Unit 3 Punctuation Indicator (PI)
Since Nemeth numbers are written in the lower part of the cell and occupy the same space as common punctuation marks, a punctuation indicator (dots 4-5-6) is used before a symbol of punctuation to distinguish it from a numeral. The punctuation indicator (PI) terminates the effect of the numeric indicator.
| Punctuation Indicator | ⠸ |
The following signs of punctuation require a PI, or they could be misinterpreted as a numeral or other symbol.
| Semicolon (;) | ⠆ |
| Colon (:) | ⠒ |
| Period (.) | ⠲ |
| Exclamation Point (!) | ⠖ |
| Question Mark (?) | ⠦ |
| Opening Quotation Marks (") | ⠦ |
| Closing Quotation Marks (") | ⠴ |
| Apostrophe (') | ⠄ |
Note: Both the opening quotation mark (") and question mark (?) are dots 2-3-6. The opening quotation mark is always used at the beginning of a word and the question mark is always used at the end of a word, therefore, location determines the braille meaning.
Examples:
4x4 = x; x =
⠼⠲⠈⠡⠲⠀⠨⠅⠀⠭⠸⠆⠀⠭⠀⠨⠅
12:00 – 15 min. = ?
⠼⠂⠆⠸⠒⠼⠴⠴⠤⠂⠢⠀⠍⠊⠝⠲⠀⠨⠅⠀⠿
* Notice that the number sign is used before the 00 to terminate the effects of the PI. Otherwise it might be read as 12: " ".
1. 5+5 =
⠼⠂⠸⠲⠀⠼⠢⠬⠢⠀⠨⠅
* Notice that without the PI #1(period) would say #14
$2!
⠈⠎⠆⠸⠖
* Notice that without the PI this would say $26
$25?
⠈⠎⠆⠢⠸⠦
* Notice that without the PI this would say $258
"2, 4, 6, 8, 10"
⠦⠼⠆⠠⠀⠼⠲⠠⠀⠼⠖⠠⠀⠼⠦⠠⠀⠼⠂⠴⠸⠴
* Notice that the opening quotation mark does not require a PI because it cannot be confused for another symbol. Also notice that the closing quotation mark requires a PI or the number would be read as 100.
1's, 5's, 10's
⠼⠂⠸⠄⠎⠠⠀⠼⠢⠸⠄⠎⠠⠀⠼⠂⠴⠸⠄⠎
459; how many 10's
⠼⠲⠢⠔⠸⠆⠀⠓⠕⠺⠀⠍⠁⠝⠽⠀⠼⠂⠴⠸⠄⠎