In the revised sentence, how is the inserted word shown?

In the revised sentence, how is the inserted word shown?

• A. In brackets
• B. In parentheses
• C. In quotation marks
• D. In italics

Answer: (A)

Brackets are used to show inserted words in revised sentences. They indicate that the editor added the word, not that it was in the original text, helping readers see what was changed. This is preferable to parentheses, which usually hold incidental information or side notes, and to quotation marks or italics, which signal speech or emphasis rather than an added word. For example, if the original says “The cat sat on the mat,” a revised version might read “The cat [quietly] sat on the mat,” showing that “quietly” was inserted by the editor.

Brackets are used to show inserted words in revised sentences. They indicate that the editor added the word, not that it was in the original text, helping readers see what was changed. This is preferable to parentheses, which usually hold incidental information or side notes, and to quotation marks or italics, which signal speech or emphasis rather than an added word. For example, if the original says “The cat sat on the mat,” a revised version might read “The cat [quietly] sat on the mat,” showing that “quietly” was inserted by the editor.