A Layman's Overview of Standard English Braille

The purpose of this page is to provide the reader with enough information to interpret most symbols written in either grade 1 (non-contracted) or grade 2 (contracted) Standard English Braille. This guide should make it possible to read literary braille, but it's not possible to describe briefly how to write braille. We recommend using a computer translator such as the ViewPlus Translator bundled with Tiger or one of the Duxbury products.

This guide does not present any of the special codes such as the math code, the computer braille code, or music braille. Relatively few braille readers know any of these special codes, even though they now appear occasionally in standard literature. For example, some transcribers use computer braille for e-mail and web addresses, since these modern constructions were not anticipated by the rules of Standard English Braille. A new book ("Braille into the Next Millenium", ISBN 0-8444-1021-7, edited by Judith M. Dixon, published by the National Libraries for Blind and Physically Handicapped Individuals in North America, Washington, DC 2000) is recommended for readers interested in the detailed history, practice, and future of braille. This book includes chapters on Nemeth braille (the math braille code used in the US - but not the UK), the US computer braille code, the proposed new unified braille code, and DotsPlus.

Braille is a series of braille "cells" having raised dots on a grid of 2 columns and 3 rows. Embossed braille has approximately four cells per horizontal inch and 2.5 lines of cells per vertical inch. Dot to dot spacing within a braille cell is approximately 0.1 inch, and the dot height is about 0.02 inches.

Most grade 1 symbols are single cells, but grade 2 has many double cell contractions and a long list of shorthand words. Several symbols are context dependent in grade 1, and many are context-dependent in grade 2.

• Capital letter indicator when followed by a letter. Valid within a grade 2 word when followed by any letter except "n" or "y".
• Capitalized word indicator if used twice at beginning of a word
• First cell of the two-cell symbol for opening single quote when followed by the cell representing the opening double quote.
• First cell of a two-cell symbol for opening square bracket when followed by the cell representing parenthesis.
• First of a two-cell grade 2 contraction when followed by the letter "n" or "y" within a word.

• Italic word indicator when at beginning of a word.
• Italic phrase indicator if used twice at beginning of a word.
• Decimal point symbol in number mode.
• First cell of a grade 2 double-cell contraction when used inside a word.

• Terminates number mode when letters appear with numbers in a string.
• Indicates letter is not a word contraction when used before a lower or upper case letter standing alone in grade 2.
• First cell of grade 2 double cell contraction when used within a word.

• Contraction "con" when used at start of grade 2 word.
• Contraction "CC" when used within a grade 2 word

• Period/full stop.
• Dollar sign when followed by number mode indicator.
• Contraction "dis" when used at start of grade 2 word.
• Contraction "dd" when used within grade 2 word.

• Apostrophe.
• The "..." ellipses symbol when three are in a row.
• Second cell of double cell symbol for closing single quote when preceded by cell representing closing double quote.
• Second cell of double cell symbol for closing square bracket when preceded by cell representing parenthesis.

Word "still" when standing alone in grade 2.
• Contraction "st" when not standing alone in grade 2 except in context where it is "/".

• Hyphen.
• Two together are a dash.
• Four together are a long dash.
• Contraction "com" when used at beginning of word in grade 2.

• Closing double quote
• First cell of single closing quote double cell symbol when followed by cell
  Word "was" when standing alone in grade 2.
• Word "by" when followed immediately (no space) by a word in grade 2.

• Contraction "be" when used at beginning of grade 2 word.
• Contraction "bb" when used within a grade 2 word.

• Word "to" when followed immediately (no space) by a word in grade 2.
• Combines with "in" contraction at beginning of word to represent "into" in grade 2. Must be followed immediately (no space) by another word.
• Contraction "ff" when used otherwise within a grade 2 word.

• Question mark when at end of word.
• Opening double quote when at beginning of word.
• Second cell of double cell symbol for opening single quote when preceded by cell
• Word "his" when standing alone in grade 2.

• Opening parenthesis when at beginning of word.
• Closing parenthesis when at end of word.
• Second cell of double cell opening square bracket symbol when preceded by cell
• First cell of double cell closing square bracket symbol when followed by cell
• Contraction "gg" when used within word in grade 2.
• Word "were" when standing alone in grade 2.