Ktiv hasar niqqud (Hebrew pronunciation: [ktiv ħaˈsaɾ niˈkkud]; Hebrew: כתיב חסר ניקוד‎, literally "spelling lacking niqqud"), colloquially known as ktiv male (IPA: [ktiv maˈle]; כתיב מלא‎, literally "full spelling"), are the rules for writing Hebrew without vowel points (niqqud), often replacing them with matres lectionis (ו‎ and י‎). To avoid confusion, consonantal ו‎ ([v]) and י‎ ([j]) are doubled in the middle of words. In general use, niqqud are seldom used, except in specialized texts such as dictionaries, poetry, or texts for children or for new immigrants.