Legal and Official Vocabulary for Steno Dictation: Words You Should Know
Dictations for stenographer exams often use official, legal and parliamentary language. Building a working vocabulary of these words, in both outline and spelling, directly cuts your mistakes. Study a small list daily and use it in dictations.
Key takeaways
- Official vocabulary repeats across passages.
- Learn the outline and the spelling together.
- Revise in small daily batches.
- Test the words inside real dictations.
Why vocabulary matters so much
Unfamiliar words slow you down twice: you hesitate while writing, then you may misspell while typing. A known word is written and typed quickly and correctly.
Where to find the words
- Words you got wrong in past dictations.
- Official documents, orders and notices.
- Court and parliamentary language in news reports.
- The word library, which groups words from dictations by category.
A daily vocabulary routine
- Pick ten words from your list.
- Write each outline three times.
- Type each word correctly three times.
- Use each in a short sentence.
- Revise the previous day's ten words first.
Spelling traps
Watch for words with double letters, silent letters and similar-looking pairs. Keep a separate list of these. Reviewing them often is the cheapest way to save marks.
Use the words in context
After studying a set, take a dictation from the same category. Seeing the words in a real passage fixes them in memory.
Ready to put this into practice? Browse the dictation catalog, pick a speed that fits your level, and get an instant mistake breakdown after every attempt. Create a free account to save your progress.
Frequently asked questions
How many words should I learn daily?
About ten new words with daily revision is a manageable pace.
Do I need to learn the meaning of every word?
Knowing the meaning helps with spelling and context, so yes where possible.
Are Hindi words covered too?
Use the categories available for your language and keep a personal list for Hindi vocabulary.
What if I keep misspelling the same word?
Add it to a priority list and write and type it daily until it is correct.
Can I use flashcards?
Yes. Flashcards with spaced review work very well for vocabulary.