Transcription guidelines
Noting edits in a text
- Strikethroughs: If a word has been crossed out and is still legible, use the "strikethrough" function to cross through the words that have been edited in the original text; if a word is illegible, not in brackets as such [illegible strikethrough]
- Insertions: If a word is inserted above or below a line of text, transcribe it as it would naturally appear in the text.
- Underlines: Use the underline function on words/phrases as they appear in the original text.
- Illegible words/phrases: If a word/phrase is completely illegible, note the number of words or lines illegible in brackets as such: [3 words illegible]; if a word is partially legible or incomplete, note using brackets and two hyphens as such: [sm–]; if you have a question about the accuracy of your transcription or the word is unclear, use the "unclear" function to note the word(s) that are unclear; if a page is torn/cut, note where the legible line ends and tear begins (for example: I am in tolerable health at this [end of line, page is torn])
- Superscripts: Use the "superscript" function to note superscripts in the original text.
- Headings: Use the heading function to indicate headings in the original text.
- Marginalia: When word(s) are written in the margins of the page, use the marginalia function to note the word(s) in the line they are written by in the original text.
- Symbols instead of words: Fairly often in these documents, the writer will use a symbol for a word instead of spelling it out (for example "and"); if you come across this, please spell out the word instead of using or trying to describe the symbol used.
Helpful Documentation
Advanced Markup
Table Encoding
Encoding mathematical and scientific formula with LaTex