--- title: "Using pointed text" slug: "using-pointed-text" description: "Explore Source & Summit's print products featuring modern, square, and pointed text formats for music, and learn the essentials of pointed text." tags: ["Ordo", "Liturgy Preparation", "Onboarding"] updated: 2026-10-14T11:27:37Z published: 2026-10-14T11:27:37Z canonical: "help.sourceandsummit.com/using-pointed-text" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.sourceandsummit.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Using pointed text > [!NOTE] > The information in this article applies to Source & Summit **print product customers.** In Source & Summit printed materials, music can appear in three formats: modern notation, square notation, and pointed text. - Modern notation ![Modern musical notation for Psalm 23.](https://cdn.document360.io/2f4703e0-6aba-4ef3-bb5e-e77c48482a6f/Images/Documentation/The%20Lord%20is%20My%20Shepherd_Modern-notation.png) - Square notation ![Square notation for Psalm 23.](https://cdn.document360.io/2f4703e0-6aba-4ef3-bb5e-e77c48482a6f/Images/Documentation/The%20Lord%20is%20My%20Shepherd_Square-notation.png) - Pointed text The Lord *is* my shepherd; * there is nothing *I* shall want. In the Digital Platform, you can [switch between modern and square notation](/v1/docs/notation-settings). But in the Missal, Entrance and Communion Antiphons are *pointed* for Sundays, Feasts, and Daily Mass. ## **What is a pointed text?** Pointed text uses markings to show how words are sung. When paired with a chanted tone, these markings show you when to change pitch and how to phrase music for the antiphon. In the Source & Summit Missal, you’ll find eight antiphon tones on the back cover: ![Musical notation for antiphon tones, labeled with Roman numerals for reference.](https://cdn.document360.io/2f4703e0-6aba-4ef3-bb5e-e77c48482a6f/Images/Documentation/Missal-Antiphon-Tones.png) Pair an antiphon tone with the pointed text to sing the antiphon. You can pair all antiphon texts in the Source & Summit Missal with any of these tones, but the Roman numeral in the top-right corner shows the tone Source & Summit suggests. ![Musical notation showing the Antiphon II tone.](https://cdn.document360.io/2f4703e0-6aba-4ef3-bb5e-e77c48482a6f/Images/Documentation/Antiphon-II-Tone.png) Antiphon tone II > [!NOTE] > 💡 Tip > > Pointed texts may be sung unaccompanied, but [accompaniments](/v1/docs/accessing-accompaniments) to Antiphon tones are available to all Missal subscribers on the Digital Platform or in the **Entrance, Offertory, & Communion Antiphon** Accompaniment Books. ## **How to Sing Verses** Singing from pointed verses enables the singer to focus on the words they are singing, rather than on reading notes. Use the guide below to learn how to interpret pointed verses. As you read, reference the example to see how a pointed text pairs with the psalm tone: ![One bar of an annotated choral score showing how pointed text formatting maps onto a psalm tone.](https://cdn.document360.io/2f4703e0-6aba-4ef3-bb5e-e77c48482a6f/Images/Documentation/1_O-Let-Your-Ears-Be-Attentive_Pointed.png) ![First phrase of the psalm "O let your ears be attentive", fully notated according to the pointed text.](https://cdn.document360.io/2f4703e0-6aba-4ef3-bb5e-e77c48482a6f/Images/Documentation/2_Pointed-Text_Notated.png) | Pointed text marking | What it means | | --- | --- | | *Italics* | Italicized words in the text show where the melody moves away from the starting pitch. | | Asterisk * | The asterisk marks the bar line separating the first and second parts of the antiphon tone. When you see the asterisk, take a pause, long enough to say “Ave Maria, gratia plena” in your head. | | Flex ✝ | The flex marks a shorter pause within a longer phrase. When you see the flex ✝, take a pause (but not as long as with the asterisk *). Then, continue singing on the same not. The flex does not appear in every stanza. | | Slash / | The slash marks the end of a verse stana, and where to restart the tone. Only verses with more than one 2-line stanza will contain slash marks. | | **Bold** | The bolded word is sung to the final accent of the text, and is sung to the final note of the sequence. The bolded final accent and any non-bolded syllables that follow it are sung to the final note. | Throughout a verse with several 2-line stanzas, you will repeat the melody of the tone until the verse is complete. In between verses, the antiphon should be repeated by all. When verses are accompanied or sung with vocal harmony, an alternate harmonization (indicated by the Roman numeral II) can be used with the text of the second stanza (see the example below). The melody of the second harmonization remains the same as the first. For verses with three stanzas, simply return to the first harmonization and continue alternating as needed. If desired, only the first harmonization can always be used. ![Musical sample of a verse with several 2-line stanzas, split into Roman Numerals I and II.](https://cdn.document360.io/2f4703e0-6aba-4ef3-bb5e-e77c48482a6f/Images/Documentation/3_Pointed-Text_second-narration.png) ## **The benefits of using pointed text** Chanting the Psalms and Antiphons helps express the meaning and spiritual content of the text using a simple melody. Singing from a pointed text keeps the focus on the sacred words rather than on musical notes or meter. As with singing antiphons, the rhythm of Psalm verses should always follow the rhythm of speech. The verses should be sung with a natural, flowing rhythm and should feel neither frantic and rushed, nor slow and stodgy. The role of the cantor or choir when singing Psalm verses is to bring to life the Word of God in song. ## **Custom Pointing in the Digital Platform** In some sections of the Digital Platform, you can insert custom pointing. This ensures that the emphasis is placed correctly in the text that you have added. See the key below for how to change the text formatting. | Keyboard Shortcut | | | --- | --- | | \|text\| (see below for where to find the vertical bar on your keyboard) | **bold** | | +text | regular text | ![Illustration of a keyboard highlighting the Shift and backslash keys.](https://cdn.document360.io/2f4703e0-6aba-4ef3-bb5e-e77c48482a6f/Images/Documentation/Vertical%20Bar%20shortcut.png) Type Shift + \ to create the vertical bar By default, the system will italicize the final word of the phrase. Insert vertical bars around the text that you would like to appear in bold. If you would like a part of word to appear in regular text, add the plus sign. ![Collect text highlighting text shortcuts that can change formatting.](https://cdn.document360.io/2f4703e0-6aba-4ef3-bb5e-e77c48482a6f/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2025-11-25 at 12.30.23 PM.png)