Chapter 11: Right hand compound clusters

Intro

All the chords covered so far represent single sounds. However, there are some chords (particularly on the right hand) that can represent multiple syllables. These are referred to as compound clusters.

Right hand -shun, -kshun, and -x

  • -GS is “-shun” as in “ocean

  • -BGS represents two sounds:
    • “-x” as in “tax
    • “-kshun” as in “friction

Examples

  • motion PHOEGS
  • caution KAUGS
  • fax TPABGS
  • tex TEBGS

-kshun and -x conflicts

Some words like “axe” and “action” conflict with the same outline: ABGS. In these cases, the “-x” sound is given higher priority and “-kshun” sound is relegated to *BGS (same chord, but with the asterisk key).

Examples

  • faction TPA*BGS (since TPABGS is already “fax”)
  • section S*EBGS (since SEBGS is already “sex”)

Mnemonics:

Feel free to come up with your own or even suggest some!

  1. “mugs in the ocean
  2. -BGS as the “-x” chord is simply just the combination of the “-k” chord -BG and the -S key
  3. -BGS as the “-kshun” chord overlaps with the “-k” chord -BG and the “-shun” chord -GS

Section practice

Right hand shun, kshun, and x words

Right hand -ment and -let

  • -PLT is “-ment” as in “moment

  • -LT is “-let” as in “scarlet

Examples

  • garment TKPWARPLT
  • torment TORPLT
  • roulette RAOULT
  • wallet WAULT

Mnemonics:

Feel free to come up with your own or even suggest some!

  1. Taking the middle out of “ment” gives “mt” which is what -PLT represents
  2. Taking the middle out of “let” gives “lt” which is what -LT represents

Section practice

Right hand -ment and -let words

Unfortunately, there is not a lot of practice material for single stroke words containing these chords.

Right hand -BL and -BLT

  • -BL represents the “-bl” sound as in “global
    • When this sound is preceded by a vowel, the -BL chord can be extended to represent the whole sound as in:
      • “pliable
      • “possible

  • -BLT represents the “-bility” sound as in “stability
    • When this sound is preceded by a vowel, the -BLT chord can be extended to represent the whole sound as in:
      • “capability
      • “feasibility

Examples

  • rebel REBL
  • playable PHRAEUBL
  • terrible TERBL
  • mobility PHOEBLT
  • viability SRAOEUBLT

Mnemonics:

Feel free to come up with your own or even suggest some!

  1. -BL already looks a lot like the sounds it represents, it just sometimes skips over an unemphasized vowel.
  2. -BLT is just building off of -BL with a “ity” sound.

Section practice

Right hand -BL and -BLT words drill

Right hand -shus and -shal

  • -RBS is the “shus” sound as in “cautious

  • -RBL is the “shal” sound as in “social

Examples

  • nauseous TPHAURBS
  • precious PRERBS
  • facial TPAEURBL
  • special SPERBL

Section practice

Right hand -shus and -shal words drill

Unfortunately, there is not a lot of practice material for single stroke words containing these chords.

Chapter 11 test

This chapter’s test consists of all the practice drills in this chapter. Make sure your settings are configured as such:

test settings

  • Limit word count: 45
  • Start from word: 1
  • Repetitions: 3
  • Sort: random
  • Show hint for every word: unchecked
  • Hide hint on last repetition: unchecked
  • Show hint on misstroke: checked

Click here to access the chapter 11 test

This is only a suggestion if you are unsure of when to move on to the next chapter; it is not a strict requirement!

Aim for 10–20 WPM with 90% accuracy.

You may use the test material as practice!

Chapter briefs

This section is completely optional, but recommended. If you prefer to learn these all at once, they will be covered in chapter 16.

TranslationBriefExplanation
everyEFRevery
firstTPEUFRTUses an inversion of steno order (-R and -F are swapped) with the -F representing “s”
followTPOLfollow
whereW-Rwhere
couldKUD
wouldWUD
shouldSHUD
throughTHRUTHRAOU is the word “threw”

NOTE: remember that these are briefs; the explanations are not applicable to any arbitrary word.

Practice sentences

  1. should you follow them?
  2. could we first pass through?
  3. would you know every place?
  4. where are they?

Answers

  1. SHUD/U/TPOL/THEPL/KW-PL
  2. KUD/WAOE/TPEUFRT/PAS/THRU/KW-PL
  3. WUD/U/TPHOE/EFR/PHRAEUS/KW-PL
  4. W-R/-R/THE/KW-PL

Extra briefs

BriefOutlineExplanation
everyoneEFRPBEFR + -PB
everywhereWEFRBEFR + W-R
where theW-RTW-R + -T
through theTHRUTTHRU + -T