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ITI/NCVT Stenographer Secretarial Assistant (AITT Theory) study materials
ITI/NCVT Stenographer Secretarial Assistant (AITT Theory) study resources

ITI/NCVT Stenographer Secretarial Assistant (AITT Theory) practice questions

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Question 1Stenography and Shorthand Theory

In Pitman shorthand, what does the length of a stroke primarily indicate?

  1. The vowel that follows the consonant
  2. Whether the consonant is voiced or voiceless Correct answer.
  3. The size of the writing line
  4. The grammatical function of the word

Explanation

Pitman shorthand distinguishes consonant pairs by stroke length: the light, short stroke represents the voiceless sound and the long, heavy stroke represents its voiced partner, as in 'p' and 'b'. Length therefore signals voicing rather than vowels, grammar, or line size.

Question 2Stenography and Shorthand Theory

In Pitman New Era, how is the vowel sound in 'arm' represented?

  1. A light dash placed at the third position
  2. A light dot placed at the first position
  3. A heavy dot placed at the second position
  4. A heavy dash placed at the third position Correct answer.

Explanation

Long vowels in Pitman are written as heavy marks and short vowels as light marks. 'Ah' is a long vowel belonging to the third position, so it takes the form of a heavy dash at the third position.

Question 3Stenography and Shorthand Theory

Which statement correctly describes a phraseograph in Pitman shorthand?

  1. A ruled margin marking the third position
  2. A single outline that represents a whole group of words Correct answer.
  3. A symbol showing where a paragraph begins
  4. A pencil used for writing shorthand outlines

Explanation

A phraseograph is a single joined outline standing for a frequently used group of words, such as 'as soon as possible'. It saves writing time by combining common words into one compact form.

Question 4Stenography and Shorthand Theory

A shorthand writer needs to record the word 'particular' in Pitman. Which principle explains why a brief form is permitted here?

  1. Long words are always written in full for accuracy
  2. Brief forms are used only for proper nouns
  3. Frequent words may be shortened to brief forms to increase speed Correct answer.
  4. Brief forms replace vowels in every word

Explanation

Pitman shorthand uses brief forms for very common words so that the hand travels less and speed increases. 'Particular' is frequent enough to have an accepted shortened outline. Accuracy is preserved because the brief form is standard and unambiguous in context.

Question 5Stenography and Shorthand Theory

In Pitman shorthand, what is the purpose of writing an outline 'on the line'?

  1. To indicate that the word begins with a first-position vowel Correct answer.
  2. To show that the word is emphasised
  3. To show that the word is a proper noun
  4. To mark the end of a sentence

Explanation

The first position lies on the writing line. Placing the first stroke on the line tells the reader that the initial vowel is a first-position vowel, which fixes the word's pronunciation.

Question 6Stenography and Shorthand Theory

Which consonant pair is distinguished in Pitman shorthand by light versus heavy pressure rather than by length?

  1. s and z Correct answer.
  2. t and d
  3. k and g
  4. m and n

Explanation

The strokes for 's' and 'z' are the same length, and they are told apart by pressure: 's' is written light and 'z' heavy. Pairs such as 't'/'d' and 'k'/'g' are distinguished mainly by stroke length.

Question 7Stenography and Shorthand Theory

What does the term 'intersection' mean in Pitman shorthand?

  1. Joining two vowels inside one stroke
  2. Writing two outlines so that they cross each other to show a missing word Correct answer.
  3. Placing a dot between two consonants
  4. Writing a phrase without lifting the pen

Explanation

Intersection is a device in which two outlines are written across one another to indicate an omitted word, usually a preposition or a pronoun. The crossing point signals the reader to supply the missing word from context.

Question 8Stenography and Shorthand Theory

In Gregg shorthand, what does the length of a stroke indicate?

  1. The voicing of the consonant Correct answer.
  2. The vowel that follows the consonant
  3. The position of the word in the sentence
  4. The stress placed on the syllable

Explanation

Gregg shorthand uses stroke length to show voicing: the longer stroke is the voiced consonant and the shorter stroke the voiceless one, as with 'k' and 'g'. Vowels are written as separate small symbols, not by stroke length.

Question 9Stenography and Shorthand Theory

How are vowels represented in Gregg shorthand?

