Dele
symbol used to mark something for deletion
A dele or deleatur (, ) is an obelism (a proofreading symbol) used to mark something for deletion.
Name
Dele, the more common term in modern American English (sometimes used as a verb, e.g. "Dele that graf"), coincides with the imperative form of the Latin delere ("to delete"). However, the Oxford English Dictionary notes an earlier use in English of deleatur (Latin "let it be deleted"), and suggests that dele in English may have been an abbreviation for the longer word.
Origin
The origin of the symbol appears to be an archaic letter D in the Kurrent script, as an abbreviation for dele or deleatur. It is markedly similar (if not identical in some cases) to the symbol for the German penny () which is an archaic lowercase d, for denarius. As with most hand-written letters and symbols, its appearance is variable.
A different theory states simply that it is "a form of 'd' meaning 'delete.'"
Computer representation
There is no character for the dele symbol in Unicode as of version 15.0 from September 2022. Its addition was once proposed in 2021.
Usage
The dele is used in proofreading and copy editing, where it may be written over the selected text itself (such that it often resembles a stretched cursive e), or in the margin alongside the selected text, which is usually struck through with a line.
“Dele” enters the record as symbol used to mark something for deletion. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Dele, symbol and used can confirm, complicate or overturn.
Why this record matters
“Dele” is worth following because a concise public description often conceals a longer documentary argument. Here, Dele, symbol and used provides the most credible route into that argument.
Vocabulary and entity names are the principal evidence signals here, because they determine the precision of every later search. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 22, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q686962. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 2022 and 2021.
Overview language is designed for orientation and should not be treated as a substitute for the evidence cited beneath it. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Dele”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Dele primary sources, Dele archive and Dele research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Dele”?
- What terminology or title could unlock a more precise catalogue search?
- Which institution is responsible for the underlying evidence?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Dele” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.