269. A single circle is often written instead of a double circle, to avoid the inconvenience of writing the latter upon a half-length character. Illustrations: all that is said

it is sometimes

Charles Second

270. For facility of writing, and also because there is no triple-size circle, a double circle is frequently used where there are in fact three sounds of s. Illustrations:

this is said

just as coon as

271. This principle of abbreviation has been thu3 tersely expressed by A. J. Graham: "When several s sounds come together, one or more may be omitted to secure the advantage of a phrase."

Exercise

272. In each of the following phrases, one sound of s is omitted in the writing, a single circle being written for two sounds of s, or a double circle for three:

all that is (s)aid all this is (s)aid it is (c)ertain it is (s)ometimes jus(t) as (s)oon as las(t) (s)pring

let us (con)(s)ider mos(t) (c)ertainly this (circum) (s)tance this is (s) aid there is (c)ertainly these (circum) (s)tances