Ylikirjoitus

Ylikirjoitus is a Finnish term formed from the prefix yli- meaning over and the noun kirjoitus meaning writing. It is used to describe situations in which written text is placed over or replaces existing text. The term appears in information technology, publishing, and editing contexts, and its exact meaning depends on the domain.

In computing, ylikirjoitus refers to the mode in which new characters overwrite existing ones at the cursor position. This overwrite mode is typically contrasted with insert mode, where typed characters are inserted and push the existing text forward. Software interfaces often provide a way to switch between these modes, and Finnish documentation may label the overwrite behavior as ylikirjoitus-tila or similar.

In printing and editing, ylikirjoitus can denote the act of overwriting erroneous text with corrected content, either by writing over the original marks with a pen or by inserting corrected text that replaces the previous characters. In this sense, ylikirjoitus describes a corrective action rather than a stylistic feature, and it may result in visible traces of the prior text.

In typography and manuscript handling, the term may also be used more loosely to describe writing performed over existing marks to indicate changes or annotations. Because terminology can vary between publishers, software ecosystems, and communities, the precise interpretation of ylikirjoitus is context-dependent.

See also: overwrite mode, insert mode, proofreading, editing, typography.