[Michael Gunner]

Hello Michelle,

Thank you for your question.

Based on your example, it would be appropriate to threat those headings paragraph headings and bring the text up so the the format would be 1-5, 3-5 as you outlined in your editor's notes.

Mike

 

[Michael Gunner]

Hi Lindy,

Thank you for your question.

To my knowledge there have been no updates to the 2016 Formatting Guidelines with regards to the provisions governing special symbols. The specific section is Section G Symbols and Indicators which states, "Grouping indicators [braille grouping indicators, parentheses, braces, brackets, angle brackets] (UEB §7)" are included on the special symbols page.

Mike

[Michael Gunner]

Hello Dawn,

Thank you for your question. Your questions highlights the  flexibility of the use of grade one indicators within the UEB code. In this situation both transcriptions are correct.  You can use the grade one indicator on single letters or place the grade one passage indicator before the entire second transcription.

Based on my personal preference, I would use the format with the grade one indicator on the x. Since the second version per the formatting guidelines doesn’t use contractions, the grade one passage indicator is not needed. My rationale here is that the two cells used by the grade one indicator are the same as used for the other stressed syllable marks.

Mike

[Michael Gunner]

Hello Jessica.

Welcome to ask the expert. Thank you for your question.  Yes, this is the correct forum for formatting questions.

You correctly quote BF 2.3.4.g, which states that the grade level is included when "clearly apparent". In your situation, the fact that the grade level is indicated on the inside cover would be considered "clearly apparent".

Mike

 

[Michael Gunner]

Hello Xia,

Thank you for your question.

To answer your question.

ln 6: Cell five heading. Blank line before but not after. (BF.4.5)

ln7-ln10: This text is directions. Directions are formatted in 5-5. (BF10.3)

ln12: Cell seven heading. Blank line before but not after. (BF.4.6)

ln13-ln14: Exercise material with sub-entry formatted in 1-5. (BF10.4)

ln15: Sub-entry formatted in 3-5. (BF10.4)

ln16: Blank line required after exercise examples. (BF10.8)

Mike

[Michael Gunner]

Hello Susan,

Thank you for question.

Since you are including a TN as part of moving the boxed material, your page numbering will stay in sequential order.   I wrote it out below.

p. 179

Text

If you feel you need a TN explaining where text restarts. (However if a new topic is starting probably do not need a TN)

TN Text continues on p. (continuation letter)179.  (only if deemed needed)

TN Box moved from p. 280

Start box

p. 179 continues with (continuation letter)179

End box

The rest of the text from pg.179

pg 280

TN Box moved to p. (continuation letter)179

p. 281-282

Text

Mike

[Michael Gunner]

Hello Rodney,

Thank you for your question.

I would agree that you should not make the exercises nested to the definition. The plan to use a blank line is a good one. I suggest following  the provisions of BF. 21 for the format of the definitions. I also recommend keeping the shape indicator that is shown before the exercises and place on the special symbols page with an explanation such as "proceeds exercise material".

Mike

[Michael Gunner]

Hello Michelle,

Thank you for your question.

While you are certainly correct that transcribers and proofreaders have varying ideas on how to format unnumbered pages, it is also important that the formatting guidelines in place support those ideas.

You correctly identified that BF 1.11.6 provides clear guidelines for formatting print pages without page numbers. These guidelines should be followed unless you are directed by an agency ignore these guidelines.

Michael

 

[Michael Gunner]

Hello Anne,

Thank you for your question.

After consultation with the committee and a member of the BANA Formats committee.

Your general understanding is correct.

Although the 2024 update references "text" as list, poems, box or poems.  The spirit of the rule applies to all material that requires a blank line after it such as displayed, exercise sets, etc. So the correct application is:

For material ending a braille page:

• Does the format require a blank line after it? If yes,
• Is there text on line 24 or 25? If yes,
• Is there a running head on the next page? If yes, place the blank line on line 2, if no, place the blank line on line 1.

Based upon the above information the example (A) would be incorrect because a box line requires a blank line following.

The "What about headings" portion of your question was more challenging. As you stated, "If there can be no confusion for the braille reader, should we maintain a blank line on line 1?" Many years ago a transcriber was given the ability to remove a blank line if it was determined that the change in format was enough to alert the reader and cause "no confusion." The problem with that process is that transcribers often have different ideas as to what will or will not cause confusion.

