merkmerking

Merkmerking is a Dutch term for a remark or annotation added to a text to indicate a point of interest, a correction, or additional information. The term emphasizes the act of marking a feature in the document with a note. It is commonly used in historical manuscripts, archival descriptions, and editorial workflows, where marginal notes help signpost issues or explain decisions without altering the main text. It is closely related to, but distinct from, more formal concepts such as annotatie (annotation) and opmerking (note). In practice, a merkmerking can take the form of a marginal note, a circled symbol in the margin, or a digital inline comment. The exact conventions for merkmerking vary by language, institution, and context; there is no single standardized format. In bibliographic records, merkmerking may be used to indicate editorial interventions, sources of information, or cross-references within a document. The concept underlines the importance of transparent editorial history and traceability of changes. See also marginalia, annotation, opmerking. The term is mainly used in Dutch-language contexts and contrasts with more formal terms seen in other languages.