Method of Expressing R

     161.  A circle or loop is written with the left motion to express r following the vowel.

     Note: The circle is placed above the next stroke after p and b, as in burn and bird, and below the next stroke in all others, as in charm and farm.
     There is a tendency in rapid writing to curve a straight line when it is followed by a circle.  Therefore the distinctive method of joining the circle when it is written with left motion after straight strokes is adopted to prevent any possibility of misreading. Compare germ and bird in the following drill.

162. Word Drill

     163.  Between a horizontal and an upward stroke the circle is turned with a left motion on the upward stroke to express r following the vowel:

     164.  Before straight lines, s in ser, cer, sar, and th in ther, thir, may be written contrary to the usual method of joining to express r:

     165.  R Omitted.  In many words containing ar, er, or, ir, as in the words large, serve, warm, sort, firm, circle, and corner, the r is omitted.
     In applying this principle, advantage is simply taken of dropping a sound that ordinarily is not stressed in speaking.

166.  Word Drill

     *The syllables tern and dern are expressed by ten.

     167.  The termination worthy, as in noteworthy and trustworthy, is expressed by thi; worth, by uth, thus:

     168.  The Syllable Ther.  The syllable ther, as in either and other, is conveniently expressed by the sign for th:

     *The left-motion th is used in father to distinguish this word from faith, which otherwise would have the same form.

169.  Reading and Dictation Practice

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