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Court Reporter / Stenographer
Creates word-for-word transcripts of legal proceedings using specialized shorthand machines.
Did you know?
US court reporters must pass stenotype speed tests of up to 225 words per minute, and Mark Kislingbury set a Guinness record of 360 words per minute in 2004.
How subjects help
- Literature: Spell names and unusual words correctly so the written record reads clearly.
- Computer Science: Use a shorthand machine and software that turns fast keystrokes into text.
- Law: Recognise legal terms spoken quickly in court and write them down accurately.
- Communication: Listen closely when several people talk at once and capture every word.
A famous name
Isaac Pitman: Invented Pitman shorthand in 1837, the fast writing system used by generations of stenographers.
Try it yourself: Write down every word exactly
- Ask your friend to read the script once at normal speed while you write every word.
- Compare your version with the card. Circle any word you missed or changed.
- If you were writing captions for a film, how would you show the door slam for someone who can't hear it?
- Try again with a new sentence. Were you more accurate the second time?
Court reporters and captioners record every word accurately, so a record or a film can be followed by everyone, including people who are deaf.
Also try: Report today's news.
Known for it in
USA, UK, Canada, Australia, France