2. Choice between Alternative Contractions

1. Preference is given to the contraction that saves the most space.
   

   me(and)(er) not M(ea)nd(er)	(th)(ence) not (the)nce
   (one)(ness) not on(en)ess	bub(ble) not bu(bb)le
   (with)(er) not wi(the)r	n(ation) not na(tion)

   
   
2. Contractions and, for, of, the, and with are used in preference to any other contractions unless more space would be used.
   

   e(ar)(the)n not e(ar)(th)(en)	bro(the)r not bro(th)(er)
   ba(the)d not ba(th)(ed)

   
   
3. One-cell contractions are usd in preference to two-cell contractions.
   

   adh(er)(en)t not ad(here)nt	(st)on(ed) not (st)(one)d
   prison(er) not pris(one)r	(sh)ad(ow) not s(had)(ow)
   ha(dd)ock not (had)dock	phon(ed) not ph(one)d

   
   Exceptions: the ence contraction is used before the letters d and r.
   

   (com)m(ence)d not (com)m(en)c(ed)

   f(ence)r not f(en)c(er)

4. Any one-cell contraction is used in preference to the double-letter or ea contractions.
   

   sac(ch)(ar)(in)e not sa(cc)h(ar)(in)e	p(ed)dle not pe(dd)le
   (of)f(er) not o(ff)(er)	af(for)d not a(ff)ord
   hob(ble) not ho(bb)le	de(ar) not d(ea)r

   
   
5. Preference is given to the contraction that more nearly approximates correct pronunciation.
   

   (wh)(er)(ever) not (where)v(er)	(wh)(er)e'(er) not (where)'(er)
   di(spirit)(ed) not (dis)pirit(ed)