Ylikirjoitetaan

Ylikirjoitetaan (from Finnish *ylikirjoittaa*, meaning "to overwrite" or "to write over") refers to the act of modifying or altering existing text by adding new information directly on top of or within the original text. This practice is commonly encountered in historical documents, manuscripts, and archival materials, where writers or editors would make corrections, additions, or annotations without creating a separate version.

The technique is often used when space is limited, or when immediate revisions are necessary. In medieval and early modern manuscripts, for instance, scribes might ylikirjoittaa to correct errors, update information, or incorporate new knowledge without discarding the entire document. This method can make texts challenging to read, as the original and revised text may overlap or obscure one another.

Ylikirjoitetaan can also appear in modern contexts, such as in drafts, notes, or digital documents where edits are made directly on top of existing text. While it can be useful for quick revisions, it often leads to readability issues and may complicate the interpretation of the original content. Scholars and archivists often employ techniques like photography, digital scanning, or transcription to preserve and study documents altered in this way.

The practice should not be confused with lateration (adding text in the margins) or interlinear glossing (adding translations or explanations between lines). Ylikirjoitetaan specifically involves overwriting the existing text, making it a distinct method of textual modification. Understanding this technique is important for accurately interpreting historical and archival materials where such alterations are common.