In the foregoing lists, the student is furnished with nearly four thousand useful outlines. Of these, the word-signs and contractions should be perfectly memorized. The other outlines given are not only valuable for reference as to the correct forms to be used for the particular words contained in the lists, but they are suggestive of the best outlines for a vast number of other words which the stenographer will be likely to meet in his work. The flexibility of this system of writing is such, that words may often be written in two or more different ways, either of which is legible. For example, the word calendar may be written with either of the following outlines:

The choice of the best outline for a word, often requires careful thought, but when the question is once decided, the same form should always be used for that word. To use different forms for the same word, is sure to cause hesitation and loss of speed. In such words as fall under the rule at section 25, b, examples of which are given on page 64, great care should be taken to select distinct and unambiguous outlines. Most of the words in the English language which come under this rule, are contained in the Phonetic Shorthand Word-book, with engraved forms for the same, and every stenographer should possess a copy of that book.