Shorthand is any system of rapid handwriting, which can be used to transcribe the spoken word. Shorthand, which has been used in England 
since the 16th century, has been used since Greek and Roman times. One of the most widely known forms of shorthand is the Pitman method, developed by Isaac Pitman in 1837. This system, gradually improved over time, has been adapted for many different languages. The system was very popular with secretaries, reporters and writers in the UK and USA, till the invention of pocket tape recorders, which proved more useful for recording speech. Another popular shorthand system is that of Gregg’s shorthand system, developed by John Robert Gregg in 1888.
