What is stenography & what does a stenographer do?

Ever wondered how lawyers, judges and legal teams get a precise, word-for-word record of what’s said in court? Meet the stenographer. But what is a stenographer, what exactly does a stenographer do and how common are they in today’s legal world?

What is a stenographer?

A stenographer's job is to capture transcripts of everything said in court. They're important because they become the official legal record. 

Back in the day, stenographers used shorthand to take notes manually — it was fast, precise and exhausting. Now, most stenographers use a stenograph (also called a stenotype). This machine looks almost like a typewriter, but allows them to press multiple keys at once to record syllables, words or phrases in real time. 

You might also come across an oral stenographer. This is where the stenographer speaks into a voice silencer while simultaneously listening to speech. They'll repeat every word spoken, including punctuation, and specialized software then converts this into text. 

What types of stenographers are there?

You'll mainly see stenographers in court and other legal settings, but they crop up elsewhere, too.

• Medical stenographers: Turn doctors’ and healthcare professionals’ audio notes into precise medical reports.
• Business stenographers: Capture every detail from corporate meetings, board sessions or conferences
• Broadcasting stenographers: Also called closed captioners, they provide real-time captions for live TV and online streams. Speed and accuracy are everything here — every word has to land as it’s spoken.

How does stenography work?

When using a stenograph, you type in syllables instead of individual letters. For example, the letter “I” is written as its AY sound.

The keyboard is split into three sections: initial consonants on the left, vowels in the middle and final consonants on the right. Like touch typing, your left hand covers the left keys, your right hand covers the right and your thumbs work the middle. By pressing multiple keys at once — a technique called chording — stenographers can capture entire words in a single stroke. This system allows them to hit speeds of 200+ words per minute while keeping accuracy high.

Because a stenograph only has 22 keys, some letters are created by combining strokes. For example, HR is often used to type an L sound. So the word "light" would be HR + AY + T.

Before modern transcription software, stenographs printed raw shorthand (e.g., HR AY T). After a recording session, stenographers had to manually translate their notes into standard English — a process that could take hours, especially for long court sessions or broadcasts.

Today, modern stenographs connect to software that translates shorthand instantly. This makes it possible to produce transcripts and captions for courts, live broadcasts and events in real-time.

What skills do you need to be a stenographer? 

If you want to become a court stenographer or a stenographer in another field, you'll need a few key skills.

• Speed and accuracy: Ability to type 200+ words per minute with minimal errors. You'll usually need to complete formal training, such as a court reporting training program or stenotype training.
• Strong listening skills: Ability to capture every word in real time, even in fast or overlapping conversations.
• Concentration and focus: Capacity to maintain attention during long proceedings without missing details.
• Language proficiency: Command of grammar, punctuation and vocabulary to ensure transcripts are clear and precise.
• Technical skills: Confidence with stenograph machines, transcription software and sometimes voice recognition tools.
• Confidentiality: Commitment to handling sensitive or legal information with professionalism and discretion.
• Knowledge of the industry: Understanding the field you’re working in, like law or medicine, can be a big advantage, but it isn’t always essential.

The future of stenography

The future of stenography is changing with AI transcription tools on the rise. While stenographers have long been the gold standard for courtrooms and high-stakes settings, AI now offers a faster, more scalable solution for everyday transcription needs. Tools like Trint can turn speech, audio and video into accurate, editable text in minutes.

That doesn’t mean stenography will disappear overnight. In legal settings where every word must be captured perfectly in real time, human stenographers are still the MVPs. For one, stenographers can clarify certain terms for the record. They can also capture overlapping speech or filter out loud background noise — something AI can't quite master (yet). 

But for journalists, broadcasters and businesses chasing speed and collaboration, AI-powered transcription is already becoming the go-to.

The work of a stenographer is vital. They’ve been essential in capturing precise, word-for-word records for decades. And in many high-stakes settings, that isn’t changing anytime soon.

But the way we capture speech is evolving fast. AI transcription tools like Trint now make it possible for anyone — not just trained stenographers — to turn audio and video into accurate, editable text in minutes. Book your 7-day free trial today to find out how Trint can improve your workflow.