Glossary

Brief

Also known as the "abbreviation", "short form", or "arbitrary". Briefs are simply non-phonetic mappings of steno outlines to English words or phrases. For instance, the phrase "from time to time" could be written out:

FROM/TAOIM/TO/TAOIM
(Four strokes)

Or it could be briefed:

FRIMT
(One stroke)

Chord

The pressing down of multiple keys at the same time.

Dictionary

Used by Plover or other stenotype software. Contains all the words and the strokes that produce those words. While generally these are constructed using a steno theory, this can be freely modified by the stenographer.

Steno Theory

A "system" or way of thinking that determines which steno strokes will match to which words. Theories range generally from being based on spelling (or "brief-heavy") to being based on the sound of the word (or "stroke-heavy"). The one included with Plover is based on NYCI theory which descended from StenEd

Word Boundary

The implicit spacing in between words. Spacing is inserted automatically by Plover or other steno software. As words and phrases will often sound similar to others, a stenographer needs to choose the stroke or brief appropriate for the situation with the correct word boundary .

Examples (Plover):

"in here" ("TPH/HAOER") vs "insect" ("EUPB/SEBGT")

"on top of" ("OPB/TOP/-F") vs "onto" ("AUPN/TO")

"it is a live (wire)" ("T/S/AEU/HREUF") vs "it is alive" ("T/S/A/HRAOEUF")