BRL: Braille through Remote Learning

Braille
Reference Desk

1. General Rules for Use of Contractions

1. Contractions are to be used:
   1. When letters they represent fall in the same syllable.
      

      (st)(and)(ing)	e(gg)plant	s(ea)man	ro(of)
      (st)i(ff)ly	(in)(for)m	b(right)	s(and)

   2. When they overlap a minor syllable division.
      

      a(st)r(ing)(en)t	m(ed)iocre	h(and)le	R(en)o
      T(en)(ness)ee	g(en)etic	(en)igma	s(of)a
      K(ing)(st)on	S(ea)ttle	(Ed)(en)	t(in)y
      fe(st)ival	(and)ante	L(er)oy	d(en)y

      
      
      1. The ar contraction is used when it overlaps syllable division between the prefix a and a root or base word beginning with r.
         

         (ar)(ound)

         (ar)is(en)

         (ar)ose

         
         
      2. The ea contraction is used when the endings al, an, or ate are added to a root or base word ending with e.
         

         v(en)(er)(ea)l

         gigant(ea)n

         p(er)m(ea)te

         
         
   3. When they contain the letters a, e, or o in a prefix or suffix and are not part of a diphthong or diaeresis ae or oe.
      

      co(ed)uc(ation)	emb(ar)go(ed)
      co(en)zyme	(sh)ampoo(ed)
      co(er)ce	boo(ed)

      
      
2. Contractions are not to be used:
   1. When their use would alter the usual braille form of a base word to which a prefix or suffix has been added.
      

      ov(er)bl(en)d(ed)	unlesson(ed)	re-ally
      unblemi(sh)(ed)	ity-bity	fruity
      ov((er)eat(er)s	squally	uneasy

      
      Exceptions:

      l(in(ea)ge

      (dis)(ea)se

   2. When they overlap a major syllable division.
      
      1. Between root or base word and a prefix or suffix.
         

         (ch)angea(ble)	(mish(and)le	prounion
         denom(in)ate	mistru(st)	profess
         (in)frar(ed)	binomial	acreage

         
         
      2. Between base words joined to form a compound word.
         

         pa(in)stak(ing)	Jamest(ow)n	dumbell
         sweethea(ar)t	h(ea)ddress	toenail
         p(in)eapple	kettledrum	twofold

         
         
      3. Between consonants that are pronounced separately.
         

         m(en)(in)gitis	l(in)g(er)ie	W(in)gate
         (sh)anghai(ed)	is(in)glass	t(ow)hee
         (St)al(in)grad	d(in)(gh)y	Vandyke

         
         
   3. When letters in the contraction would fall in the diphtong or diaeresis ae or oe.
      

      praenom(en)	Goer(ing)	maenad
      roetg(en)	subpoena	aerial
      diaeresis	Phoenix	Caen

      Exceptions:

      cano(ed)

      (sh)o(ed)

      to(ed)

      
      
   4. When the following vowel diagraphs or trigraphs are involved: ee followed by a, oi followed by ty, oo followed by ne, and eau preceded by bl.
      

      hoity-toity	(Sh)eean	Mooney
      tabl(ea)u	dacoity	Boone

      
      
   5. When their use affects pronunciation by:
      1. Causing difficult in pronunciation
         

         hi(gg)ledy-pi(gg)ledy	g(en)ealogy	imp(er)mea(ble)
         battledore	oleag(in)(ou)s	Airedale

         
         
      2. Disturbing pronunciation of a consonantal diagraph or trigraph.
         

         P(ar)(the)non

         sph(er)es