I'll show you my briefs if you show me yours

Briefing seems to be a controversial subject. A brief is basically an abbreviation. Sometimes a brief can be a shorter way to write a word, but it can also be a way to write a whole phrase. Since I have been going to school 5 days a week to both low and high speed classes, I have gotten a chance to talk to some high speed students about what works for them. The thing I hear most often is: briefs.

When I was a theory student, the teachers told me to be careful not to use too many briefs. I think the reason for this, is that students can use briefs as a crutch; they seem to rely on shortening everything. The problem with this is, that when words come up that the student doesn't have a brief for, they simply cannot write that fast. Also, sometimes it takes a minute to remember a brief that they haven't practiced recently, this hesitation can cost a person the whole test. A tiny hesitation, can ruin everything.

I listened to my teachers and I really don't brief many things, but I think I was wrong. I think the secret is to brief things that come up all the time, and then practice them regularly. Don't brief things that you don't hear at least twice a month, you will forget them and then they will cause hesitation when you do hear them because you'll start trying to remember your brief and stop listing to the dictation.

The high speed students have been sharing their briefs with me. It's amazing, the things they can write in one stroke. Wow, I would never have thought of all these things. A friend of mine taught me how to write, "ANSWER: I do not remember." all in one stroke. What a time saver! It took me 5 strokes to write that before. If I can master all of these I'll be writing 200 in no time.

I also heard about a great website: briefpedia If you want a brief for a phrase or word, just type it in, and the website will provide you with a list of suggestions for briefs, it also lists possible conflicts that might occur with other words. Check it out! This 5 days a week thing, is helping me in lots of ways. I get extra practice, and extra tips.

Today I got 92% on a 150 jury charge. No goal speed passes yet, but hopefully after I master these briefs I'll have a breakthrough. Let me know some of the cool briefs you use. I'll show you mine, if you show me yours.