Brackets Usage

[Lewk]

Can anyone tell me why the brackets in this quote?

"[T]he only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to.......

I see this frequently and have no idea why the brackets...

 

[Drear Pooson]

Not a teacher.

I would surmise that the quotation in question was not the beginning of the sentence from which it was drawn (and therefore the "t" was not originally capitalized).

 

[Lewk]

No, it was at the beginning of the sentance.....

 

[Drear Pooson]

What is the source of this quotation?

 

[Lewk]

The quote is from one of the founding Fathers discussing education...I will try and find the whole quote again if that will help.

 

[SoothingDave]

Not a teacher.

I would surmise that the quotation in question was not the beginning of the sentence from which it was drawn (and therefore the "t" was not originally capitalized).

Yes, that would be it.

 

[Drear Pooson]

Perhaps this:

Epilogue: Securing the Republic: Benjamin Rush, Of the Mode of Education Proper in a Republic

Maybe I was not clear before. In the original source "the only foundation..." is not at the beginning of the sentence it is a part of and therefore the "the" is not capitalized.

 

[Lewk]

I found the original document, and you are correct. What I quoted was originally in mid sentence and pulled out. So that is the use of the bracket...to indicate that the [T] was taken from mid-sentence and not capitalized in the source document?????

Thanks so much.

Lewk