A short comment inserted in a paragraph by a reviewer is placed in brackets.
“The sacks were badly eaten by rags [so in the affidavit], and the almonds had run out.”
In transcripts of trials at law, brackets are used to inclose statements of things done in court, which things would not appear in a report of the verbal proceedings alone; as,—
“Ans. About a quarter past ten, he came into my shop, and picked out a cane. . . . .
“Gore. Of what wood was it made?
“Ans. It was a good piece of hickory—heavy for hickory. . . . .
“[The stick was handed to the witness, who declared it to be the same he had sold Mr. Charles Austin.]
“Gore. What sticks had he usually bought of you?”—Trial of Selfridge.
Whether the words in brackets should also be in italics is a matter of style. In the following passage from the same report, italics are used: {p94}
“Gore. [Showing the fracture of the hat on the fore‐part.] Is not that the fore‐part of the hat, as this leather [that on the hinder part] marks the part of the hat that is worn behind?”