Epigraphy is the study of texts that are inscribed onto durable materials, typically (though not always) stone. These texts include honorary and memorial inscriptions (on statue bases or gravestones), laws and decrees, and even graffiti. Although stone does not rot or burn, it can be broken or worn, and inscribed stones were often re-used as building materials. As a result, many inscriptions are fragmentary texts. 

Epigraphers have a standard convention for marking up texts in print, called the Leiden convention.

In Epigraphy a word or letter that is spelled wrong is enclosed in square brackets.

Letters or words that are missing are enclosed in angled brackets in a transcription.

Comments are used to explain these demarkations.

Letters are printed with underdots when they are not complete or not clear.

Intentional erasures are demarked with double square brackets.