About
Braille: frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions people actually ask, including the ones where the honest answer is “not reliably”.
Is braille the same in every language?
No. The six-dot cell is universal, but what each cell means changes by language. English, French, Arabic, Chinese and every other braille code assign the cells to their own alphabets and contractions. This site covers Unified English Braille.
Can I just copy the braille output and print it?
You can copy it, but printing it on a normal printer produces flat ink shapes, not raised dots, so it cannot be read by touch. Physical braille needs an embosser, a braille writer, or a slate and stylus. Printed output is useful for sighted people learning the code.
What is the difference between Grade 1 and Grade 2?
Grade 1 gives every letter its own cell. Grade 2 replaces common words and letter groups with single cells to save space — a standalone b means 'but', and one cell covers 'ing'. Published books use Grade 2.
Is the Grade 2 output here good enough to emboss?
Not without checking. This site covers all the alphabetic wordsigns and strong groupsigns, but not shortforms, initial-letter contractions or the context rules that depend on pronunciation. It is reliable for learning and checking your work. If it is going to be embossed for someone to rely on, have a qualified transcriber review it.
Why do numbers look like letters?
Because they are the same cells. The number sign, dots 3-4-5-6, tells the reader that the letters that follow are digits: a becomes 1, b becomes 2, and so on up to j, which becomes 0.
Do I need to install a braille font?
No. The dots on this site are drawn as real page elements, and the copyable output uses standard Unicode braille characters that every modern system already renders. Nothing needs installing.
Does this site work with a screen reader?
Yes. Every braille cell carries a text description naming the raised dots, so a screen reader announces 'dots 1, 4 and 5' rather than skipping an image. All reference tables are real HTML tables with proper headers and work without JavaScript.