Always treat the original like a sacred text and reproduce it as exactly as you can even WITH it's errors. A transcription doesn't replace an original. It only STANDS FOR (like a proxy) it when the original isn't available (actually in our case, we will have the original to look at to compare which is the best way to handle transcriptions!).
GUIDELINES:
TRANSCRIBING:
1. ALWAYS transcribe what is actually there
2. Use "[sic]" after anything that looks wrong to indicate "that is what it said/looks like in the original".
3. Use [brackets] around anything the transcriber adds for clarity -- that is, to correct errors in the original.
The bottom line is that anything in brackets was added by the transcriber to the text for clarity or to indicate possible mistakes in the original. But a transcription should ALWAYS record what is actually there in the document. A transcriber then could add notes or something AFTER the transcription to explain THEIR interpretation of the document.
PROOFREADING:
1. If you think the transcriber has made a mistake in interpreting the handwriting, you should indicate that you think it was misinterpreted.
For example, many modern eyes read capitals letters by our modern rules, but that creates an error which ought to be corrected if the transcriber/proof reader KNOWS what the letter should have been. I'm talking about all those "S's" read as "L's" and such. If someone knows the name is Seymore but it looks like Leymore, it it's probably because WE cannot read those capital letters correctly. Those should just be put right and not complicate the transcription with erroneous [sic.]'s. It's OUR problem, not the original writer's.
2. Show things like misspellings in the original and, if necessary, add the correct spelling in brackets following what is there so someone doesn't misinterpret it later. Often the mispelling is just that and the meaning is clear. In those cases, just leave as it is.
SCRIPT EXAMPLE:
1. Notice especially capital letters C, G, I, J, S, T, and Z
2.
Thank you!