ELLAUEB grade 1 and grade 2: which to choose
UEB has two grades for ordinary text. ELLA writes both.
Grade 1: uncontracted
Grade 1 spells each word letter by letter. It is longer, and easier to learn. New braille readers often start with it. It is also used for names, codes and passages where every letter matters.
Grade 2: contracted
Grade 2 uses contractions, which are single signs for common words and groups of letters. It takes less paper and is faster for experienced readers. Most braille books and most readers who are fluent use grade 2. ELLA uses grade 2 when you do not say.
How to choose
- A child or adult who is learning braille: ask the reader's teacher. A QTVI will know which grade the learner has reached.
- A fluent reader: grade 2.
- A short label, a list of codes or a password-like string: grade 1.
- A document that mixes maths with prose: see braille maths.
If a reader is in between, you can ask ELLA for both grades and let them compare. Name each in your request.
How to ask
Write "braille grade 1" or "contracted braille, grade 2" in your request. Or set "Braille grade" in an accessibility profile. The options are named "Uncontracted, grade 1" and "Contracted, grade 2".
What is the same
Both grades use the same page layout choices, cells per line and lines per page, and the same file formats. See BRF and PEF.
Check the result
Contractions follow rules that depend on context. Names, foreign words and unusual spellings are where mistakes happen. If a word looks wrong, see braille looks wrong.
Still stuck?
Browse the help centre, or contact support and say what you were trying to do.