OMISSION OF CONSONANTS
 

Lightly sounded consonants are sometimes omitted, as long as the outline remains readable.

(A) Omitting T sound after circle S is the commonest omission:
 

postal postage postman post-free postpone
 

testimony domestic mistake mistaken
 

lastly vastly vastness justly waistcoat
 

restless tasteful wasteful trustful manifestly
 

investigate adjustment textbook pessimistic optimistic
 

*substitute substitution institute institution destitute prostitute

* In all these, it is the T immediately after the S that is omitted

Not omitted in these: mistook costly ghastly ghostly

Apart from the first two below, names and placenames should be written in full:
 

West End, West End of London

Brazil Bristol, Basel Bastille

(B) Omit K in "-nct- "words and similar:
 

anxious anxiously adjunct

sanctuary distinct distinctly distinction

extinct extinction precincts tincture

defunct punctual punctuate punctuation

injunction function functioned sanction sanctioned*

* This is not formed like "functioned" because the Circle S plus Shun hook would be too cramped to be clear

The K is not omitted in past tenses, as it is clearly sounded:
 

banked tanked dunked inked

ranked winked linked

(C) Omit R Hook:
 

post-script administration demonstrate demonstration

prescribe prescription proscribe

These omit the N as well as the R: transcribe transcription compare: describe

Reminder: description descriptions discourse

Sounds are not omitted where it does not improve the outline:
 

drastic elastic plastic mystic mystify

suggestive digestive

(D) Distinguishing Outlines
 

Always insert the first vowel: honestly nicely

Omission Phrases

post office, postage stamps, past year, most important,

most importantly

almost impossible, almost certain, almost certainly, there must be, must not

last time, first rate, very pleased indeed, in fact, shorthand student

best way, I trust that, once again, one way

one thing, between them, first place, second place, third place

Contractions

distinguish-ed extinguish-ed relinquish-ed character ministry

Optional contractions:

longest strongest

worthwhile vice versa

Derivatives:

characterise characteristic characterful

ministration* ministered*

* The R hook is omitted

SUMMARY

• Lightly sounded consonants are sometimes omitted, mostly T and K sounds: postman anxious function

• R Hook and N omitted in certain words, to avoid a straggling outline or clashing with a similar one: demonstrate transcribe describe

• Full outlines for names

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