Choice
Use <choice> to encode alternate versions
The <choice> tag groups a number of alternative
encodings for the same point in a text. This element enables the encoder to represent
the text in its original form, alongside one or more edited forms. This usage permits
software to switch automatically between one view of a text and another, so that (for
example) a stylesheet may be set to display either the
original text or an editorial change.
<choice>
should contains at least two other elements, each with one of the alternate forms. We
use this to record a misspelling and its correction, and an abbreviation in the original
and its expanded form. The codes are as follows: | original | alternate | description |
|---|---|---|
<sic> |
<corr> |
misspelling and its correction |
<abbr> |
<expan> |
abbreviation and its expanded form |
<choice>
<sic>propably</sic>
<corr>probably</corr>
</choice>The example shows the encoding if we want to include corrections for a misspelling.
The order of the two alternates is critical. Always put the tag with the text as written first, followed by the emendation. This allows us to define which choice to output in a stylesheet.