Lesson 2

Capitalization, Paragraphing, Page Numbering

Punctuation: Period, Question Mark, Exclamation Point,
Comma, Semicolon, Colon, Hyphen, and Dash
Dollar Sign, Cent Sign, and At Sign
Numbers with Punctuation

2.1 Capitalization [UEB §8]

Capitalization of a single letter in braille is indicated by placing the capital

letter indicator, dot 6 (,), immediately before the letter affected.
Example:

New York ,new ,york DeLeon ,de,leon

When two or more successive letters in a word or letter grouping are

capitalized, the capitalized word indicator, dot 6 placed in two
consecutive cells immediately before the capitalized letters (,,), is
used. Examples:

NEW YORK ,,NEW ,,york YMCA ,,YMCA

MacDONALD ,mac,,donald

When three or more consecutive words are fully capitalized, capitals

mode is set using a capitalized passage indicator, dot 6 placed in three
consecutive cells immediately before the first word of the passage
(,,,). The end of the capitalized passage is signaled by a capitals
terminator, dot 6 followed by dot 3 (,'). More about the definition of a
passage in braille will be studied later. Examples:

sign says DOGS CATS HORSES WELCOME

sign says ,,,dogs cats horses

welcome,'
TURN TO PAGE 25 ,,,turn to page,' #be

2-1
 In general, the capitals terminator is also used when capitalization stops
in the middle of a word.

GIFTwrap ,,gift,'wrap

If a number occurs immediately following a series of capitalized letters,

the capitals terminator is not used. If uppercase letters follow the
number, the capitalized word indicator is repeated.

TOYS4KIDS ,,toys#d,,kids

If capitalization ends in the middle of a word such that the use of the
capitals terminator would separate letters that form a complete word,
use a capital letter indicator to signal the last letter that is capitalized.

FIRESale ,,fire,sale JPMorgan ,,jp,morgan

Drill 5

Practice brailling the following to familiarize yourself with the use of the
capital indicators. Reading down the columns, place each phrase on a
separate line.

Anita OKLAHOMA Faye

MY FAIR LADY McWilliams DuneBoy

4 Miles To Tulsa Claude MacDaniel

RADIO GUIDE MOBY DICK McGEORGE

PASSKeys Adriatic USAir

KJV HOLY BIBLE Welcome to McNally Field

2.2 Paragraphing [BF §1.8]

Braille follows print for paragraph indention. Paragraphs that are
indented in print start in cell 3 in braille. All following lines in the
paragraph start at the margin in cell 1. This is commonly expressed as

2-2
 margins being in "3-1." Blank lines are not left between indented
paragraphs unless print indicates a break in thought or scene by means
of extra spacing. Paragraph formatting will be discussed further in Lesson
19.

2.3 Page Numbering

It is possible to braille twenty-five lines on a braille page. Each braille
page should be numbered, starting with number #a. Place the braille
page number at the far right margin of the last line of the page (line 25).
Do not use a period following the page number. Do not include the word
"page." Text may be transcribed on line 25 along with the page number,
as long as three blank cells are left between the end of the text and the
beginning of the page number.

2.4 Period or Decimal, Question Mark, Exclamation Point,

Comma, Semicolon, Colon [UEB §7]
The use, order, and spacing of braille punctuation should follow print
practice. As in print, only one space (cell) is left empty following commas
and semicolons. However, unlike print that sometimes leaves two blank
spaces following a colon and between sentences, only one empty cell is
left in braille.
If a capitalized passage ends with a mark of punctuation, place the
capitals terminator after the punctuation.
Learn the following punctuation signs:

period or decimal . 4 (dots 256)

question mark ? 8 (dots 236)

exclamation point ! 6 (dots 235)

comma , 1 (dot 2)

semicolon ; 2 (dots 23)

colon : 3 (dots 25)

2-3
 Drill 6

Practice brailling the following sentences. In this and future drills, unless
otherwise noted, treat each sentence as a paragraph using 3-1 margins,
i.e., start each one in cell 3 with runover lines starting in cell 1. Be sure
to include the number and its period at the beginning of each paragraph.
Leave one empty cell between the period and the beginning of the
sentence.
Numbers in a printed listing are usually arranged so that the periods are
in alignment. This is not so in braille. In braille, the numeric indicator is
placed in cell 3, regardless of the number of digits in the number.
1. I want six items: saw, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, tacks.
2. Miss Flynn, take a memo: CALL MR. PHELPS AT TWELVE NOON;
SEE MR. GRAY AT SIX.
3. Is Mr. Dale a college graduate?
4. Ralph is sick; hail a cab!
5. My prophecy: victory is 6.5 seconds away!
6. Take my book; hold my coat! Hang up my umbrella!
7. Turn on a radio or TV at once; an unusual report is on.
8. Quiet, Aunt Em, I am afraid! An angry man knocks at my door.
9. My favorite play is MY FAIR LADY.
10. Did Jimmy get an old bicycle at bikes.net?
11. Help! Help! I hurt my leg!
12. Pizza2Go uses homemade sauce.
13. Next exit: Peoria, Galesburg, Decatur.

