Genealogy "Searching the databases"

Hello fellow hunters!  Have you ever searched the census and said, what does that say?   You just cant read the short hand of early record keepers.   They used some obvious shorthand, like jno = john.   Does that make sense?  Thos = Thomas.   After 30 years of reading the censusus, I am still learning.   Good luck hunters....Have you come across any strange appreviations, let me know.    cg