How should edits to quoted statements be indicated?

• A. With parentheses only.
• B. By rewriting the quote.
• C. With brackets to indicate additions or deletions.
• D. By bolding the text.

Answer: (C)

When you edit a quotation for a report, you indicate those edits with square brackets. Brackets show where you’ve added words or clarified who or what is being referred to, without changing the exact words spoken or written by someone else. This keeps the original statement intact while giving the reader essential context, which is crucial in law enforcement reporting to avoid misinterpretation. For example, if a witness says “ran toward the store” and you need to identify who ran, you would write “[the suspect] ran toward the store.” Using brackets in this way makes clear what is original and what you added for clarity. In contrast, parentheses are not the standard tool for signaling edits to quoted material, and rewriting the quote or using bolding can blur the boundary between the speaker’s words and the reporter’s additions. If material is omitted, indicate that with ellipses, not brackets.