Long-s

Rules for placement of the long-s (ſ) in English.

Here's what I have found to be generally true although I've also found exceptions.

Examples are shown in [italics].

The short-s, (s):

• At the end of a word. [proofreaders]
• Before an apostrophe. [clos'd]
• Before a hyphen in hyphenated words. [has-been]
• Before or after the letter 'f'. [transfer, selfsame]
• Also, for some 17th and 18th century books, before the letter 'b' or 'k'. [disbelief, ask]

The long-s, (ſ):

• At the start of a word.[ſecond]
• In the middle of a word. [firſt]
• Before a hyphen at a line or page-break even if it would normally be a short-s. [pleaſ-ing]
• In abbreviations the same rules are followed.

Double s:

• Middle of a word. Double long-s. [meſſy]
• End of word. Long-s followed by short-s. [braſs]