The general rule with most phonographers, when joining words, is to write the first word in its proper place-position, and let the other words in the phrase accommodate themselves to the position of the first.

There are times, however, when this rule will not apply. For in. stance, when some other word in the phrase requires, in order to be read correctly and with ease, that it shall be given its proper position in preference to commencing word.

For the above reason, there are phrases, as well as words, that should occupy the second and third positions, even though the commencing word be a first-place word. Hence there are first-place, second-place and third-place phrases.

A first-place phrase is one in which there occurs a word (either initial, intermediate or final) which, in order to be read as joined, necessitates the placing of the entire phrase in the first position, above the line of writing. A few such phrases are illustrated by signs 41 to 48 in Exercise.

A second-place phrase is one in which the necessity of reading a certain word within it causes the entire phrase to be placed in the second position, on the line, as illustrated by signs 49 to 56 in Exercise.

A third-place phrase is one in which the important word happens to be a third-place word and thus gives third position to the entire outline, as illustrated by signs 57 to 64 in Exercise.

Signs 65 to 73, inclusive, illustrate these three sorts of phrases comparatively, and by attentive notice of how a difference of position changes the meaning of the same phrase outline, students will find a rule for the proper placement of other phrases which they will come in contact with when engaged in actual work. No principle in phonography is so unimportant that it may be only casually acquired, and memorizing these phrases will especially repay for the time consumed.