1. The common style of the system may be written with perfect accuracy with the omission of no vowels; but the adept will increase his speed without sacrificing legibility, by omitting those vowels that do not connect. This may be often done, but not always. If the vowel commences the word, it should be written; and when the omission would leave an equivocal outline, the vowel is required in one of the words to be distinguished; thus, omit the vowel of for, but insert it in fair; omit it in her, and insert it in hair, etc.

Vowels may be omitted as specified in the following cases: (a) In a few short words of common occurrence, - do, to, which, that, what, not, for, from, was, one, once, where, there, done, could, would, should, when, unto, were, of, but, etc. Reading Exercise 4, lines 3 and 4.

(b) In long words they may be often omitted. This should always be done in final unaccented syllables ending in en, er, on, ble, cle, and generally in al, ar, an, etc.

(c) The terminations es, ed, ing, less, ness, when mere affixes, and the prefix com, when unaccented, may omit the vowels; and generally in long words an unaccented vowel may be omitted when it is unconnected, and when its use is not needed to distinguish the outline from a similar outline. Reading Exercise 4, lines 5 to 12.

2. Accented vowels should, as a rule, be written; and all vowels that are clearly sounded should be written in proper names of persons and places, in foreign words, and all that are uncommon and liable to be misunderstood. Reading Exercise 4, lines 12 to 20.

Remark. - 1. We do not encourage the substitution of oo for U in speaking the words contracted by the use of this briefer sign. Its use in such words as tune, substitute, constitution, and a large number of words of this class is a fault; but the writer of short-hand will consult convenience instead of perfect accuracy. For the instruction of children, a more perfectly written style than the common may be desirable.

2. The omission of vowels may be carried safely to a greater extent than indicated above; and the writer who would secure any great rapidity must at least avoid the use of all obscure and unimportant vowels.

3. The introduction of a vowel sometimes relieves the form, and, by presenting a better angle, increases instead of lessens the rapidity. Back is written more easily than beck; pick than peck; tick and lack, Dick and dock, than tuck and deck.