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