61. With a few exceptions, to be hereafter explained, "the first word of a phrase must be written in its own position, that is, in the position which it properly occupies when standing alone; and the subsequent words of the phrase must accommodate themselves to the position of the first." (Benn Pitman). If a word be unconnected with any-other, or if it be the first word of a phrase, it may be assigned a particular position for the purpose of indicating some omitted vowel or in some other way distinguishing the word from some word of similar outline; but when a word occurs in the midst of a phrase, the reader cannot know whether it is a word of the first position, or the second, or the third. Its actual position signifies nothing, because the writer makes no attempt to assign it its normal place, and in fact cannot do so, except by breaking the phrase. Such a word, for instance, as right, though it belongs normally in the first position, may in the midst of a phrase happen to be written in the second, as in the phrase I must do right; or in the third, as in the phrase our rights. So the word take, normally belonging in the second position, may in a phrase occupy the first position, as in the phrase I will take; or the third, as in the phrase let us take. And though the flow of the phrase may chance to throw a word into its normal position, the place it thus occupies, being the result of accident, not intention, counts for nothing, either in indicating an omitted vowel or in any other way distinguishing the word from one of similar outline.

62. To the statement that the first word of a phrase is always written in its own position and thereby determines or controls the position of the remainder of the phrase, the following exceptions are to be noted:

63. First exception: A phrase beginning with "Saint," "Mount," "Court," or any other expression which is the common prefix of a familiar class of words, is occasionally treated as a compound word and is given position accordingly. This frequently avoids an awkward descent of the pen below the line. Illustrations: Mount Vernon

not

Saint Joseph

not

64. In accordance with the same general principle, any phrase which by continued repetition has become so familiar that the eye recognizes it as a whole, without regard to its separate parts, may be treated as if it were one compound word, and as such may be put in the most convenient position, without regard to the normal position of the first word.

*Exercise.

65. Each of the following phrases is to be written, under the rule just given, as if it were a compound word, omitting the words in parenthesis: court (of) bankruptcy court (of) chancery court (of) justice Mt. Vernon St. Joseph St. Paul St. Peter St. Vincent

*The various exercises contained in this book are not, except in a few cases, designed to be memorized - certainly not in the dreary and tedious way in which shorthand students ordinarily attempt to memorize phrase-lists. The student should in the first place acquire a perfectly clear understanding of the principle which the particular exercise exemplifies. Next he should settle clearly in his mind the approved forms of the various words introduced in the phrases which the exercise calls upon him to write. For this purpose he should refer, if necessary, to his teacher or his text-book. Then he should deliberately and carefully copy the exercise into shorthand, once only, for the purpose of further impressing the principle; after which he should write it from dictation (the rate being suited to his speed) a sufficient number of times to make the application of the given principle instinctive. After the exercise has thus been mastered, it should, as often as may seem necessary, be recurred to by way of review. A long exercise may of course be divided, if it should seem advisable, into two or more lessons. (See note, next page.)

66. Second exception: When the first word of a phrase is represented by a sign which never stands alone (like the a tick or the "n curl") and hence has no position of its own, the second word is written in its normal place, and the position of the first word is accommodated thereto. Illustration: a voice

, a few

, in similar

, in some

67. This rule operates not only when the initial a tick is joined, but when, under a rule to be given hereafter, it is disjoined to indicate that con or com follows the a, an or and expressed by the tick. Illustrations: and confined

a confused

The list given in the final chapter of this book embraces none but simple phrases, in which each word as phrased retains the form which it takes when written separately. All of these phrases may be correctly written, without any previous knowledge of phrasing principles, by any student far enough advanced to be acquainted with the ordinary shorthand forms of the individual words. These phrases may therefore be used, in convenient portions, for dictation exercises as soon as the scholar begins the study of this book. Thus used, they will not only diversify the regular course of study, but will do much toward making the phrasing habit spontaneous, and will incidentally familiarize the student, without rote memorization, with many common and exceedingly useful verbal combinations.

68. The a tick, when it is followed by another tick having no definite position, or when, as authorized by the Graham system, it has a hook prefixed or affixed, is written on the line. Illustrations: and a

and the

and

have

and will

and are

But when, in the Graham system, the and tick is prefixed to what or would, the tick accommodates itself to the normal position of the added word. (See Paragraph 239.)

"When the first two words of a phrase are in as or in his, expressed by the "in curl" and its accompanying circle, the third word of the phrase takes its own position, and the first and second are accommodated thereto. Illustrations:

in his life

in his letter

in his laugh

Initial Displacement

69. Third exception: In some cases the first word of a phrase is partially or wholly displaced in order to give the second word its normal position, and thus distinguish it from some word of similar outline. But in such cases, of course, care must be taken that the word displaced from its regular position, shall still be legible. For convenience, this method of shifting the first word of a phrase from its regular position may be called Initial Displacement. The displacement may be either (a) partial; or (b) complete.