 XPS is a valuable tool for studying the chemical modification of surfaces, particularly in carbon nanomaterials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes. Dopants like nitrogen, boron, and phosphorus are commonly studied to modify these materials properties for specific applications. However, careful sample preparation, consideration of intrinsic photoemission response, and appropriate spectral analysis are necessary to accurately interpret XPS results and avoid incorrect conclusions. This review provides a practical guide for interpreting XPS spectra of doped graphitic carbon nanomaterials and serves as a reference for their binding energies essential for compositional analysis via XPS. This article was authored by Tomas Suzy, Thomas Pitchler, and Paula Aguila.