Steno

Steno is a term used to describe shorthand writing and the tools used to transcribe spoken language rapidly, especially in legal and captioning contexts. The word steno comes from the Greek stenos, meaning narrow, reflecting the compact notation that records speech more succinctly than ordinary writing. Stenography encompasses a variety of methods for capturing sounds, syllables, or words with a reduced set of symbols or chords rather than spelling every word in full.

A central technology in stenography is the stenotype machine, a specialized keyboard with a small number of keys that can be pressed in combination to represent phonetic units, syllables, or whole words. Operators form chords to input language, and software or a trained dictionary translates the stenographic code into standard text. Skilled stenographers can reach speeds well above ordinary typing, commonly ranging from 200 to 300 words per minute, with higher speeds achievable in some cases.

Historically, shorthand systems such as Pitman and Gregg emerged in the 19th century to improve note-taking efficiency. The stenotype machine, developed in the early 20th century, enabled rapid transcription in courtrooms and other settings. Today, stenography remains essential for court reporters, live captioners for television and events, and various transcription services. Modern workflows typically rely on computer-aided transcription (CAT) software and dictionaries that map stenographic patterns to language.

Variations in stenography include different shorthand systems used for education and professional practice, as well as regional differences in spelling and punctuation within transcription work. See also shorthand, stenography, stenotype, court reporting, and captioning.