There are abbreviations for common prefixes and suffixes; for example, uppercase ⟨N⟩ represents enter- or inter- so "entertainment" is written as Ntn- and "interrogation" is reduced to Ngj.

[4] The inventor of the system was able to type notes on a typewriter as fast as anyone could speak, therefore she believed Speedwriting could eliminate the need for stenotype machines in most applications.

Starting with just $192 (equivalent to $3,413 in 2023) of capital, she used print advertising to turn her textbooks and classes into a thriving international company[9] with offices in England and Canada.

Dearborn's company offered correspondence courses to individuals while vocational schools around the country paid an annual franchise fee for the right to teach Speedwriting classes within a specified territory.

Commander Richard E. Byrd commissioned Dearborn to teach her shorthand system to some members of his upcoming polar expedition.

[10] In 1937 the Works Progress Administration sponsored free Speedwriting classes as part of its Emergency Education Program.

The second version of Speedwriting, designed by Alexander L. Sheff (July 21, 1898 – June 27, 1978) in the early 1950s, introduced some symbols that could not be produced on a typewriter such as arcs representing the letters 'm' and 'w'.

[14] Starting in 1974 a variant of Speedwriting called Landmark Shorthand was taught in some American high schools and universities.

"[15] In the 1980s Joe M. Pullis designed the third major version of Speedwriting which further modified the system's symbols and principles.