Clickable dictation at various speeds is available at the bottom of this page. The transcript of the dictation appears here as well.
This month, we begin a new book, with practice letters students of the 1940s used. This first one is a doozie and I apologize for it in advance but all dictation is good, even when the subject matter is awful.
Remember, the dictation pieces must be a minimum of three minutes to be a valid test. Anything under three minutes is therefore not acceptable for testing purposes. Keep in mind that before Diamond Jubilee Gregg, all shorthand tests were five minutes. If you go back far enough, tests were ten minutes or longer.
200 Takes for Building Shorthand Speed, Zoubek, 1946, Letter 105
Dear Fred: I have been out of town for the past few weeks and this is the first opportunity I have had to answer your letter requesting information on how to get a nice green lawn around your new home.
Perhaps, during the first year or two, your lawn will not look like a putting green on a golf course; but you surely can make it look very attractive by using a little care.
First, I suggest that you buy the very best grade of seeds. Of course, there are many cheap grass seeds on the market but in the end, it will be worth your while to pay a little more to give your lawn the proper start.
Second, I suggest that you use Johnson Fertilizer. I know that the area on which you plan to have your lawn has already been graded and that the topsoil has been put on. Do not try to put the whole lawn in at once. Do a section at a time, perhaps 300 square feet. For each 300 square feet, use one bale of Johnson Fertilizer. When you receive a bale of fertilizer, put it down on the ground on its side; then cut the wire bands. Experience has shown that this is the most satisfactory way to open a bale because of the fact that the fertilizer has been put into the bale under pressure.
After you have opened the bale, spread the fertilizer evenly over your 300 square feet and then spray it thoroughly. Don’t use water with a strong force—a fine spray is best.
The next step is very important. Borrow a roller from your neighbor, if you don’t have one yourself, and roll the 300 feet lightly so the surface is level.
Repeat this process for every 300 feet until you have completed your lawn. Then take a rake and go over the surface lightly; and, on this surface, place your grass seed. I have found that about two pounds of grass seed for every 300 square feet of lawn is sufficient.
I shall not try to tell you just how to sow the seed, but scatter it as evenly as you can. After this is done, rake the soil lightly, always in one direction. Don’t cover the seed too deeply. Try to get it into the ground about an eight of an inch, and then roll the area two or three times.
Now you have the basis of a fine lawn. Its beauty, of course, will depend on the amount of care you give it. Be sure to water it thoroughly, using the finest possible spray.
You will find, if you follow these directions exactly, that in due time you will have a very fine lawn. Of course, it goes without saying that in a few weeks’ time, you will have to cut the gross and give it a little attention from time to time but I will leave that story for later. Sincerely yours,
P.S. I have just heard of a new idea for planting seeds that seems to be an excellent one. Mix your lawn seed and some fine soil together before spreading it. Use about one quart of seed to one quart of soil.
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.