# Is "Bolding mine" on a quote: required, polite, unnecessary or other? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 30, 2018, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480 "2018-03-30T15:13:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2018, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/1 "2018-03-30T15:13:12Z")
I see “Bolding mine” when bolding a quoted post where there was no original bolding and in fact, I usually try to do it. Is it required because of the “don’t change quoted posts” rule or is it just considered polite? If it’s required, I need to report myself because I forgot to add it and my 5 minutes is up. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2018, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/2 "2018-03-30T15:17:40Z")
It’s polite but not doing so is not a violation of any rule in and of itself. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2018, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/3 "2018-03-30T16:12:16Z")
I disagree completely. It is a distinct change. It is polite insofar as the poster/quoter, presumable commenting on that portion of quote, perhaps can skip isolating by repeating the key phrase or word that is being commented on. Otherwise you are changing distinctly what the quotee has decided to highlight by emphasis, or not to. ETA: Somebody better report **Nars** or he’ll be out of the running for the annual SD gifts. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/4 "2018-03-30T16:38:24Z")
I believe it is required under the “don’t change” rule for quotes and I do believe its (not putting “bolding mine”) gotten a warning or two. But in my memory/experience its one of those things where the Mods try to read intent on your part and if its being done in anger or for clarity. ---
**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, 2018, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/5 "2018-03-30T19:09:07Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > I disagree completely. It is a distinct change. > > It is polite insofar as the poster/quoter, presumable commenting on that portion of quote, perhaps can skip isolating by repeating the key phrase or word that is being commented on. Otherwise you are changing distinctly what the quotee has decided to highlight by emphasis, or not to. > > ETA: Somebody better report **Nars** or he’ll be out of the running for the annual SD gifts. > [@kopek](#): > > I believe it is required under the “don’t change” rule for quotes and I do believe its (not putting “bolding mine”) gotten a warning or two. But in my memory/experience its one of those things where the Mods try to read intent on your part and if its being done in anger or for clarity. As **Bone** says, from a moderating point of view it is considered polite but not required. I would be surprised if not adding “bolding mine” in the absence of any other change has received a warning, so I’m going to ask for a link to any such instance. It’s possible it has gotten a note on occasion as a reminder of proper practice. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2018, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/6 "2018-03-30T23:56:02Z")
I suppose that someone could drastically misrepresent what another post said in this way, and that could earn a warning. But it’d be a warning for misrepresenting the post, not for the bolding per se. And of course, there’s also the reverse, where formatting is removed, but that’s easy enough to do by accident through copying and pasting, so I don’t think anyone would care too much about that. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/7 "2018-03-31T00:05:18Z")
I’ve bolded, to draw attention the portion of the quote that I was focusing on. I’ve never used the obvious “bolding mine,” nor have I ever received a Mod note or warning. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/8 "2018-03-31T03:32:55Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I’ve bolded, **to draw attention** the portion of the quote that I was focusing on. > > I’ve never used the obvious “bolding mine,” nor have I ever received a Mod note or warning. ( **Bolding mine**.) Like this? ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/9 "2018-03-31T10:04:20Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > (Bolding mine.) > > Like this? Unbolding mine. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/10 "2018-03-31T12:28:33Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Unbolding mine. {Rainbowing mine} ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/11 "2018-03-31T12:52:49Z")
If I got a report on it I’d give it a look-see. If the bolding seemed intended to alter the meaning someone - I’m not sure how but let’s just say it did - I’d be tempted to do something about it. But I don’t think I ever have. That said, best practices would be to indicate that the bolding was not done by the originator of the quote. Just a good idea to do so for clarity’s sake. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/12 "2018-03-31T13:06:26Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I suppose that someon **e** could drastic **a** lly misrepresen **t** what another post said in this way, and that could earn a warning. But it’d be a warning for **m** isrepresenting the post, not for the bolding per s **e**. (bolding mine) What about cases where bolding creates a new message?🙂 (Just kidding, but it has happened) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/13 "2018-03-31T14:18:50Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > ---------------------/ > -Unbolding mine.- > /--------------------\ Lines mine. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/14 "2018-03-31T14:21:06Z")
The real question: why do do we have to use a gerund now instead of a noun? Typographic equality now! ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/15 "2018-03-31T14:35:33Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > The real question: why do do we have to use a gerund now instead of a noun? Typographic equality now! Typographic equalititions unite! ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/16 "2018-03-31T17:19:14Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Typographic equalititions unite! Normaling mine. ETA: Actually, _can_ you take text in a quote and un-ital it but not bold, underline, color? ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/17 "2018-03-31T17:23:08Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Typographic equalititions unite! Plus, fonting. Garamond’s not mine. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/18 "2018-03-31T17:28:15Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Normaling mine. What font/size is default for browsers for SD? Then you can do it, at least for readers who don’t futz with their CSS sheets. Who the hell knows what they’re looking at to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/19 "2018-03-31T17:57:04Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > The real question: why do do we have to use a gerund now instead of a noun? Typographic equality now! A common alternative is (emphasis mine). This also applies to italicizing words in a quote. Pointing out that the emphasis is (or is not) in the original quote a fairly standard editorial practice. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480/20 "2018-03-31T20:36:34Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > That said, best practices would be to indicate that the bolding was not done by the originator of the quote. Just a good idea to do so for clarity’s sake. Yes, indicating such changes to the quote is best practice IMHO. It is also routinely used in publication, typically with italics. Like so: > [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > That said, best practices would be to indicate that the bolding was not done by the originator of the quote. _Just a good idea to do so for clarity’s sake._ Emphasis added. In the case of italics, it’s especially helpful to know whether they were in the original or whether they were added by the quoter. But I think this carries over to bolding as well. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bolding-mine-on-a-quote-required-polite-unnecessary-or-other/811480.md?page=2)