2.5 Hyphen [UEB §7.2]

The hyphen is represented in braille by dots 36 (-). As in print, the
principal use of the hyphen is to connect the components of compound
words or numbers. Example:

a long-awaited get-away a long-awaited get-away

2.5a Capitalization. Hyphenated compound words and abbreviations are

capitalized in braille as they appear in print. A hyphen terminates the

2-4
 effect of the capitalized word indicator. Therefore, when all of the letters
in a hyphenated compound word are in uppercase, the capitalized word
indicator is repeated after the hyphen. Example:

SELF-ADVOCACY ,,self-,,advocacy

A symbols-sequence is an unbroken string of braille signs preceded and

followed by a space. A hyphenated word is considered one symbols-
sequence. A passage is defined as three or more symbols-sequences.
Therefore, a word like TOP-SIDE-UP, which includes no spaces, is not a
passage and should be brailled using capital word indicators
(,,top-,,side-,,up).

A hyphen does not terminate the effect of a capitalized passage

indicator.
TAKE ATLANTA-SAVANNAH RAILWAY

,,,take atlanta-savannah railway,'

2.5b Disconnected compound words. Follow print spacing when brailling

disconnected compound words. Examples:

five- or six-lane freeway

five- or six-lane freeway

pro-labor or -agriculture vote

pro-labor or -agriculture vote

mid-June or -July mid-,june or -,july

When a hyphen appears at the end of a print line and the word cannot be
found either in the dictionary or somewhere else in the text—either as
one word or as a hyphenated compound word—it should be treated as a
hyphenated compound word, and the hyphen should be retained.

2-5
 Drill 7

Practice brailling the following sentences, treating each as an indented

paragraph using 3-1 margins.

1. Deborah has on an extremely pretty blue-gray dress.

2. I want an up-to-date plan.

3. Sell my five-acre plot? NO WAY!

4. MAPLE-VANILLA is my favorite flavor.

5. TWO-ON-AN-ISLE TALES is a picturesque book.

6. Philip is a five- or six-trip-a-week pilot.

7. Judge Biswell is a self-made man.

8. A semi-annual picnic is a swell idea.

9. A new sign extols: CUT-RATE-SALES.

2.6 Dash [UEB §7.2]

In braille, a dash is represented by dots 6, 36 (,-). A dash can usually
be distinguished from a hyphen in print by its greater length. When print
spacing or font types make it difficult to determine the length of the line,
remember that hyphens join words and word parts together and dashes
separate thoughts or ideas.

2.6a Spacing. Follow print spacing. Example:

He is tall — six feet anyway.

,he is tall ,- six feet anyway4

My girl is sweet. My boy—he is my joy.

,my girl is sweet4 ,my boy,-he

is my joy4
Oh, my— Jessica wept.

,oh1 my,- ,jessica wept4

2-6
 Hooray! We won. — Oh, boy! — I am truly happy.

,hooray6 ,we won4 ,- ,oh1 boy6 ,-

,i am truly happy4

2.6b Hyphens Used As Dashes. If a spaced hyphen is used in print, use a

spaced hyphen in braille. If two unspaced hyphens are used in place of a
dash, a dash may be substituted in braille unless it is clear that two
hyphens are intended to show omission. Examples:

He gave a big yawn. - too sleepy!

,he gave a big yawn4 - too sleepy6

Typing fast--please excuse errors.

,typing fast,-please excuse errors4

2.6c With Capital Indicators. Like a hyphen, a braille dash terminates the
effect of a capitalized word indicator but not a capitalized passage
indicator. Example:

STOP—WAIT! ,,stop,-,,wait6
EYES ONLY—TOP SECRET

,,,eyes only,-top secret,'

Drill 8

Practice brailling the following sentences, treating each as an indented

paragraph using 3-1 margins.
1. TRAVIS IS A HAPPY MAN—OR IS HE?
2. I may take a walk or— No, I lack an umbrella.
3. Liam walks two miles—or a mile if he feels lazy.
4. Miss Breckette, give Susan my notes--notes I made a week ago.

2-7
 5. Lectures on sculpture, poetry, classical music – hip-hop is taboo –
give visitors broad cultural opportunities.

2.7 Numbers With Punctuation [UEB §6]

2.7a The effect of the numeric indicator. The effect of the numeric
indicator carries through intervening commas or decimal points.
Examples:

1,000,000 #a1jjj1jjj
,buy #aj4e gallons4
Buy 10.5 gallons.
See Unit 6.3. ,see unit #f4c4

However, in numbers that include colons, hyphens, or dashes, the

numeric indicator must be repeated to restart numeric mode. Examples:

8:30

#h3#cj
1-800-534-8765

#a-#hjj-#ecd-#hgfe
1910?-1917

#aiaj8-#aiag
1850-57

#ahej-#eg
See page 47—48 too.

