Definition of Braille

Braille is a system of touch reading for the blind which employs embossed dots evenly arranged in quadrangular letter spaces or cells. In each cell, it is possible to place six dots, three high and two wide. By selecting one or several dots in characteristic position or combination, 63 different characters can be formed. To aid in describing these characters by their dot or dots, the six dots of the cell are numbered 1,2,3, downward on the left, and 4,5,6, downward on the right, thus:

Braille, as officially approved, comprises two grades. Grade-1 Braille is in full spelling and consists of the letters of the alphabet, punctuation, numbers, and a number of composition signs which are special to Braille.

Grade-2 Braille consists of Grade-1 and 189 contractions---all short form-words, and is known as "English Braille". However, uncontracted Braille is designated as "English Braille Grade-1".