I have a stupid grammar question

Samantha Thomas

When [] are used in a quote what does it mean and why are they used?  For example I was just reading an article on People and it said ""I did [resent Nadya], but you know..." and I've always wondered why they use [] but don't know. 

shopgirl78

I think its because it wasn't said but implied

springmom

It's putting things in context. ?The stuff in quotes is what the person said and the stuff in [ ] is what the writer added to make the quote make sense. ?Does that make sense?

belle204

I took journalism classes in college and STILL don't know. Where's Coker when you need her?

Alibabs

I agree with the 1st 2 posters

KrisBriMcBunny

I always wonder about that myself...thanks guys for answering that question.

springmom

ladymantha:

When [] are used in a quote what does it mean and why are they used?? For example I was just reading an article on People and it said ""I did [resent Nadya], but you know..." and I've always wondered why they use [] but don't know.?

?

So like in that quote, the interviewer prob asked, "Did you resent Nadya" and the person,said?"I did, but you know..." ?but because the question wasn't included in the article, the writer added the [resent Nadya] so the reader would understand.?

Samantha Thomas

That makes sense.  Thanks ladies!

august06mom

The other posters are correct. A writer puts words in brackets to clarify things for the reader, but they aren't words that the speaker actually said.

belle204

Did I mention I spent most of class daydreaming? I had to learn this on a message board years later.

springmom

belle204:

Did I mention I spent most of class daydreaming? I had to learn this on a message board years later.

?

haha bell, I failed journalism because I can't spell my way out of a paper bag :-)?

belle204

I can spell the hell out of some words. Lol. I did great in the "weeder" course and was bored out of my skull. But I was a dork who liked reading the dictionary. (shhh)