Contribution of the Study of Punctuation to Textual Criticism. In Tribute to Francisco Rico

Knowledge of the criteria by which punctuation was governed in the 16th and 17th centuries, on the one hand, and the domain of the possibilities offered by the current system of punctuation can allow the modern editor to more confidently correct errors received, and provide the edition, through accurate punctuation, with the correctness and effectiveness that surely existed in the first draft. The comparison of the punctuation of several copies or editions of a work, applying the criteria explained here, can clarify doubts about the stemma and even confirm the true authorship perhaps unquestioned.