What is on the sheet
Every letter A to Z as a six-dot braille cell, with the raised dots filled in and the others shown as faint rings, so you can see where each dot sits. Under each cell are its dot numbers, like 1-2-5 for H. A key in the corner shows the numbering: 1, 2, 3 down the left column, 4, 5, 6 down the right. At the bottom are the number sign and the digits 1 to 0.
It uses the same cells as the braille translator, which writes any message in braille and reads it back.
A printed chart is for the eyes
Braille is made to be read by touch, with dots raised off the page. A flat printout teaches the shapes by sight, which is how most sighted children and adults start. To feel them, glue a dried pea or a dab of puffy paint on each filled dot.
The letters follow a pattern worth spotting: K to T are A to J with dot 3 added, and U, V, X, Y and Z add dots 3 and 6. W is the odd one out, because French, Louis Braille's language, had no W when he made the system.
Frequently asked questions
How are braille dots numbered?
A cell has two columns of three dots. Dots 1, 2 and 3 run down the left column and 4, 5 and 6 down the right.
What is grade 1 braille?
Uncontracted braille, with one cell for each letter, number and punctuation mark. Grade 2 adds contractions for common words and letter groups, and is what most books use.
How do you write numbers in braille?
Put the number sign, dots 3-4-5-6, in front, then use the letters A to J for 1 to 0. One number sign covers all the digits that follow it.
Who invented braille?
Louis Braille, blind from the age of three, published his system in 1829, when he was twenty.
Covert Mail on your phone
Covert Mail teaches braille a few letters at a time, along with Morse, semaphore and twelve more codes. It's free on the App Store.
Download on the App Store▶ Coming soon to Google Play
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The flag semaphore chart and Morse code chart are the same alphabet in flags and in sound. There's more on the printables page.