When it comes to shorthand writing, both pencils and pens have their advantages and disadvantages. Here's a comparison to help you decide which one might be more suitable for you: Pencil
Erasability: One of the primary advantages of using a pencil is that it's erasable. In shorthand, where speed is essential, you might make mistakes or need to make corrections quickly. With a pencil, you can easily erase errors without leaving messy marks.
Control: Pencils offer a high level of control over the thickness and darkness of the lines. This can be beneficial for creating clear shorthand symbols and outlines.
Less smudging: While some pencils may smudge, especially if the lead is soft, compared to pens, they generally have less of a smudging issue. This can be advantageous for keeping your shorthand notes clean and legible.
Pen
Permanent: Pens provide a permanent mark, which can be advantageous if you want to ensure that your shorthand notes are not accidentally erased or altered.
Smoothness: Writing with a pen can feel smoother and more fluid compared to a pencil. This can be beneficial for maintaining speed and rhythm in shorthand writing.
Variety: Pens come in various types with different ink colors and tip sizes, allowing you to personalize your shorthand writing experience according to your preferences.
Ultimately, the choice between a pencil and a pen for shorthand writing depends on your personal preference and the specific requirements of your shorthand system. Some shorthand writers prefer the flexibility of a pencil, while others prefer the permanence and smoothness of a pen. You might even find it helpful to experiment with both to see which one suits your style of writing best.
Expert's Opinion
Our Expert Faculty for Pitman Shorthand Course has a take on this important question and it can be summarised here: "For beginners at the initial learning stages, it is advisable to use pencil only. This is because a Pencil allows the writer to have much better control over drawing of light and dark strokes. With just an applied pressure on the pencil while writing one can create a visible difference between strokes used to represent heavy as well as light sounds separately. This can further help in better transcription of your shorthand matter...
I would recommend aspirants to use continue using pencil even at high speeds like 100wpm. Above 100wpm, the scenario is quite different. When a practitioner is writing at higher speeds like 120wpm, 140wpm or above(quite rare !), it implies that he has a tremendous amount of writing practice, experience as well as control over his writing. Such a writer is equally efficient in accurately recognizing and transcribing his shorthand even if he uses a pen..."
Hope this helps :)
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