,see page #dg,-#dh too4

2-8
2.8 Dollar Sign, Cent Sign, At Sign [UEB §3.7, 3.10, 6.7]

2.8a The dollar sign is represented in braille by dots 4, 234 (@s); the cent
sign is dot 4, 14 (@c); and the at sign is dots 4, 1 (@a). When the
dollar sign appears before a number, the numeric indicator is placed after
the dollar sign. Example:

$38.40 is a fair price; a 75¢ rebate helps, too.

@s#ch4dj is a fair price2 a #ge@c
rebate helps1 too4

2.8b Follow print spacing for the use of these symbols, and use them wherever
they occur. Example:

We did pay big $$$ to buy a tablet; payable to [email protected].

,we did pay big @s@s@s to buy a

tablet2 payable to
iris#bdb@aaol4com4

Drill 9

Practice brailling the following sentences, treating each as a paragraph.

1. See catalog item No. 638, on sale at $42.99.

2. Biology class: 9:30-11:45 a.m.

3. Mayor reviews 108-auto cavalcade at new race track.

4. Does 143.2 plus 7.9 equal 151.1?

5. Tell Tracy: 66 rods equals 1,089 feet—75¢ a rod.

6. Look @ page 59 — 60, too.

7. Hooray! Cubs won 13–8.

8. Dial 1-800-468-4581, or email [email protected].

2-9
 9. Copy all dates on a new page: 1560-65, 1875-81, 1878?-1904.

10. Alex says sunrays promote life—93,000,000 miles away.

11. Email [email protected] to get a $20 gift plus 50¢ back on all future
buys!

12. My project requires a look at 2010-14 demographic records.

13. Nancy wants to fly a DC-9.

READING PRACTICE

Read the following sentences and write them out in print. Compare your
work with the print version in Appendix A.

,fans cool a big room rapidly4

,take ,,airport ,,road six miles2 turn

left on ,,myrtle ,,ave4

,a kilogram equals #a1jjj grams4

,melissa turns five next week2 ,hannah

turns six4

,an antonym is an opposite4

,eat a snack at #aj3#cj4

,hey6 ,look at ,lisa run4

,a nautical mile is #f1jgf feet4

,we drove #eie4g miles4

2 - 10
 ,is ,,magic ,,music on ,bay ,view
,road8

,a black lace dress makes ,jill look

svelte4

,i may visit my uncle on my way home4

,vicki1 give me a nice juicy apple pie4

,hum a tune3 ,,,notes to my love4,'

,did @s#c1jjj seem adequate to fly to

,johannesburg8

,laurie saw a five- or six-act play4

EXERCISE

Prepare the following exercise for submission to the instructor. Treat

each sentence as an indented paragraph using 3-1 margins; that is, start
each in cell 3 with runover lines starting in cell 1. On the first line of each
page, center the heading LESSON 2 in fully capitalized letters. Refer to
General Course Instructions for help in centering. A blank line should
follow the heading on the first page only. Number your pages as
instructed in 2.3.

LESSON 2

1. Frank, a husky man, takes a horseback ride once or twice a

week.
2. Atlanta, pop. 500,900; Tampa, pop. 356,972; Detroit, pop.
2,306,500.
3. Tony saw BIG-volume 2006-07 auto sales.
4. Did Uncle David buy a five- or six-room villa?

2 - 11
 5. A small snack—fruit, biscuits, jelly, tea—is welcome.
6. Did Nick get on a No. 40 or a No. 42 bus? Did he pay 80¢?
7. Mr. Fitzpatrick collects textbooks; he has 200 on meteorology,
200 on Greek philosophy, 50 on music, 39 on sociology, 26 on
botany, 43 on physiology.
8. 2.8 million refugees seek protection - an urgent crisis.
9. 2007-08 academic progress at Valley College surpasses all prior
records.
10. Pick me up at 10:00—10:00 promptly!
11. Sign says: WELL-MADE WOOL COATS.
12. A GLOBE-DEMOCRAT ad describes a model home at 8008 Sunset
Drive.
13. On May 25, 1,436 cadets graduate.
14. At 6:50 a bell tolls sadly.
15. Happy Valley, Montana, is a cla$$y resort—hotel rooms available
at $600.00.
16. On July 1 - 3, Gettysburg has a mock battle.
17. Call Morris at 608-237-6531, or email [email protected].
18. Craig Adams, physician, 1942-2005.
19. Rebels total approximately 3,500,000.
20. Look at NEWSWeek, April 17 issue.
21. Total casualties equal 4,653,000.
22. Mirage: an optical image.

[This lesson last updated March 28, 2017.]

2 - 12