story story story temporary temporary temporary vary vary vary worry worry worry
  14. Abigail Abigail Abigail Abbie Abbie Abbie Agnes Agnes Agnes Aggie Aggie Aggie
  15. Alice Alice Alice Allie Allie Allie Ann Ann Ann Anne Anne Anne Annie Annie Annie
  16. Archibald Archibald Archibald Archie Archie Archie Barbara Barbara Barbara Barbie Barbie Barbie
  17. Bernard Bernard Bernard Bernie Bernie Bernie Caroline Caroline Caroline Carrie Carrie Carrie
  18. Cassandra Cassandra Cassandra Cassie Cassie Cassie Charles Charles Charles Charlie Charlie Charlie
  19. Christine Christine Christine Christie Christie Christie Constance Constance Constance Connie Connie Connie
  20. Deborah Deborah Deborah Debbie Debbie Debbie Frances Frances Frances Fannie Fannie Fannie
  21. Frederick Frederick Frederick Freddie Freddie Freddie George George George Georgie Georgie Georgie
  22. James James James Jamie Jamie Jamie Jean Jean Jean Jeannie Jeannie Jeannie
  23. Jim Jim Jim Jimmie Jimmie Jimmie Judith Judith Judith Jodie Jodie Jodie Judie Judie Judie
  24. Julia Julia Julia Julie Julie Julie Katherine Katherine Katherine Katie Katie Katie
  25. Laura Laura Laura Laurie Laurie Laurie Elizabeth Elizabeth Elizabeth Lizzie Lizzie Lizzie
  26. Louis Louis Louis Louie Louie Louie Mary Mary Mary Minnie Minnie Minnie
  27. Ralph Ralph Ralph Ralphie Ralphie Ralphie Reginald Reginald Reginald Reggie Reggie Reggie
  28. Robert Robert Robert Robbie Robbie Robbie Rose Rose Rose Rosie Rosie Rosie
  29. Stephen Stephen Stephen Stevie Stevie Stevie Susan Susan Susan Susie Susie Susie
  30. Suzanne Suzanne Suzanne Suzie Suzie Suzie

18.7.2 Write with sound

Controls
  1. Nephew, the son of one's brother or sister. Nephew, the son of one's brother or sister. Nephew, the son of one's brother or sister.
  2. Mr. Brant and her husband came to call. Mr. Brant and her husband came to call. Mr. Brant and her husband came to call.
  3. Jane, herself, told me. Jane, herself, told me. Jane, herself, told me.
  4. Father keeps his old bills in a file. Father keeps his old bills in a file. Father keeps his old bills in a file.
  5. Deliver us from evil. Deliver us from evil. Deliver us from evil.
  6. Deliver, to give; as, to deliver the mail. To set free; to save from evil. Deliver, to give; as, to deliver the mail. To set free; to save from evil. Deliver, to give; as, to deliver the mail. To set free; to save from evil.
  7. You have no cause to tease your sister. You have no cause to tease your sister. You have no cause to tease your sister.
  8. He found himself alone. He found himself alone. He found himself alone.
  9. It is for himself. It is for himself. It is for himself.
  10. I'll, a short way of saying I will. I'll, a short way of saying I will. I'll, a short way of saying I will.
  11. The women cooked a big dinner. The women cooked a big dinner. The women cooked a big dinner.
  12. See the baby smile at her mother. See the baby smile at her mother. See the baby smile at her mother.
  13. Do not spoil the baby. Do not spoil the baby. Do not spoil the baby.
  14. A wolf took a lamb. A wolf took a lamb. A wolf took a lamb.
  15. Wrote, put down on paper. Wrote, put down on paper. Wrote, put down on paper.
  16. See the baby smile at her mother. See the baby smile at her mother. See the baby smile at her mother.
  17. Melt, become soft or turn to water; as, butter or ice will melt. Melt, become soft or turn to water; as, butter or ice will melt. Melt, become soft or turn to water; as, butter or ice will melt.
  18. Babies, very young children or animals. Babies, very young children or animals. Babies, very young children or animals.
