Transcription policy

Multiple versions

The workdiary texts were transcribed and then encoded in TEI XML (see the technical policy). From this single set of XML texts, all six different versions of the workdiary texts were generated:

Page-by-page editorial transcript (with images)
Page-by-page diplomatic transcript (with images)
Text-only editorial transcript
Text-only diplomatic transcript
Print-friendly editorial transcript
Print-friendly diplomatic transcript

Deletions and other changes are noted in square brackets in the diplomatic transcripts. In the page-by-page and text-only editorial transcripts this information is available in a mouseover note; in the print-friendly editorial transcript this information has been removed.

Spelling, capitalisation, punctuation

The content of each workdiary is transcribed in full. The text has been transcribed literally, retaining original spelling, capitalisation and punctuation; the ampersand has been retained. Long 's's and capital 'F's in the form 'ff' have been modernised and consistency has been imposed in the usage of 'u' and 'v' and 'i' and 'j', with the former being used for the vowel and the latter for the consonant in each case.

Insertions, deletions, emendations

Authorial insertions are denoted by angle brackets. Editorial insertions are marked with square brackets (square brackets in the original are separately noted). Authorial deletions and emendations are recorded in square brackets in the diplomatic texts and in mouseover notes in the page-by-page and text-only editorial texts. In the print-friendly editorial texts this information has been removed or the usage has been silently regularised.

Contractions

Standard contractions have generally been expanded, though we have shown some latitude in this where Boyle's notes are in the nature of memoranda rather than finished notes. This is especially the case with recipes (see headnote to Workdiary 10). Where Boyle uses an initial letter only to denote a person, we have left this as it is, and have used a hypertext link to the Biographical Register to identify the person in question.

Symbols, special characters

Symbols have been transliterated in {parentheses}, including the term {recipe}. Where an identifiable symbol exists in a standard character set, we have sometimes used that: for instance *.

Catchwords

Catchwords have been ignored unless they fail to tally with the text that follows, in which case they form the subject of an editorial note in square brackets. Their use in the workdiaries is irregular, depending on the habits of the scribe responsible for the section of text in question. Where they occur, they comprise a single word.

Layout and titles

The transcription has been given a standard format, with entries separated in a uniform manner regardless of how they appear on the manuscript page. Titles in the original have been given appropriate prominence in the transcription through the use of centring and spacing.

Marginalia

Marginalia are recorded prior to the content of an entry. An attempt has been made to differentiate marginal notes made at the same time as the entry from those added later.