Editing Morse code (section)

== Learning methods ==
People learning Morse code using the ''Farnsworth method'' are taught to send and receive letters and other symbols at their full target speed, that is with normal relative timing of the ''dits'', ''dahs'', and spaces within each symbol for that speed. The Farnsworth method is named for Donald R. "Russ" Farnsworth, also known by his [[call sign]], W6TTB. However, initially exaggerated spaces between symbols and words are used, to give "thinking time" to make the sound "shape" of the letters and symbols easier to learn. The spacing can then be reduced with practice and familiarity.

Another popular teaching method is the '''Koch method''', invented in 1935 by the German engineer and former [[Sturmabteilung|stormtrooper]] Ludwig Koch,<ref>{{cite thesis |first=Ludwig |last=Koch |title=Arbeitspsychologische Untersuchung der Tätigkeit bei der Aufnahme von Morsezeichen |date=1936 |type=Dissertation |publisher=Technische Hochschule Carolo-Wilhelmina |url=https://www.qrpforum.de/index.php?attachment/23748-kochdissertation-pdf/ |id=10247-549-4}}</ref> which uses the full target speed from the outset but begins with just two characters. Once strings containing those two characters can be copied with 90% accuracy, an additional character is added, and so on until the full character set is mastered.

In North America, many thousands of individuals have increased their code recognition speed (after initial memorization of the characters) by listening to the regularly scheduled code practice transmissions broadcast by [[W1AW]], the American Radio Relay League's headquarters station.<ref>{{cite web |last1=AmericanRadio |first1=RelayLeague |title=W1AW Code Practice Schedule |url=http://www.arrl.org/w1aw-operating-schedule |website=ARRL |publisher=American Radio Relay League |access-date=3 June 2022}}</ref> {{As of|2015|post=,}} the United States military taught Morse code as an 81-day self-paced course, having phased out more traditional classes.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Linton|first=Tanja|date=April 30, 2015|title=Fort Huachuca bids farewell to Morse code training|url=https://www.army.mil/article/147247/fort_huachuca_bids_farewell_to_morse_code_training |access-date=2021-05-29|website=US Army }}</ref>

=== Mnemonics ===
{{main|Morse code mnemonics}}
[[File:Morse Code Mnemonic chart from Girl Guides handbook 1916.jpg|thumb|right|[[Scouting|Scout]] movement founder [[Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell|Baden-Powell's]] mnemonic chart from 1918]]
Visual mnemonic charts have been devised over the ages. [[Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell|Baden-Powell]] included one in the [[Girl Guides]] handbook<ref name=Baden-Powell-1938/> in 1918.

In the United Kingdom, many people learned the Morse code by means of a series of words or phrases that have the same rhythm as a Morse character. For instance, '''{{sc|Q}}''' in Morse is {{nowrap| ''dah dah di dah'' ,}} which can be memorized by the phrase "[[God Save the Queen]]", and the Morse for '''{{sc|F}}''' is {{nowrap| ''di di dah dit'' ,}} which can be memorized as "Did she like it?"{{efn|
A well-known Morse code rhythm from the Second World War period derives from [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]]'s [[Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)|Fifth Symphony]], the opening phrase of which was regularly played at the beginning of BBC broadcasts. The timing of the notes corresponds to the Morse for '''{{sc|V}}''', {{nowrap| ''di di di dah'' }} ({{morse|dot|dot|dot|dash}}), understood as ''"'V' for Victory"''<!-- (as well as the Roman numeral for the number five) -- inane -->.<ref name=Stanley-2000/><ref name=Studwell-1997/>
}}

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