  19. What is the matter with it? What is the matter with it? What is the matter with it?
  20. It is for himself. It is for himself. It is for himself.
  21. Matter, cause of trouble. Something to be talked or thought about. Matter, cause of trouble. Something to be talked or thought about. Matter, cause of trouble. Something to be talked or thought about.
  22. Say good night to Father and come to bed. Say good night to Father and come to bed. Say good night to Father and come to bed.
  23. She hurt herself when she fell. She hurt herself when she fell. She hurt herself when she fell.
  24. My brothers like to play the game of pool. My brothers like to play the game of pool. My brothers like to play the game of pool.
  25. When Grandmother was young, it was unusual to ride in a machine. When Grandmother was young, it was unusual to ride in a machine. When Grandmother was young, it was unusual to ride in a machine.
  26. Please return this book to the library. Please return this book to the library. Please return this book to the library.
  27. Every boy and girl should begin to collect a library. Every boy and girl should begin to collect a library. Every boy and girl should begin to collect a library.
  28. Grandmother gave us a kiss when we met her. Grandmother gave us a kiss when we met her. Grandmother gave us a kiss when we met her.
  29. Father will hire a man to plant our garden. Father will hire a man to plant our garden. Father will hire a man to plant our garden.
  30. Written, told in books. Put down on paper. Written, told in books. Put down on paper. Written, told in books. Put down on paper.
  31. Mother cooks with gas. Mother cooks with gas. Mother cooks with gas.
  32. My sister has golden hair. My sister has golden hair. My sister has golden hair.
  33. Walk yourself. Walk yourself. Walk yourself.
  34. Now we cannot see him at all. Now we cannot see him at all. Now we cannot see him at all.
  35. There is a wasp on my arm. There is a wasp on my arm. There is a wasp on my arm.
  36. Berries ripen on bushes. Berries ripen on bushes. Berries ripen on bushes.
  37. Grace is going to marry Ned in June. Grace is going to marry Ned in June. Grace is going to marry Ned in June.
  38. Come, let us go in the fields and see the sheep, and the lambs, and the cows, and trees, and birds. Come, let us go in the fields and see the sheep, and the lambs, and the cows, and trees, and birds. Come, let us go in the fields and see the sheep, and the lambs, and the cows, and trees, and birds.
  39. It does not keep good time. It does not keep good time. It does not keep good time.
  40. He does not seem to know what to do. He does not seem to know what to do. He does not seem to know what to do.
  41. Whose blocks are these? Whose blocks are these? Whose blocks are these?
  42. To whom do they belong? To whom do they belong? To whom do they belong?
  43. Those are yours. Those are yours. Those are yours.
  44. He will come again. He will come again. He will come again.
  45. These are mine. These are mine. These are mine.
  46. How long have you been here? How long have you been here? How long have you been here?
  47. The lady standing there is my mother. The lady standing there is my mother. The lady standing there is my mother.
  48. I have only one brother. I have only one brother. I have only one brother.
  49. Lucy has a little baby sister. Lucy has a little baby sister. Lucy has a little baby sister.
  50. She helped her mother. She helped her mother. She helped her mother.
  51. Did your mother say it is all right for you to go with me? Did your mother say it is all right for you to go with me? Did your mother say it is all right for you to go with me?
  52. My father's car is red. My father's car is red. My father's car is red.
  53. Twenty-five is a number. Twenty-five is a number. Twenty-five is a number.
  54. We found some cool water. We found some cool water. We found some cool water.
  55. Butter makes bread taste better. Butter makes bread taste better. Butter makes bread taste better.
  56. Father and Uncle Will had a guide when they went fishing. Father and Uncle Will had a guide when they went fishing. Father and Uncle Will had a guide when they went fishing.
  57. My mother wears pretty clothes. My mother wears pretty clothes. My mother wears pretty clothes.
  58. Parents, one's father and mother. Parents, one's father and mother. Parents, one's father and mother.
  59. Break, burst or crack. Force a way. Do better than. Break, burst or crack. Force a way. Do better than. Break, burst or crack. Force a way. Do better than.
