Lectio brevior

Lectio brevior (Latin for "shorter reading") is one of the key principles in textual criticism, especially biblical textual criticism. The principle is based on the widely accepted view that scribes showed more tendency to embellish and harmonise by additions and inclusions than by deletions. Hence, when comparing two or more manuscripts of the same text, the shorter readings are more likely to be closer to the original.

See also

• Lectio difficilior

Bibliography

• Epp, Eldon J., Gordon D. Fee. Studies in the Theory and Method of New Testament Textual Criticism. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1993. ISBN 080282773X