bracketsthat

Bracketsthat refers to the editorial and typographic practice of enclosing inserted material within brackets in quoted or transcribed text to provide clarification, attribution, or context. The convention helps readers distinguish between the original words and material supplied by an editor or translator. While widely used in publishing and scholarly editing, bracketsthat is not a formal linguistic term but a descriptive label for a common editing device.

Origins of the practice lie in traditional editorial standards that aim to preserve the integrity of a source while making it understandable to modern readers. Bracketsthat is frequently employed in academic editions, journalism, legal documents, and film or manuscript transcriptions to indicate additions, clarifications, or corrections without altering the original wording.

Typical uses include indicating missing information or uncertain identifications, adding translator notes, anonymizing names, or supplying brief explanations for abbreviations. Example: The witness stated that “the manager [John Doe] approved the plan.” Here, the bracketed name clarifies identity without implying it was in the original text.

Conventions usually favor square brackets [ ] for editorial insertions, with parentheses () used for supplementary material within the original text. Editors strive to minimize bracketsthat and ensure any additions are clearly labeled as editorial, preserving transparency and the source’s integrity.

See also: punctuation, quotation marks, editorial marks, transcription conventions.