Paleography investigates a work in terms of time-related features, classifies it by genre and purpose, clarifies materially conditioned and technical presuppositions, and examines factors affecting style and tradition (e.g., chancelry customs, writing schools). Graphological studies are also undertaken relative to individual practices. Tables are made of alphabets and their development, plus handbooks of the development of writing, codes and shorthand, and abbreviations. These various branches make possible the deciphering of texts and an estimation of date and place of composition. If features do not correspond to the supposed date, fraud may be present.

Paleography also brings to light later emendations and help to unravel passages that may be read with technical means. It examines writing materials and, by means of them, can establish the authenticity and age of a text (e.g., by identifying watermarks). It is especially valuable in the study of undated and anonymous works in correcting erroneous assumptions about authorship. Bringing to light earlier misreadings often results in wholly new insights.