ABSTRACT
Graphology, spelling, and punctuation are the topics of this chapter. ‘Old spelling’ editions of Shakespeare, which started to be produced in the nineteenth century, are described, along with the development of textual facsimiles (of the First Folio for example) in the twentieth century. Arguments found in the literature for and against original spelling are surveyed. The chapter then considers some of the major spelling differences between Elizabethan practices and today. Punctuation is also discussed. The major difference between Elizabethan punctuation and today’s is that the former was often used to indicate pauses of different lengths, while today’s frequently marks grammatical units. It is shown how punctuation in Shakespeare can give useful guidance to actors speaking the lines. Some Elizabethan uses of specific punctuation marks are described, and the sometimes considerable changes to punctuation made by Shakespearean editors over the ages are exemplified.