  1. As light dots placed above strokes
  2. As numbers written after each outline
  3. As heavy dashes placed below strokes
  4. As small symbols written beside or between consonant strokes Correct answer.

Explanation

Gregg shorthand writes vowels as small separate symbols placed beside or between the consonant strokes, so they can be inserted without lifting the pen far. This differs from Pitman, where vowels are dots and dashes positioned around strokes.

Question 10Stenography and Shorthand Theory

In Gregg shorthand, what is the significance of the 'circle' attached to a consonant stroke?

  1. It shows that the word is plural
  2. It represents a following 'r' or 'l' sound in combinations Correct answer.
  3. It represents the vowel 'a'
  4. It marks the start of a new paragraph

Explanation

Gregg uses small circles and loops attached to strokes to represent combinations such as 'r' and 'l' with a preceding consonant. The circle is a shorthand device for consonant blends, not a punctuation or grammar mark.

Question 11Stenography and Shorthand Theory

A stenographer writes 'I have received your letter' using a single joined outline in Gregg. Which principle does this illustrate?

  1. Intersection, where outlines cross each other
  2. Vowel omission, where all vowels are dropped
  3. Position writing, where outlines sit on ruled lines
  4. Phrasing, where common words are joined without lifting the pen Correct answer.

Explanation

Phrasing joins frequently used words into one continuous outline so the pen need not be lifted between them. This raises writing speed while keeping the phrase readable. The other devices named serve different purposes.

Question 12Stenography and Shorthand Theory

Which is the standard abbreviation 'brief form' for the word 'and' in Pitman shorthand?

  1. A short horizontal stroke written on the line Correct answer.
  2. A vertical stroke crossed by a dash
  3. A small circle with a tick
  4. A full 'n' stroke with a vowel dot

Explanation

In Pitman, 'and' is written as a short horizontal stroke placed on the writing line, a recognised brief form. Frequent conjunctions like this are shortened so the writer saves time on every occurrence.

Question 13Stenography and Shorthand Theory

What is the function of the 'halving' principle in Pitman shorthand?

  1. It indicates that a word is a proper noun
  2. It indicates the addition of 't' or 'd' to a stroke Correct answer.
  3. It indicates that a vowel is long
  4. It indicates that a consonant is doubled

Explanation

Halving a consonant stroke adds a 't' or 'd' sound, allowing two consonants to be written in one stroke. For example, a halved 'p' stroke reads 'pt' or 'pd'. This is a speed-building device, not a vowel or grammar marker.

Question 14Stenography and Shorthand Theory

In Pitman shorthand, what does doubling the length of a consonant stroke generally indicate?

  1. The addition of 'm'
  2. The addition of 'tr' or 'dr' Correct answer.
  3. The addition of a long vowel
  4. The addition of 's'

Explanation

Doubling a stroke in Pitman adds an 'r' sound to the consonant, so a doubled 't' reads 'tr' and a doubled 'd' reads 'dr'. This allows consonant clusters to be written with a single lengthened stroke.

Question 15Stenography and Shorthand Theory

Which punctuation mark is represented in Pitman shorthand by a small cross written at the end of an outline?

  1. Full stop Correct answer.
  2. Question mark
  3. Comma
  4. Hyphen

Explanation

In Pitman shorthand a small cross marks a full stop, signalling the end of a sentence. Other punctuation marks use distinct signs, so the cross is not used for a comma, question mark, or hyphen.

Question 16Stenography and Shorthand Theory

Why do shorthand systems use 'position writing' rather than writing every vowel clearly?

  1. To mark the number of syllables
  2. To indicate vowel sounds through placement while saving writing time Correct answer.
  3. To show the speaker's tone of voice
  4. To make the outline look decorative

Explanation

Position writing lets the writer record a vowel's identity by where an outline sits relative to the line, so fewer vowel marks are needed. This saves time while still allowing accurate reading back.

Question 17Stenography and Shorthand Theory

In Gregg shorthand, what does the term 'blending' refer to?

  1. Joining consonant strokes smoothly without lifting the pen Correct answer.
  2. Mixing two shorthand systems in one page
  3. Combining two words into a single brief form
  4. Writing vowels in a different colour

Explanation

Blending in Gregg means joining consonant strokes continuously so the outline flows without pen lifts. This smooth connection is central to Gregg's speed because it reduces hand movement.

