What is dittology?

Dittology is a rare term used mainly in textual and biblical scholarship. It refers to a passage that can genuinely be read or interpreted in two different ways, or to a case where two variant readings of the same text have both been preserved. The word comes from the Greek roots meaning “double” and “word” or “account”.

What does dittology mean?

In practice, dittology describes a genuine ambiguity in a text: a sentence, phrase or single word that supports two distinct, defensible interpretations at the same time, rather than one being simply a mistake. It is closely related to the more everyday idea of ambiguity, but it is used specifically when scholars discuss how an old or historically important text has been read and transmitted.

Dittology in textual criticism

The term is most often encountered in the study of ancient and biblical manuscripts, where copies of the same text sometimes differ slightly from one another. When two different readings of a passage both appear in the manuscript tradition and neither can be dismissed as a simple copying error, scholars may describe the situation as a dittology. This is different from a copying mistake such as accidentally writing a word or letter twice, which is usually called dittography.

Why does dittology matter?

Recognising dittology matters for translators and editors of old texts, because it affects how a passage should be translated or punctuated. Choosing one reading over another can change the meaning of a sentence, so editors often note both possible interpretations rather than presenting only one as certain.

Summary

Dittology is a double reading or twofold interpretation of a text, a concept used mainly in the study of ancient and biblical manuscripts. It reminds us that some passages in old texts cannot be reduced to a single, certain meaning.