Basic Straight & Curved Strokes
Learn P, B, T, D, CH, J, K, G and understand stroke direction, angles, and line weight.
Overview
Consonants are the foundation of Pitman Shorthand. The first eight consonants consist of straight strokes written in four distinct directions: 120° downward (P, B), 90° downward (T, D), 60° downward (CH, J), and 0° horizontal (K, G).
Key Rules to Remember
- ✓Every straight stroke has a standard uniform length (about one-sixth of an inch or 4 mm).
- ✓P and B slant from top-left to bottom-right (120°).
- ✓T and D are strictly perpendicular (90°).
- ✓CH (Chay) and J (Jay) slant downward from top-right to bottom-left (60°).
- ✓K and G are horizontal strokes written from left to right.
Detailed Pitman Rules
Stroke Direction
Never reverse stroke direction! P, B, T, D, CH, and J are strictly downward strokes. K and G are strictly left-to-right.
Uniform Stroke Length
All standard strokes must be drawn to the same uniform length. Do not make some strokes twice as long as others.
💡 Tip: Practice drawing rows of T and D on ruled paper, ensuring each stroke terminates precisely on the baseline.