Question 18Stenography and Shorthand Theory

Which of these is a recognised 'grammalogue' in Pitman shorthand?

  1. A margin note for the typist
  2. A symbol for a foreign accent
  3. A special pencil grip
  4. A single stroke standing for a common word such as 'the' Correct answer.

Explanation

A grammalogue is a single sign or stroke that stands for a whole common word, such as 'the', 'of', or 'to'. These signs are learned as a set and greatly increase writing speed.

Question 19Stenography and Shorthand Theory

A student writes the Pitman outline for 'nation' with the 'shun' stroke. Which principle is being applied?

  1. The doubling principle
  2. The intersection principle
  3. The halving principle
  4. The 'shun' hook representing the suffix '-tion' or '-sion' Correct answer.

Explanation

Pitman provides a special hook or stroke for the common suffix '-tion' or '-sion', pronounced 'shun'. Using it shortens the outline while keeping the word readable. Halving, doubling, and intersection serve other purposes.

Question 20Stenography and Shorthand Theory

What is the main advantage of a shorthand system based on phonetic rather than orthographic writing?

  1. It records sounds as spoken, so silent letters are not written Correct answer.
  2. It preserves the exact spelling of every word
  3. It automatically corrects the speaker's grammar
  4. It requires no learning of symbols

Explanation

Phonetic shorthand records the sounds actually spoken, so silent letters and irregular spellings are not reproduced. This makes outlines shorter and faster to write than a spelling-based system.

Question 21Stenography and Shorthand Theory

In Pitman shorthand, which stroke represents the consonant 'ng' as in 'sing'?

  1. A slanted stroke Correct answer.
  2. A circle
  3. A curved stroke
  4. A horizontal stroke

Explanation

The 'ng' sound is written with a slanted stroke in Pitman, distinguishing it from the horizontal and curved consonant strokes. Circles are used for the 's' sound and for combinations, not for 'ng'.

Question 22Stenography and Shorthand Theory

What does the term 'outline' mean in shorthand practice?

  1. The written form of a word or phrase in shorthand symbols Correct answer.
  2. A summary written in longhand
  3. A preliminary sketch of the page layout
  4. The ruled line of the notebook

Explanation

An outline is the shorthand symbol or joined symbols that represent a word or phrase. Transcribing an outline means reading it back into longhand.

Question 23Stenography and Shorthand Theory

Which factor most directly limits a stenographer's shorthand speed during dictation?

  1. The colour of the ink used
  2. The type of desk used
  3. The size of the notebook
  4. The number of pen lifts and the complexity of outlines Correct answer.

Explanation

Speed depends chiefly on how economically the hand moves, so fewer pen lifts, brief forms, and simple outlines raise writing speed. Ink colour, notebook size, and furniture have negligible effect on shorthand speed.

Question 24Stenography and Shorthand Theory

In Gregg shorthand, how is a final 's' or 'z' sound usually shown?

  1. By a separate longhand letter
  2. By a small circle at the end of the outline Correct answer.
  3. By doubling the preceding stroke
  4. By a heavy dot above the outline

Explanation

Gregg adds a small circle to the end of a stroke to show a final 's' or 'z' sound, which also forms plurals. This circle is quick to write and keeps the outline compact.

Question 25Stenography and Shorthand Theory

A candidate must write a dictated passage containing many proper nouns. Which shorthand practice best preserves accuracy?

  1. Omitting all proper nouns
  2. Replacing proper nouns with numbers
  3. Marking proper nouns with a distinguishing sign and reading them from context Correct answer.
  4. Writing every proper noun in full longhand between outlines

Explanation

Proper nouns are often unfamiliar, so shorthand writers mark them with a distinguishing sign and rely on context when transcribing. Writing them in full longhand would slow the writer badly, and omitting them would lose essential information.

Question 26Stenography and Shorthand Theory

In Pitman shorthand, which pair of strokes is written on the line of writing because they are horizontal consonants?

  1. M and N
  2. T and D
  3. K and G Correct answer.
  4. P and B

Explanation

The light K and heavy G strokes are horizontal and therefore sit on the line of writing so that position writing remains consistent. Vertical and inclined strokes are placed against the line instead. This convention keeps outlines aligned and readable at speed.

