Conventions of Editing and the Apparatus Criticus

This chapter outlines some basic guidelines for constructing and presenting the apparatus criticus in a critical edition of an ancient Greek or Latin text. It includes explanation of the use of sigla, discussion of the choice of language, and illustration of the difference between positive and negative reporting. It ends with brief consideration of how the standard presentation of the apparatus criticus may be adapted to suit both the nature of the text that is being edited and the medium of the edition; for example, in the case of book-fragments and digital editions. An appendix discusses distinctive conventions in the editing of inscriptions and papyri.