Much of the _copy_ forwarded by the contributors to "NOTES AND QUERIES"
contains quotations from old books; which I presume are accurately
given, without alteration of spelling or punctuation. The difficulty is
this; that the printer, or perhaps even the editor, may sometimes alter
what he supposes to be a _contributor's_ error of copying. Thus, in
Query 93. (Vol. iv., p. 151.), there is _medulla grammaticæ_, where I
wrote _grammatice_, as in my authority: but the vile punctuation of the
subsequent extract (which is also that of the original) is duly
preserved. It would be desirable to have some symbol by which to call
attention to the fact that some glaring error is real quotation, and is
to be preserved in printing. For example, an indented line (~~~~) drawn
under the words in question, or at the side, would warn the printer that
he is not to correct any error, however gross. If you would suggest
this, or any other method, and request your contributors generally to
adopt it, an increased degree of confidence in the quotations would
result.
"Nec [sic] intersit nisi dignus vindice nodus
Inciderit."