Phrase
“happy birthday” in braille
The most common request for braille cards. The 'th' in birthday contracts in Grade 2.
Grade 1 — letter by letter
⠓⠁⠏⠏⠽ ⠃⠊⠗⠞⠓⠙⠁⠽
13 cells
Grade 2 — contracted
⠓⠁⠏⠏⠽ ⠃⠊⠗⠹⠙⠁⠽
12 cells — 1 fewer than Grade 1.
Letter by letter
1-2-5
1
1-2-3-4
1-2-3-4
1-3-4-5-6
space — an empty cell
1-2
2-4
1-2-3-5
2-3-4-5
1-2-5
1-4-5
1
1-3-4-5-6
Before you emboss it
If this is going onto something permanent — jewellery, a card, a tattoo — decide which grade you want first. The two are different lengths and a Grade 2 reader will read the Grade 1 version perfectly well, but not the other way round if the contraction is misapplied.
See the bracelet pattern maker for turning this into a physical layout.