I sometimes see square brackets used while quoting. My assumption is that they are replacing a pronoun with what the object of the pronoun, but I never know for sure because I don't usually get to see what the original quote looks like before the modification. What are these called and what are the rules of use?
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2 Answers
These are used to indicate that a direct quote has been edited — to fit the surrounding information, or to add context that does not show up within the scope of the quote. This page has a more detailed description:
Square brackets are used around words that are added that are not part of the original quote. For instance, you might have a source that says "Brenda and David went to the store," but you only want the quote to refer to David as a pronoun in your quote. So you should change it to "[He] went to the store."
Brackets can also be used with quotes for explanation for how you changed the quote from the original source. For example, you might write "Brenda and David went to the store [emphasis added]."
UPDATE
The cited page has apparently been moved and edited. As of 14 June 2023, it can be found (with changes) at https://askus.library.wwu.edu/faq/116674. It seems to be titled "Q. How should I use square brackets in quotes with APA style?", published by Western Washington University's Western Libraries, and dated 3 January 2020. It cites section 9.21 on page 292 of the APA Manual (7th Edition).
answered Aug 31, 2010 at 17:59
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2@Kosmonaut, And what happens when the quote itself has square brackets?– PacerierMar 3, 2016 at 2:41
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@ThorSummoner "Bracketed insertions" or "[i]ntegrat[ing] quotation with brackets" if I believe writingcommons.org/article/….– ClémentSep 28, 2020 at 15:03
They are simply used to add contextual clarity where the meaning is unclear. This is not only in quotes, but that's its most common usage:
Original: "I returned there yesterday, 2 hours after it happened"
Quote: The criminal admitted: "I returned [to the crime scene] yesterday, 2 hours after [the murder] happened"
Square brackets are not ONLY used in quotes. They are used often in translation. For example, the bible. Although not all bibles do this, one notable bible that did do this was "The Geneva Bible"
The Geneva Bible translators gave particular attention to retaining the flavor and sense of the original Hebrew. Words that the translators considered to be necessary additions were shown in italics, and text that had been added for grammatical clarity appeared in square brackets.
Example: Daniel 1:7
And to them the principal court official went assigning names. So he assigned to Daniel [the name of] Bel‧te‧shaz′zar; and to Han‧a‧ni′ah, Sha′drach; and to Mish′a‧el, Me′shach; and to Az‧a‧ri′ah, A‧bed′ne‧go.
Square brackets, whether part of a quote or just in text simply mean: "Added for contextual accuracy"
answered Aug 31, 2010 at 20:08
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4Not always "added". As Kosmonaut's answer points out, they are often used to indicate that something has been edited: when changing tenses, correcting spellings, etc. In any case, the square brackets just mean "this is not present in the original". Aug 31, 2010 at 20:18
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1Yes. That's why I used "added" insomuch as it adds "clarity". Words may or may not have been added, but contextual clarity has definitely been added. I was simply pointing out that it's not only used in quotations, but also translations. The usage, therefore, is more broad than that of only being used in a quotation. Sep 1, 2010 at 23:12
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'Adding clarity' may or may not be the editor's intention. Opinions on people, ideas, actions etc may be added. 'And to them the principal court official went assigning names. So he assigned [what a liberty to take!] to Daniel [what a guy!] Bel‧te‧shaz′zar [what a mouthful!],...'. Dec 25, 2019 at 12:55