Handwritten shorthand is used and interpreted in a stylus-based interface to trigger expanded text, implement functions, and/or launch executable programs. A user may be able to select a type of shorthand entry to define, such as a text-expansion-type shorthand entry, a function-type shorthand entry, or a program-type shorthand entry. Upon receiving handwritten input, a computer may determine whether or not to interpret the handwritten input as shorthand, or whether to act upon the handwritten shorthand, depending upon the context in which it is written.