What is a Stenographer?

A stenographer is a trained professional that makes use of specific forms of shorthand to accurately transcribe verbal communications as they occur or from a recording. Making use of shorthand techniques that were once commonly employed by administrative assistants in an office setting, a stenographer is often used in legal settings as well as in preparing written records of high profile business meetings. One of the more common career options for a stenographer today is that of court reporter.

When employed in a courtroom, the court stenographer will transcribe all testimony, arguments and rulings as they take place. Because of the nature of the proceedings, it is essential that a stenographer working in this particular field be extremely accurate and detailed in the information that is transcribed. It is not unusual for the stenographer to make use of recording equipment to create an audio record of the life proceedings and later compare the recording to the shorthand document created during the trial or hearing. This dual process makes it possible to quickly identify any small errors or omissions that may occur during the preparation of the original transcript.

The services of a stenographer are also common in the business world. For example, a company may have a stenographer present during a meeting of the Board or a quarterly earnings meeting. The task of the stenographer is to use dictation methods to capture all verbal communications that take place in the meeting and prepare them for eventual approval and inclusion in the permanent records of the company. As with the courtroom, it is not unusual for a corporate stenographer to tape record the meeting as a way of ensuring complete accuracy with the final transcript.

Stenography should not be confused with the process of dictation that was once common in most office settings. While both practices make use of shorthand to prepare transcripts, the dictation work of administrative assistants is usually confined to the preparation of documents such as letters or interoffice memos. By contrast, the stenographer is focused on the preparation of permanent records that often have legal standing in a court of law.

Training as a stenographer requires mastering the art of shorthand as well as developing a keen ear and excellent hand coordination. When the stenographer intends to pursue assignments in a business setting, the training necessary can be completed in as little as six months. However, the training requirements for a court stenographer are more extensive and may take up to six years to complete. Certification as a stenographer may be granted by a business school, although there are colleges and universities that offer degree programs that relate to the profession as well.