Before you start

Whether you are reading a single document or beginning a session of several hours' palaeography, maximise your performance by tuning your eyes and brain to the job in hand and by optimising your working environment.

1. Consider the physical factors which improve performance

2. Have help at hand - know where to find help in the form of dictionaries, glossaries, word lists etc.

3. Warm up - appraise the document, preparing yourself for what lies ahead