added or supplementary material are called brackets Their main function is to indicate a secondary level of enclosure of
sentence elements within
parentheses: The value of gold ($350 [2,100 francs on September 4) has a close relationship to in ation.” If it is possible to avoid
such complex constructions, which are hard for readers to follow unless they are used to such a
style (as scientists are, you should do so.
Brackets are also used (usually in more scholarly writing)
to insert words intoquotations that weren’t therein the rst place but that the writer thinks are necessary to make the quotation comprehensible to the reader Kennedy said, Ask not what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your country ” The purpose of such insertions is usually not to indicate opinions about the matter being quoted but to supply bridge words or other aids to the reader. Avoid using brackets to set o criticisms or other views of quotes. WRONG He said, Ask not well, why shouldn’t we ask ” Move such commentary
to separate sentences, allowing the source of the ideas you want to annotate the courtesy of having his or her say before your thoughts intrude on the statement.
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