  60. Some stores sell brick ice cream. Some stores sell brick ice cream. Some stores sell brick ice cream.
  61. Bother, make trouble for. Something that causes trouble. Bother, make trouble for. Something that causes trouble. Bother, make trouble for. Something that causes trouble.
  62. The baby has her bolt. The baby has her bolt. The baby has her bolt.
  63. Don't bother your mother when she is busy. Don't bother your mother when she is busy. Don't bother your mother when she is busy.
  64. Our cat is a bother, but we love it. Our cat is a bother, but we love it. Our cat is a bother, but we love it.
  65. We ate our beans and bread. We ate our beans and bread. We ate our beans and bread.
  66. The dog hid the bone. The dog hid the bone. The dog hid the bone.
  67. Roses are in bloom right now. Roses are in bloom right now. Roses are in bloom right now.
  68. Beat, strike again and again. Did better than. Beat, strike again and again. Did better than. Beat, strike again and again. Did better than.
  69. Each side has nine players. Each side has nine players. Each side has nine players.
  70. Father looked grave when he came home. Father looked grave when he came home. Father looked grave when he came home.
  71. Some of the boys will skate. Some of the boys will skate. Some of the boys will skate.
  72. Hares are very lively. Hares are very lively. Hares are very lively.
  73. Hares are very shy. Hares are very shy. Hares are very shy.
  74. A hare has four legs. A hare has four legs. A hare has four legs.
  75. Will the quilt shrink, if you wash and rinse it? Will the quilt shrink, if you wash and rinse it? Will the quilt shrink, if you wash and rinse it?
  76. He will build the hut, if it has not been built. He will build the hut, if it has not been built. He will build the hut, if it has not been built.
  77. He chose to quote prose. He chose to quote prose. He chose to quote prose.
  78. You shall have my last batch of cake. You shall have my last batch of cake. You shall have my last batch of cake.
  79. Hear the clack and the clank of the slack chain. Hear the clack and the clank of the slack chain. Hear the clack and the clank of the slack chain.
  80. Will he catch cold this bland day? Will he catch cold this bland day? Will he catch cold this bland day?
  81. The crank fell, with a crash, into a chasm. The crank fell, with a crash, into a chasm. The crank fell, with a crash, into a chasm.
  82. I saw the nag stamp, and champ his bit, by the stack. I saw the nag stamp, and champ his bit, by the stack. I saw the nag stamp, and champ his bit, by the stack.
  83. If he strain or sprain his arm, he can not use the flail. If he strain or sprain his arm, he can not use the flail. If he strain or sprain his arm, he can not use the flail.
  84. Wash the blot off my wand, or rod. Wash the blot off my wand, or rod. Wash the blot off my wand, or rod.
  85. What is more true? What is more true? What is more true?
  86. Fuse or heat the wax, but do not chew it. Fuse or heat the wax, but do not chew it. Fuse or heat the wax, but do not chew it.
  87. The crew will soon want food. The crew will soon want food. The crew will soon want food.
  88. The twig grew from the root of an ash. The twig grew from the root of an ash. The twig grew from the root of an ash.
  89. Feed the lamb with meal and beans. Feed the lamb with meal and beans. Feed the lamb with meal and beans.
  90. He gave that meek boy a mere bit of veal. He gave that meek boy a mere bit of veal. He gave that meek boy a mere bit of veal.
  91. Did each lad weep? Did each lad weep? Did each lad weep?
  92. My chum, or mate, has a drum. My chum, or mate, has a drum. My chum, or mate, has a drum.
  93. Do not sob, my son, if the hen hop up on the top of an ash log. Do not sob, my son, if the hen hop up on the top of an ash log. Do not sob, my son, if the hen hop up on the top of an ash log.
  94. He is not a sot. He is not a sot. He is not a sot.
  95. Plenty, more than enough. Plenty, more than enough. Plenty, more than enough.
  96. There is a pretty path around the lake. There is a pretty path around the lake. There is a pretty path around the lake.
