[Susie Fowls]

This is great. I’m working on it now and it looks SO MUCH BETTER! Thanks again for helping me figure this one out. I’ve learned a lot!

[Susie Fowls]

So sorry! I forgot to mention those commentaries. Yes, the commentaries will observe the same right-hand margin as the rest of the text within the line-numbered format. I see this commentary as a blocked paragraph. I would have a blank line before and after and keep that right side margin.

I also forgot to mention the TN. Yes, indeed have a TN at the beginning. I think all you need is to explain that the verse numbers are centered above each verse in print and shown at the right margin in braille. I don’t think you need that additional information in the TN about the 3 blank spaces because there won’t be any here since the line number is applied only on the first line of the verse.

I agree with you also about the ease of reading in this format. It also makes it easy for the reader to distinguish between the verse and the commentary.

Thanks for this very interesting question.

–Joanna

[Susie Fowls]

I consulted with Cindi Laurent, the chair of the NBA Formats Committee. The answer may be surprising to you. It certainly is not obvious.

The verse numbers here are printed as headings but they are not regarded as headings in braille because Formats has specific provisions for verse numbers. It is unfortunately located in Section 15, which addresses LINE NUMBERED text and your text is NOT line numbered. It is VERSE NUMBERED and that finally brings us to 15.9

See 15.9 Verse-Numbered Texts in Religious Material. This is the only specific provision for religious text in Formats. 15.9.2 addresses verse numbers within the paragraph. Your verse numbers are headings, not within the paragraph. That takes us to 15.9.3 which directs that the verse numbers are placed at the right hand margin and the provisions for line-numbered text are observed. However, note that the verse number is placed ONLY at the first line of the paragraph, NOT at the end of every line as in line numbered paragraphs. The margins and placement regarding print and braille page numbers do apply, so look those over.

If you are not familiar with line numbered text rules, take some time to read them over and look at examples.

Let us know if you need any further help. This is difficult formatting if you’re not familiar with it.

–Joanna

[Susie Fowls]

Thanks!

[Susie Fowls]

No TN. Just do it! The contents are alphabetical and Formats says to braille such contents as an index. That’s what the reader will see, so we don’t write a TN to explain what the reader will see anyway in the braille. And you, the transcriber, will fearlessly march on.

–Joanna

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