Clickable dictation at various speeds is available at the bottom of this page. The transcript of the dictation appears here as well.
More "real" text from Pitman, the Shorterhand people who produced the book these paragraphs came from.
Shorterhand Skills for the Future, Pitman Publishing Corporation, 1974, p 52-53, 58, and 64
Theory Practice
We have revised our estimate of the sales of our spring styles and it will be necessary to adjust our production accordingly. This situation is due to the steady decline in the circulation of the local papers in the surrounding areas.
We have used every means we know of to encourage the local papers to try to keep their many faithful readers who have moved out of the city to the surrounding areas.
* * * * *
In response to your questions about a reduction in expenses in furnishing your house, I would suggest that you obtain the assistance of an expert. You apparently do not seem to realize that the cost of many of the materials now being used in house furnishings has gone up a great deal.
I frankly believe that it would be desirable for you to obtain the complete figures for furnishing the house before you go ahead and be disappointed when you cannot afford to get just what you want. I have consulted people in homes situated in your neighborhood and they have told me they had the same problems.
* * * * *
We are planning to put up a project adjacent to the bank building and we are interested in obtaining the services of an architect who has designed buildings similar to the one that we have in mind. If you know of anyone who has done such work and you can recommend him to us, we shall be grateful to you.
It is essential that this architect has had enough experience in this type of work to solve some of our special problems. There are undoubtedly many excellent architects who have the ability to do this project but they would need special experience to do it the way we wish.
For more information on shorthand speed building, click here.
Instructions for Self-Dictation Practice:
Copy and paste the above article into a word-processing document, using double or triple spacing and 12- or 14-pitch type.
As always, be sure to check your shorthand dictionary for correct outlines before "drilling"!
Dictation Practice:
Note that the material was counted and recorded for dictation at 100; all other speeds were copied from the 100 take and electronically adjusted and may therefore sound unusual.
60 wpm 80 wpm 100 wpm 120 wpm 140 wpm
The dictation material above is copyrighted, all rights reserved.