scripta

Scripta is a Latin term meaning written things or writings. In scholarly usage, it refers to written records, textual material, or documentary evidence, including manuscripts, inscriptions, papyri, and other durable media. The word derives from scribere to write and scriptum a thing written. Grammatically, scripta is the neuter plural or a feminine plural form used as a substantive meaning “the writings.”

In approaches such as paleography, codicology, and textual criticism, scripta denotes the material that preserves language and information, distinguishing written sources from oral tradition (verba). The concept underpins the study of ancient and medieval documents, where scripta can include inscriptions on stone, tablets, parchment, or paper, as well as printed editions of earlier texts. Researchers examine scripta to understand authorship, transmission, dating, and context, contributing to reconstructions of historical voices and institutions.

The term also appears in everyday scholarly language as a general reference to written material rather than a specific discipline. It may be used in titles or descriptions that emphasize collections of documents or editions of texts as a basis for analysis. In modern usage, scripta is typically written in lowercase within running text, with capitalization reserved for proper names or titles. Overall, scripta serves as a concise label for the corpus of written evidence that informs historical and philological inquiry.