The design of this book is to assist inexperienced writers to read what they have written, and to make the introduction of vowels less necessary by proficient reporters. To every one, however, who writes shorthand — no matter what system — it will be found useful. In plain words, it is a Dictionary; and as its compilation has taken more than six years of close application, and the writer throughout has had a great desire for making it complete, and worthy of universal approval, he feels sure that, no matter how thoroughly practical and experienced a writer may be, it will not be undeserving of a place on his desk.