Unit 14 Shortform Words (Low B/Letter T) [UEB ยง 10.9]
Shortforms words do not require any special braille symbol. They are simply shortened forms of common words. They follow the same guidelines as the previously taught shortform words.
Guidelines:
Shortform words can be used as both whole-word and part-words.
Part-word usage is permitted for both compound and divided words.
They can be used for proper names.
Avoid using a shortform word if it would cause confusion in pronunciation.
Low B/Letter T + First Letter of Second Syllable Shortform Words
The following group of shortform words are 2-cell signs. They are formed using the low "b" contraction or the letter "t" followed by the first letter of the second syllable.
| Word | Shortform | Braille | Word | Shortform | Braille |
| because | (be)c | ⠆⠉ | today | td | ⠞⠙ |
| before | (be)f | ⠆⠋ | tomorrow | tm | ⠞⠍ |
| behind | (be)h | ⠆⠓ | tonight | tn | ⠞⠝ |
| below | (be)l | ⠆⠇ | |||
| beneath | (be)n | ⠆⠝ | |||
| beside | (be)s | ⠆⠎ | |||
| between | (be)t | ⠆⠞ | |||
| beyond | (be)y | ⠆⠽ |
Examples:
Zander will arrive before tomorrow.
⠠⠵⠯⠻⠀⠺⠀⠜⠗⠊⠧⠑⠀⠆⠋⠀⠞⠍⠲
Vegas was above and beyond.
⠠⠧⠑⠛⠁⠎⠀⠴⠀⠁⠃⠧⠀⠯⠀⠆⠽⠲
Sandra was behind on the paper that was due today.
⠠⠁⠯⠗⠁⠀⠴⠀⠆⠓⠀⠕⠝⠀⠮⠀⠏⠁⠏⠻⠀⠞⠀⠴⠀⠙⠥⠑⠀⠞⠙⠲
I can't go tonight because I have to work.
⠠⠊⠀⠉⠄⠞⠀⠛⠀⠞⠝⠀⠆⠉⠀⠠⠊⠀⠓⠀⠞⠕⠀⠐⠺⠲
Between you and me, I'm bored.
⠠⠆⠞⠀⠽⠀⠯⠀⠍⠑⠂⠀⠠⠊⠄⠍⠀⠃⠕⠗⠫⠲
Aren't below and beneath the same thing?
⠠⠜⠑⠝⠄⠞⠀⠆⠇⠀⠯⠀⠆⠝⠀⠮⠀⠎⠁⠍⠑⠀⠹⠬⠦
Look beside the chair.
⠠⠇⠕⠕⠅⠀⠆⠎⠀⠮⠀⠡⠁⠊⠗⠲
I have no other siblings besides my brother.
⠠⠊⠀⠓⠀⠝⠕⠀⠕⠮⠗⠀⠎⠊⠃⠇⠬⠎⠀⠆⠎⠎⠀⠍⠽⠀⠃⠗⠕⠮⠗⠲
NOTE: Notice that the shortform word beside (⠆⠎) can be used to form the word besides (⠆⠎⠎) by adding an extra letter "s."