Iota adscript

Iota adscript (Greek Polytonic|προσγεγραμμένη) in Greek polytonic orthography a term for the iota when written separately from the long vowel preceding it in diphthongs, as opposed to combining it as a small vertical stroke beneath the vowel, known as the iota subscript (Polytonic|ὑπογεγραμμένη). The iota subscript was created when the iota was reintroduced in the Byzantine period, to correct the loss of ι from copies of earlier manuscripts, but was placed below rather than beside the vowel to reflect the fact that it was not, by then, pronounced. This is still the most common convention today, although over the past few decades, many editors have preferred to reinstate the iota as an adscript. Others take a mixed approach, using the adscript for capitals, but the subscript for lower case letters.

ee also

* Greek diacritics
* Iota subscript