In newspaper articles, square brackets are often used to provide additional information, clarifying comments, or corrections to the text. For example:
- "[BREAKING NEWS] A major earthquake has struck the city, causing widespread damage." (This provides an update to the current situation.)
- "The mayor [who was elected last year] announced new city initiatives." (This provides additional context about the mayor.)
- "The report states that the company's profits [before taxes] have increased significantly." (This clarifies which type of profits are being discussed.)
Square brackets can also be used to indicate omitted or missing words or text, such as:
- "The suspect is believed to be [a man] in his early 30s." (A word is missing from the original text.)
- "[...] the team's success this season, which has exceeded all expectations." (Part of the text has been omitted.)
- "The article contains [redacted] information that cannot be disclosed due to privacy concerns." (Sensitive or private information has been removed from the text.)
In some cases, square brackets may also be used to indicate phonetic spellings, alternative terms, or translations.
It's important to note that the use of square brackets in newspaper articles may vary depending on the publication's style guide or editorial policies. Readers should pay attention to the context and any accompanying notes or explanations to understand the intended meaning and significance of square brackets in the text.