MEDIAL W
 

The semicircle Medial W sign is used within an outline to represent W sound plus a vowel, where writing the Way stroke or the joined W Semicircle is not convenient.

As the W sound comes between a consonant and a vowel, it is behaving as an extra vowel, and therefore does not form an extra syllable e.g. "teak tweak, toddle twaddle, teasers tweezers".

It replaces the vowel sign against the stroke. There are two versions, anticlockwise and clockwise. They are not joined to the outline and they never change their angle. They do not indicate whether the vowel after them is long or short (thick/thin).

(A) ANTICLOCKWISE SEMICIRCLE = W + Dot vowel:

First place:

reservoir memoir armoire

boudoir abattoir repertoire

earwax bees-wax sealing-wax bulwark

Second place:

twelve twenty hardware assuage

frequent frequently frequency subsequent subsequently

Buenos Aires, Venezuela

Third place:

twig tweak twixt tweezers twiddle

dwindle earwig bewilder forthwith herewith

sandwich Ipswich Northwich compare Norwich

(B) Also in some compound words:
 

will free-will goodwill

wisher well-wisher ill-wisher

well farewell

weed sea-weed pondweed

wink hoodwink

wheel freewheel* gearwheel*

* Note the Dot Hay against the W sign
 

Note: between betwixt

These omit the G sound to gain a convenient outline:
 

anguish languish extinguisher distinguisher

(C) CLOCKWISE SEMICIRCLE = W + Dash vowel:

First place:

caterwaul twaddle somewhat*

* Note the Dot Hay against the W sign
 

ward eastward windward heavenward

water rainwater highwater seawater freshwater

Second place:

quote misquote* misquotation someone

* Always write in the W sign, as this is similar to "mistake"
 

worth Butterworth Wandsworth Walworth but Woolworth to distinguish
 

work framework firework guesswork homework
 

woodwork handiwork artwork fretwork

worm book-worm wireworm
 

worthy seaworthy airworthy blameworthy

Third place:

wool lamb's-wool

wood driftwood wormwood

craftswoman draughtswoman*

* The W sign must be written in these, as without it the outlines are "craftsman" and "draughtsman"

In these compound words, the normal joined semicircle W is easily included:

sidewalk needlewomen horsewoman

(D) In these Way+Ray join better:

earthwork newsworthy praiseworthy

trustworthy* roadworthy unworthy** noteworthy**

* Omits the second T of "trust"

** Always insert the first vowel sign in these, to prevent misreading

In the following words, the Medial W sign is used in the same way as an intervening diphthong, written at the head of the stroke:
 

quality qualify qualification compare direct (alternative pronunciation)

(E) The sign is never used to form its own syllable, therefore not used initially or finally:
 

way-marker way-station railway

roadway pathway highway

These words are clearer using stroke Way:
 

bewitch bewail bewailed beware

twin twill twirl dwell dweller

dwelling dwelt dissuade persuade (swayed/suede)

dwarf dwarfed Dwight* Duane/Dwayne

* Insert the diphthong, to help distinguish from "Edward"

Mnemonic

The vowels that go with these Medial W signs can be remembered by naming them to match the plain long vowels, (although the signs are used for both long and short vowels):

Anticlockwise semicircle/dots: wah way wee

Clockwise semicircle/dashes: waw woe woo

Long vowels: Pa - may - we - all - go - too

Short vowels: That - pen - is - not - much - good

(F) Phrases

we will, that was

very well, so well but but do not phrase: very ill, so ill

SUMMARY

• Anticlockwise for W plus dot vowel

• Clockwise for W plus dash vowel

• Behaves as an extra vowel

• They do not change their angle

• They do not indicate whether the included vowel was long or short (thick/thin)

• Never used initially or finally

• Replaces either stroke Way or the joined Semicircle W in some compound words, to enable the parts to be joined

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