Question 27Stenography and Shorthand Theory

A shorthand student is told that the first place vowel is read before the consonant stroke. Which vowel signs occupy the first place in Pitman shorthand?

  1. The long vowels represented by heavy dots and dashes
  2. The diphthongs written as angular signs
  3. The neutral vowel written as a small circle
  4. The short vowels represented by light dots Correct answer.

Explanation

First place is occupied by the light dots, which represent the short vowels, and they are read before the stroke they accompany. The heavy dots and dashes belong to third place, read after the stroke. Diphthongs are written as angular signs in their own fixed positions.

Question 28Stenography and Shorthand Theory

Which shorthand principle explains why the outline for 'pr' is written as a single continuous stroke in both Pitman and Gregg systems?

  1. Vocalisation
  2. Position writing
  3. Blending or joining of strokes without lifting the pen Correct answer.
  4. Phraseography

Explanation

Both systems join consonant strokes into one continuous outline so that the pen is not lifted between sounds. This joining is the basis of fluency and speed in shorthand writing. Phraseography concerns joining whole words, not individual consonant strokes.

Question 29Stenography and Shorthand Theory

A dictation contains the phrase 'in order to'. Which shorthand technique allows a stenographer to record it as one outline?

  1. Intersection
  2. Phrasing Correct answer.
  3. Doubling
  4. Halving

Explanation

Phrasing joins common words into a single outline, saving time and reducing pen lifts during fast dictation. Halving and doubling are consonant modifications, and intersection is a way of indicating a separate word by crossing strokes.

Question 30Stenography and Shorthand Theory

In Pitman shorthand, what does writing a small circle on the left side of a consonant stroke indicate?

  1. An added 's' sound read after the stroke
  2. An added 's' sound read before the stroke Correct answer.
  3. A preceding vowel
  4. A final 'shun' syllable

Explanation

A circle placed on the left of a stroke is read before it, giving the s sound at the beginning of the syllable. A circle on the right is read after the stroke. The position of the circle therefore fixes the order of sounds in the outline.

Question 31Stenography and Shorthand Theory

A stenographer needs to write the past tense of a verb ending in a downward stroke. Which Pitman device most directly adds the '-ed' sound without a separate stroke?

  1. Raising the stroke
  2. Halving the stroke Correct answer.
  3. Circling the stroke
  4. Doubling the stroke

Explanation

Halving a consonant stroke adds a final t or d sound, which is exactly what is needed for regular past tense endings. The half-length stroke is written in the same direction as the full stroke. Doubling adds a different syllable and cannot serve this purpose.

Question 32Stenography and Shorthand Theory

Why does Pitman shorthand distinguish between light and heavy strokes for consonant pairs such as p and b?

  1. To distinguish two different consonant sounds with the same stroke shape Correct answer.
  2. To show whether the vowel is long or short
  3. To indicate the position of the outline on the line
  4. To mark the end of a sentence

Explanation

Paired consonants share the same stroke direction, so the system uses pressure, light against heavy, to tell them apart. This keeps the number of stroke shapes small while still representing all consonant sounds. Vowel length and sentence boundaries are shown by other means.

Question 33Stenography and Shorthand Theory

In Gregg shorthand, which feature distinguishes the 'o' sound from the 'a' sound in the same stroke direction?

  1. The pressure of the stroke
  2. The position of the stroke on the line
  3. The size of the stroke Correct answer.
  4. The direction of the stroke

Explanation

Gregg uses stroke size rather than pressure to distinguish certain vowel sounds, so a small circle or hook differs from a larger one. Pressure is not used contrastively in Gregg. Direction and position serve other purposes in the system.

Question 34Stenography and Shorthand Theory

Which term describes a shorthand sign that stands for a whole common word rather than being built from individual strokes?

  1. Vocalisation
  2. Grammalogue Correct answer.
  3. Phraseogram
  4. Outline

Explanation

A grammalogue is a single sign that represents an entire word, such as a short form for a very common word. It is learned as a unit and written without being analysed into separate consonant strokes. Outline is the general term for any written shorthand form.

Question 35Stenography and Shorthand Theory

A candidate writes a shorthand outline for a word but places it in the wrong position relative to the line. What is the most likely consequence?

