How to record a difference between witnesses

Three fields before judgment

Transcribe the first witness as it appears, then the second, and describe the difference neutrally. It may concern spelling, vocalization, word order, or a possible addition or omission. Do not begin by declaring one correct: the cause and significance of the difference need separate investigation.

Make normalization explicit

If spelling is normalized for searching, retain the transcription on which it rests. State, for example, that search ignores vowel marks while a quotation preserves them. When preferring a reading, give the evidence: context, a clearer image or another witness. The same reading on two websites does not prove that their sources are independent.

Describe uncertainty precisely

State whether a letter is unclear, the relevant edge falls outside the image, or a line is missing from view. Do not convert an illegible shape into an assumed letter and build an interpretation upon it. Consult the manuscript-observation and comparison tools linked by the Arabic article.

Use a record that can be revisited

Include the witness identity, location, transcription, type of difference, evidence, comments and review date. The Arabic article links research templates. Leave the preference field empty when the evidence is insufficient: a carefully documented difference is already a useful result.

Linked research tools (Arabic)

• Recording a manuscript observation
• Define the unit of comparison
• Research templates