Taking away this discretion means that there needs to be a blank line before material that the guidelines state need a blank line. This includes, but is not limited to; headings, lists, displayed, itemized, etc. With this in mind, we apply the above concept to all material that requires a blank line at the top of a braille page. In doing so we get the following process:

For material beginning a braille page:

• Does the format require a blank line before it? If yes,
• Is there text on line 24 or 25 of the previous page? If yes,
• Is there a running head? If yes, place the blank line on line 2, if no, place the blank line on line 1.

The purpose of these guidelines is to eliminate transcriber discretion and produce more consistent braille.

Michael

 

 

[Michael Gunner]

Hello Heather,

Thank you for your question.

In this situation you actually have 2 governing guidelines to consider in determining the use of a blank line.

The first you have already identified which correctly states that a blank line is needed on line 1. (or in your situation line 2 because the book is double spaced.)

However, in this situation you must also consider the guidelines for centered headings BF4.4. This  guideline indicates that a blank line is required before a centered heading. So since there is text on line 25 a blank line is needed before the centered heading which in this case is line 1. (or in your situation line 2 because the book is double spaced.)

It is also important to remember that, with the advances in technology, students are often reading refreshable braille and therefore do not have the effect physically turning the page. This makes it more important to have good line spacing to reinforce a format change.

Michael

[Michael Gunner]

Hello Shellee,

Thank you for your question.

9.1.1 defines displayed material as:

"material appears within the flow of regular text and is set off from the body of the text by blank lines,
change of margins, or emphasis."

Your example appears to show the text messages preceded by a heading.  For this reason, I do not think following the displayed material guidelines in Section 9 would be the best choice.

Since text messages are essentially dialogue, I would recommend following the Braille Format Guidelines Section 14. Specifically, 14.1, 14.5, & 14.9.1

Michael

 

[Michael Gunner]

Hello Xia,

Thank you for your questions. It is always better to ask when you need clarification.

2.4.1.b refers specifically to information that would normally go on the title page, but because there is not enough room, it will not fit.  The cell five heading would apply to headings such as Authors, Editors, and Consultants (if an agency requires). This heading would not apply to the title of the book.

2.17  In this situation, the bullets identify separate content entries. Since they are separate entries, they must be placed on their own line as a separate entry.  The other entry is a single contents entry, which requires only one line.

2-21

The use of the colon. I believe this should be a semi-colon. The previous version of Braille Formats 2011 used a colon. However,  Version 2016 updated this to a semicolon.

You are correct; based on BF2.3.5f,  you would use the editor's name since no author is listed. Sample 2-21 references an editorial staff listed under the heading STAFF CREDITS FOR PRENTICE HALL LITERATURE. In this situation, it seems that the editorial staff refers to all PRENTICE HALL LITERATURE as opposed to this specific book.

The use of the (cont.) is governed by 2.10.10a, which states in part: "Insert “(cont.)” after the last listed item only. " In this example, PLOT is the last listed item. So you would not place (cont.) after SHORT STORIES.

Michael

 

 

 

[Michael Gunner]

Hello Soo,

Thank you for your question.

Tables consist of a relationship between columns and rows, which suggests that there should be more than one row of entries. I find it puzzling that the author of the second screenshot concluded that just a single row of text should be treated as a table.

You have accurately identified the example from the Braille Formats that pertains to your situation. (BF sample 10-5) However, this example is reliant on  BF9.2.4, which outlines the format for Displayed Short Word lists and which states in part:

"Horizontal word lists across the print page must fit on a single braille line, with each word separated by a blank cell"

I recommend following the example from Section 10 and the Guidelines in Section 9.

Michael

• This reply was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by Michael Gunner. Reason: removed bulletin article reference

[Michael Gunner]

Hello Mary,

Thank you for your question. I understand how frustrating it can be to find two different examples for the same guideline. In this case, neither example is incorrect. The general rule for special symbols is to use the wording from the corresponding code, which in this instance is Unified English Braille (UEB). Technically, the word "mention" should be used, as it comes directly from the symbol description in the UEB code book. However, upon further investigation, I discovered that the authors of the Braille Format Guidelines intentionally omitted the word "mention" from the description to ensure that it would fit on a single braille line.

Michael

[Michael Gunner]

Hello Mary,

In looking at your example, it would be helpful to have the directions to the exercise set. As it is now it is difficult to determine how the words "yes and no" as well as how the sentences apply to the words in the box.

Thanks

Michael

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