  1. The outline becomes a phraseogram
  2. The vowel indication becomes ambiguous or wrong Correct answer.
  3. The consonant strokes change their meaning
  4. The outline acquires an extra final consonant

Explanation

Position writing carries vowel information in Pitman, so a mispositioned outline signals the wrong vowel or leaves it unclear. The consonant strokes themselves keep their identity regardless of placement. Extra consonants come from halving, doubling, or added circles, not from position.

Question 36Stenography and Shorthand Theory

During dictation a stenographer encounters an unfamiliar technical term. Which practice best supports later accurate transcription?

  1. Substitute a familiar word of similar length
  2. Omit the term and reconstruct it from context
  3. Stop writing until the term is repeated
  4. Write a phonetic outline and mark it for review Correct answer.

Explanation

Writing a phonetic outline preserves the sound of the word so that it can be resolved after dictation, and marking it flags the item for checking. Omitting or substituting loses information that context may not recover. Stopping to wait breaks the flow and loses following words.

Question 37Stenography and Shorthand Theory

Which statement correctly describes the relationship between shorthand speed and the number of pen lifts in an outline?

  1. More pen lifts increase speed because strokes stay shorter
  2. Pen lifts have no effect on dictation speed
  3. More pen lifts generally reduce speed because each lift costs time Correct answer.
  4. Pen lifts only affect legibility, not speed

Explanation

Each time the pen leaves the paper, time is lost, so fluent outlines join strokes and words wherever the system permits. This is why phrasing and joining are taught as speed devices. Legibility is also affected, but the primary speed cost is the interruption itself.

Question 38Stenography and Shorthand Theory

In Gregg shorthand, a small hook at the beginning of a stroke most often represents which element?

  1. A punctuation mark
  2. A final vowel
  3. A prefixed consonant such as r or l Correct answer.
  4. A change of paragraph

Explanation

Gregg uses hooks at the start or end of strokes to add consonants such as r and l without a separate stroke. The hook is blended into the main consonant, keeping the outline compact. Vowels, punctuation, and paragraphing are shown by other devices.

Question 39Stenography and Shorthand Theory

Why is a shorthand system described as phonetic rather than orthographic?

  1. It records every letter of the spelling in order
  2. It records the sounds of speech rather than the letters of spelling Correct answer.
  3. It uses only abbreviations taken from a dictionary
  4. It depends on the writer's handwriting style

Explanation

A phonetic system writes what is heard, so silent letters and irregular spellings do not create extra strokes. This makes outlines shorter and more consistent across words with similar sounds. An orthographic system would follow spelling letter by letter.

Question 40Stenography and Shorthand Theory

A stenographer must record a long dictated passage containing many figures and proper nouns. Which combination of practices best supports an accurate transcript?

  1. Write every name in longhand as it is dictated
  2. Write phonetic outlines for names, mark doubtful items, and verify after dictation Correct answer.
  3. Rely on memory for names and write only the general sense
  4. Skip figures and insert them later from the speaker's notes

Explanation

Phonetic outlines capture the sound of unfamiliar names, and marking doubtful items allows them to be checked against the recording or the speaker. Figures should be written as dictated rather than reconstructed from memory. Verification after dictation is the step that turns a rough note into an accurate transcript.

Question 41English Typewriting and Keyboarding

In touch typing on a standard QWERTY keyboard, which finger is assigned to strike the letter 'T' when the hands rest on the home row?

  1. Left middle finger
  2. Left index finger Correct answer.
  3. Right index finger
  4. Right middle finger

Explanation

In the standard touch-typing method the home-row keys are ASDF for the left hand and JKL; for the right hand. The left index finger is responsible for the T key as well as G, F, R, V and B, reached by an upward or sideways stretch from F. The right index finger covers Y, U, H, J, N and M instead.

Question 42English Typewriting and Keyboarding

A stenographer typing on a QWERTY keyboard reaches for the letter 'M'. Under standard touch-typing finger assignment, which finger should strike it?

  1. Right little finger
  2. Right ring finger
  3. Right index finger Correct answer.
  4. Left index finger

Explanation

The right index finger, resting on J, is stretched downward to strike M and N and upward to strike Y, U and H. Keeping the movement within the index finger preserves the home-row anchor. The ring and little fingers are reserved for the O, P, L and semicolon columns.

Question 43English Typewriting and Keyboarding

In standard touch typing, which key is pressed to type a capital letter with the left hand while the right hand remains on the home row?

