The term ideal text is frequently used among editors in two different senses, each a concern of this book. Ideal, contrasted to real or actual, is a term applicable to the notion that documents can misrepresent works. Thus, the work is “ideal,” while documents are “real” (i.e., physical). […] The term ideal also suggests a text that is ideal for some purpose–that is, a best text, in contrast to a corrupt or incomplete or damaged text. This use of the term can be applied to documents or to potential texts according to the orientation of the speaker.