What do brackets indicate in a document
words or sentences have been deleted
words or sentences have been added to help readers
words are illegible
words are in a foreign language
In a document, brackets can indicate a few different things depending on the context:
1. Words or sentences have been deleted: Brackets are often used to indicate that certain words or sentences have been intentionally excluded or removed from the original text. This is commonly done when quoting someone but omitting certain parts for brevity or to focus on specific information.
Example: "The report stated that [the suspect] was seen entering the building."
2. Words or sentences have been added to help readers: Brackets can also be used to include additional information within a quote or document to provide clarity or context. These additions are often made by an editor or writer to make a quoted passage more comprehensible.
Example: "He [the president] stated that the economy is improving."
3. Words are illegible: In some cases, brackets are used to indicate that a word or part of a word in a document is unreadable or illegible due to poor handwriting, damage, or other reasons.
Example: "The witness claimed that the suspect was [unintelligible] during the incident."
4. Words are in a foreign language: Brackets can be used when a document contains words or phrases in a foreign language. They are inserted to clarify that the text is not originally in the same language as the rest of the document.
Example: "The Latin phrase 'et al.' [and others] is commonly used in academic references."