--- a/PhoneticStringUtilities.st	Sun Oct 30 16:29:38 2016 +0100
+++ b/PhoneticStringUtilities.st	Wed Nov 02 14:50:01 2016 +0100
@@ -1230,11 +1230,11 @@
 
     k := key copy.
      "2. Transcode initial strings:  MAC => MC   PF => F"
-    (k copyFrom:1 to:3) = 'MAC' ifTrue:[
-        k := 'MC' , (k copyFrom:4 to:k size)
+    (k startsWith:'MAC') ifTrue:[
+        k := 'MC' , (k copyFrom:4)
     ].
-    (k copyFrom:1 to:2) = 'PF' ifTrue:[
-        k := 'F' , (k copyFrom:3 to:k size)
+    (k startsWith:'PF') ifTrue:[
+        k := 'F' , (k copyFrom:3)
     ].
     ^ k
 !
@@ -2792,7 +2792,7 @@
         ].
         ((((currentIndex = self inputKey size) and: [(self keyAt: currentIndex - 1) isVowel])
                 or: [#('EWSKI' 'EWSKY' 'OWSKI' 'OWSKY') includes: (self inputKey copyFrom: ((currentIndex - 1) max: 1) to: (currentIndex + 3 min: self inputKey size))])
-                        or: [(self inputKey copyFrom: 1 to: 3) = 'SCH'])
+                        or: [self inputKey startsWith:'SCH'])
         ifTrue: [
                 self addPrimaryTranslation: '';
                 addSecondaryTranslation: 'F'.