# Clarification request, re: Rules about changing text within quote tags **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 28, 2014, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-request-re-rules-about-changing-text-within-quote-tags/684746 "2014-03-28T08:51:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 112
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2014, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-request-re-rules-about-changing-text-within-quote-tags/684746/112 "2014-03-30T17:20:09Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > So I ask RickJay and The Powers That Be, will you please revoke the Warning I was given. Sorry, we’ve been having some discussion about this in the mod loop, since there was some ambiguity about whether what you did constituted attributing a quote according to the rules. Not everyone has been on line so it took a little while. Apologies to all for the delay in responding. Our consensus is that what you did does not constitute a violation of the rule on altering quotes. The warning is hereby rescinded. (Note that **RickJay** did not actually enter the warning in the automated system, so that has not appeared in your profile.) To clarify: -The rule applies to altering texts within the quote tags, which is attributed to another poster on the board (“Originally posted by”), in a way intended to change the meaning. -You may quote just relevant parts of a post. If you take out parts within the post, normal editing rules apply. Deletions should be indicated by ellipses (…), [snip], or something similar; and any editorial additions should be in square brackets. We’ll be the judge of whether a change of meaning was intentional or not. -To avoid misunderstandings, it’s better not to “fix” typos or omissions, unless they change the meaning (and in such cases use square brackets to indicate the change). -Unattributed text within the quote tags is OK. However, this shouldn’t be abused as a way to insult another poster outside the Pit. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-request-re-rules-about-changing-text-within-quote-tags/684746)._