# Whats the difference between \[ \] and ( )?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-and/1010659>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 23, 2024, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-and/1010659 "2024-11-23T09:20:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 14

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**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-and/1010659/14 "2024-11-23T16:18:15Z")

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> [@Pardel-Lux](#):
>
> I always use square brackets to indicate that I have left something out in a quotation: like this […]. It is important to show that you have left something out, but it is also important that what you leave out does not change the meaning of the quote.

Which is consistent with the SDMB rules.

> [@SDMB rules 9/12/2023](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-rules-9-12-2023/990013/1):
>
> Normal editorial rules apply. You may indicate omitted portions of a quote by the use of ellipses “…” or devices such as [snip]. You may add text to clarify a word using square brackets (e.g., “her [the sister’s] friend”), but you may not add editorial comments or edit a quote to change the substantive meaning

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