  1. Left Alt
  2. Right Shift Correct answer.
  3. Left Shift
  4. Caps Lock

Explanation

The shift key on the side opposite the letter is used so that the hands do not bunch on one side of the keyboard. A left-hand capital therefore uses the Right Shift held by the right little finger. This keeps the typing rhythm steady and avoids disturbing the home-row position of the letter hand.

Question 44English Typewriting and Keyboarding

Which key is pressed to create a new paragraph while typewriting a business letter, and what is the standard spacing convention between paragraphs in block style?

  1. Backspace key, with one blank line
  2. Enter key, with one blank line Correct answer.
  3. Spacebar, with two blank lines
  4. Tab key, with no blank line

Explanation

The Enter (Return) key ends a paragraph, and in fully blocked business letters a single blank line separates paragraphs. No first-line indentation is used because all lines begin flush at the left margin. This uniform layout is what distinguishes block style from indented style.

Question 45English Typewriting and Keyboarding

What does the term 'gross words per minute' measure in a typewriting speed test?

  1. The number of keystrokes per minute divided by five
  2. The number of lines completed in one minute
  3. Only correctly typed words in the final copy
  4. Total words typed divided by the time taken, before error deduction Correct answer.

Explanation

Gross speed is calculated by dividing the total words typed by the elapsed time, without deducting for mistakes. Net speed, by contrast, applies a penalty for each error. Examiners report both so that speed and accuracy can be judged separately.

Question 46English Typewriting and Keyboarding

Which home-row key carries the raised tactile marker that helps a touch typist locate the right-hand home position without looking?

  1. The 'G' key
  2. The 'F' key
  3. The 'H' key
  4. The 'J' key Correct answer.

Explanation

Standard keyboards have a small raised bar or dot on the J key for the right index finger and on the F key for the left index finger. These markers let the typist re-establish the home position by touch alone. The G and H keys lie between them and carry no marker.

Question 47English Typewriting and Keyboarding

When typewriting a memorandum in an office, which element normally appears at the top of the document in place of the inside address used in a letter?

  1. A complimentary close
  2. An enclosure notation
  3. A heading block with To, From, Date and Subject Correct answer.
  4. A salutation such as 'Dear Sir'

Explanation

A memorandum is an internal communication, so it replaces the inside address and salutation with a heading that identifies the recipient, sender, date and subject. The body follows this heading directly. Letters, by contrast, use an inside address and salutation because they travel outside the organisation.

Question 48English Typewriting and Keyboarding

Which of the following is the correct way to type an em dash in a business document using standard keyboard practice?

  1. A single hyphen surrounded by spaces
  2. A slash key pressed twice
  3. An underscore key pressed twice
  4. Two hyphens with no spaces, later replaced by a single dash Correct answer.

Explanation

Many word processors convert two consecutive hyphens into an em dash automatically, and typing them without spaces is the accepted keyboard practice. A single spaced hyphen is only a short dash and does not serve as an em dash. Underscores and slashes are entirely different characters.

Question 49English Typewriting and Keyboarding

A typist must produce a table in a document where figures are to be aligned by their decimal points. Which technique best achieves this on a standard keyboard?

  1. Using the Caps Lock key before typing figures
  2. Pressing the spacebar repeatedly until the columns look even
  3. Using the Tab key with a decimal tab stop set for the column Correct answer.
  4. Using the Enter key after each figure

Explanation

A decimal tab stop aligns numbers so that the decimal points fall in a vertical line, which is the standard requirement for financial tables. Repeated spaces give uneven alignment because character widths vary. The Tab key moves the cursor to the next defined stop, so setting a decimal stop produces consistent columns.

Question 50English Typewriting and Keyboarding

In a typewriting speed test, a candidate types 360 words in 6 minutes and makes 6 errors. If each error is deducted at the rate of 10 words, what is the net speed in words per minute?

  1. 60 wpm
  2. 50 wpm Correct answer.
  3. 48 wpm
  4. 54 wpm

Explanation

Gross speed is 360 divided by 6, which is 60 words per minute. The penalty is 6 errors multiplied by 10 words, giving 60 words, which is equivalent to 10 words per minute. Subtracting 10 from 60 gives a net speed of 50 words per minute.