Gregg Ruled Paper Template
- 1 Version
- 2'871 Downloads
- 11 KB File Size
- January 3, 2022 Updated
- 0 Number of comments
- Rating
You may be wondering, “Who is Gregg, and why is there a paper named after him?” Well, John Robert Gregg was the inventor of a shorthand writing system, which is now known as the Gregg Shorthand system. Gregg’s shorthand system is phonetic (based on sound) and it uses elliptical figures for translation. For hobbyists, law-enforcement workers, journalists, and others who require writing paper for shorthand writing, we offer a Gregg ruled paper template in classic blue and red lines, as well as in black and white.
Template Contents
Below is a list of free printable worksheets included in this template.
US Letter
Lined paper with evenly spaced, blue horizontal lines. Space between each horizontal line measures .34 inches. A thicker red vertical line bisects the page. This worksheet is formatted in US letter paper size (8.5” x 11.0”).
US Letter BW
Lined paper with evenly spaced, black horizontal lines. Space between each horizontal line measures .34 inches. A thicker black vertical line bisects the page. This worksheet is formatted in US letter paper size (8.5” x 11.0”).
Gregg Paper History
Gregg shorthand took awhile to evolve into the most popular form of shorthand writing in the United States. When it was first published, Gregg shorthand was relatively difficult to use. Later, more simplified versions were published. As this writing system evolved, ever newer versions reduced the number of abbreviations for common words (the “brief forms”). This reduced memory load and made Gregg shorthand progressively easier to use. Most importantly, shorthand writers were able to increase their handwriting speed with each new improvement to the Gregg shorthand system.
Using Gregg Ruled Paper
Design of this printable template does not require any work to be done in Excel. The most practical use for the worksheets in this template is to create paper for shorthand writing. Print out as many copies of blank paper as needed. Now ready, get set - write! Gregg ruled paper is all about speed. Shorthand writing comes in handy when time is limited.
For example, journalists need to take notes as fast as the interviewee can speak, but that is difficult to accomplish typing on a computer, and almost impossible with longhand writing. Gregg shorthand allows the journalist to write entire paragraphs in seconds using the Gregg alphabet.
Below is an excerpt from the Gregg alphabet.
Alphabet courtesy of SCRIBD
To view a how-to tutorial on using Gregg shorthand letters, see this video:
Since Gregg shorthand is phonetic (based on sound), it records sound in speech, not the spelling of words. Silent letters are omitted and sounds are recorded as strokes. For example, an “e” sound is written as a tiny circle and the “h” sound is written as a dot. Practice and memorization is initially required to learn this system. One major disadvantage of Gregg shorthand is that it can be difficult to decipher something written a while ago because the symbols can seem ambiguous if you don’t recall what was said. However, this would not be an issue if you transcribe the message soon after having heard it.
Gregg vs Other Shorthand Systems
All shorthand systems have one thing in common - speed! The goal of shorthand systems is to allow the scribe to write as fast as humanly possible. However, when it comes to structure and method, shorthand systems have many differences. For example, in Gregg shorthand, all phonetic characters are of the same thickness. But, in other shorthand systems, such as Pitman, line thickness is used to emphasize certain sounds.
Further, in Gregg shorthand, the position of a written character on a line is not important. In fact, unlike some other shorthand systems, Gregg shorthand can be written with unlined paper. This is in contrast to a system such as Pitman shorthand, in which the position of the characters on a line is part of how the sounds are interpreted. However, as with any handwritten system, lines create uniformity and bring order from chaos. Gregg shorthand is known for its simplicity of style, but so, it can be confusing to read when it’s a disorganized jumble on the page.
Which form of shorthand is the most popular is up for debate, and depends on what part of the world you are in. For instance, Gregg shorthand is most widely used in the United States, while Pitman shorthand and Teeline shorthand are most popular in the United Kingdom.
Why the Line?
You might be wondering why there is a margin line down the center of the paper. One popular theory is that it’s there to accelerate writing even further. It takes half the time to move your hand from the center of the page back to the left hand margin, than it does to move your hand from the right side of the page to the left. In short, the line is intended to eliminate excess movement to increase writing speed and efficiency.
Customize
Change Paper Size
The Gregg ruled paper worksheets are formatted in letter size. But you can change the letter paper size if you prefer to work at a different scale.
Tip: See this tutorial on how to change paper size:
If scale is extended, additional lines may also need to be continued down to fit the new size of the paper. Below is an example of what may happen to lined paper when switching from letter size to legal size.
To add more lines, simply copy the last row (with lines) and paste to fill in the rest of the page.
Change Color Scheme
Background color, line color, and line style can be modified to fit your style with ease. For example, add a classic “yellow notepad” look to your Gregg ruled paper before you print, as shown below.
Listed here are some quick tutorials on how to make changes to color and style.
Change Background Color
Change Line Style and Color