  97. Daddy smokes a pipe. Daddy smokes a pipe. Daddy smokes a pipe.
  98. Water comes through the pipe. Water comes through the pipe. Water comes through the pipe.
  99. He saw the big transport plane. He saw the big transport plane. He saw the big transport plane.
  100. Crime, the breaking of the law. Crime, the breaking of the law. Crime, the breaking of the law.
  101. The roof came to a point. The roof came to a point. The roof came to a point.
  102. Don't point your finger at me! Don't point your finger at me! Don't point your finger at me!
  103. Pond, a small body of water. Pond, a small body of water. Pond, a small body of water.
  104. John will post the dates of the ball games. John will post the dates of the ball games. John will post the dates of the ball games.
  105. The movie continued for two hours. The movie continued for two hours. The movie continued for two hours.
  106. She can protect the baby. She can protect the baby. She can protect the baby.
  107. Proud, pleased with oneself. Proud, pleased with oneself. Proud, pleased with oneself.
  108. I was very proud when daddy said I could go. I was very proud when daddy said I could go. I was very proud when daddy said I could go.
  109. He continued reading until he fell asleep. He continued reading until he fell asleep. He continued reading until he fell asleep.
  110. The nurse was able to command the respect of the children. The nurse was able to command the respect of the children. The nurse was able to command the respect of the children.
  111. You have your choice of the books on my desk. You have your choice of the books on my desk. You have your choice of the books on my desk.
  112. This is my choice because it is so pretty. This is my choice because it is so pretty. This is my choice because it is so pretty.
  113. Choice, unusually fine. Choice, unusually fine. Choice, unusually fine.
  114. The child kissed her mother on both cheeks. The child kissed her mother on both cheeks. The child kissed her mother on both cheeks.
  115. We are living in the twentieth century. We are living in the twentieth century. We are living in the twentieth century.
  116. I had read only the first chapter of the book when I was called away. I had read only the first chapter of the book when I was called away. I had read only the first chapter of the book when I was called away.
  117. Actors in a play are called the cast. Actors in a play are called the cast. Actors in a play are called the cast.
  118. The boy threw the ball so high that it hit the ceiling. The boy threw the ball so high that it hit the ceiling. The boy threw the ball so high that it hit the ceiling.
  119. When horses buck, they jump and land on their front feet with their heads down and their backs up. When horses buck, they jump and land on their front feet with their heads down and their backs up. When horses buck, they jump and land on their front feet with their heads down and their backs up.
  120. A male deer is a buck. A male deer is a buck. A male deer is a buck.
  121. My uncle sings bass in our choir. My uncle sings bass in our choir. My uncle sings bass in our choir.
  122. Some people try to boss others. Some people try to boss others. Some people try to boss others.
  123. We wear rubbers in the rain to avoid catching cold. We wear rubbers in the rain to avoid catching cold. We wear rubbers in the rain to avoid catching cold.
  124. Avoid, keep away from. Avoid, keep away from. Avoid, keep away from.
  125. Before a boat leaves, someone calls: "All ashore that are going ashore!" Before a boat leaves, someone calls: "All ashore that are going ashore!" Before a boat leaves, someone calls: "All ashore that are going ashore!"
  126. Arose, sprang up, came into being. Arose, sprang up, came into being. Arose, sprang up, came into being.
  127. Affairs, matters. Affairs, matters. Affairs, matters.
  128. His aid was given just in time. His aid was given just in time. His aid was given just in time.
  129. Very few people look alike. Very few people look alike. Very few people look alike.
  130. Adopted, made one's own. Adopted, made one's own. Adopted, made one's own.
  131. The Smiths have adopted a baby. The Smiths have adopted a baby. The Smiths have adopted a baby.

18.7.3 Write random sentences

A random subset of sentences will be synthesized. Be patient with the synthesis. It will take a few seconds, especially the first time. The loweest possible WPM is 80, so to decrease overall WPM, increase word gap.

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