# Can any reading be tested without new documents? · Shugborough inscription > Three answers have been proposed. Comparison with 18th-century English Latin inscriptions can rank readings by how normal their abbreviations… leads… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/questions/QST0D1M91MA24B5/can-any-reading-be-tested-without-new-documents Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:47+00:00 --- **0** # Can any reading be tested without new documents? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [What do the letters OUOSVAVV stand for?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/questions/QST0D1M914P3D8V/what-do-the-letters-ouosvavv-stand-for)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: comparison with 18th-century English Latin inscriptions can rank readings by how normal their abbreviations…** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. Comparison with 18th-century English Latin inscriptions can rank readings by how normal their abbreviations… leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters Eight letters allow many expansions. Grammar and epigraphic convention prune them, but cannot choose among the survivors⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D1M8W0M4TX0/a-secret-code-at-shugborough-hall)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D1M8VRT6KC1/shug-days-cracking-a-270-year-old-epigraphical-mystery). ## Answers 3 [**Comparison with 18th-century English Latin inscriptions can rank readings by how normal their abbreviations…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/answers/ANS0D1M960Y0AQV/comparison-with-18th-century-english-latin-inscriptions-can) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**No internal test can separate the grammatical readings; only documents can.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/answers/ANS0D1M96GJ4TJ4/no-internal-test-can-separate-the-grammatical-readings-only) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/answers/ANS0D1M97064M4V/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 2012[Fishwick puts forward: comparison with 18th-century English Latin inscriptions can rank readings by how normal their abbreviations…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D1M8W0M4TX0/a-secret-code-at-shugborough-hall) 1. 2012[Fishwick: fishwick rejects Stonor's reading on grammar and abbreviation practice.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D1M8W0M4TX0/a-secret-code-at-shugborough-hall)For: Comparison with 18th-century English Latin inscriptions can rank readings by how normal their abbreviations… 1. 2022[Mitchell puts forward: no internal test can separate the grammatical readings; only documents can.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D1M8VRT6KC1/shug-days-cracking-a-270-year-old-epigraphical-mystery) 1. 2022[Mitchell: mitchell concedes his own reading cannot be proven from the stone.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D1M8VRT6KC1/shug-days-cracking-a-270-year-old-epigraphical-mystery)For: No internal test can separate the grammatical readings; only documents can. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/questions/QST0D1M91MA24B5/can-any-reading-be-tested-without-new-documents%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/questions/QST0D1M91MA24B5/can-any-reading-be-tested-without-new-documents%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/questions/QST0D1M91MA24B5/can-any-reading-be-tested-without-new-documents%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/questions/QST0D1M91MA24B5/can-any-reading-be-tested-without-new-documents%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/questions/QST0D1M91MA24B5/can-any-reading-be-tested-without-new-documents%23add-source) Where it fits Shugborough inscription [**What do the letters OUOSVAVV stand for?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/questions/QST0D1M914P3D8V/what-do-the-letters-ouosvavv-stand-for)Key question · most likely they are the initials of a Latin funerary dedication to a named person, matching the D M frame **Can any reading be tested without new documents?** You're here · comparison with 18th-century English Latin inscriptions can rank readings by how normal their abbreviations… [When were the letters cut?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/questions/QST0D1M91CG55X4/when-were-the-letters-cut)Open · 3 answers, inconclusive [ Ask a question under this one ]