C.2(a): Noting Omissions in General
Any time a quote contains an alteration or omission that is from the cited source, an (alteration in original) or (omission in original) parenthetical is necessary.
- An alteration is anything with a bracket, such as [T]he or [sic]. Note: An ellipsis is not an alteration—it is an omission.
- An omission occurs where a quote reproduces an ellipsis from the original
- If the TLR quote reproduces an ellipsis that is contained in the original source, you indicate this through an “(omission in original)” parenthetical.
Even if the cited source merely reproduced the alteration or ellipsis from another source, you must use an (alteration in original) or (omission in original) parenthetical. In other words, as long as the TLR author did not create the alteration or omission, a parenthetical is required.
If the quote uses an ellipsis to omit words from the original source, and these omitted words contain a footnote or citation, you do not need to add a “citation omitted” or “footnote omitted” parenthetical.
The rationale is that the ellipsis is already indicating to the reader that material is being omitted, and there is no need to further indicate this with a “footnote omitted” or “citation omitted” parenthetical.
C.2(b): Alterations by Author and Original Source
When a quote contains alterations by the TLR author and the original source, the parenthetical should indicate which of the alterations are in the original.
- Thus, if the first alteration is by the TLR author, whereas the second and third are by the original source, the parenthetical would say (second and third alterations in original).
- In the rare situation where there are so many alterations that it would be cumbersome to differentiate the TLR author’s alterations from the source’s alterations, it is ok to say (some alterations in original).
C.2(c): Omissions by Author and Original Source
The same is true when a quote contains omissions by the TLR author and the original source. If the first omission is by the TLR author, whereas the second and third are by the original source, the parenthetical would say (second and third omissions in original). In the rare situation where there are so many alterations that it would be cumbersome to differentiate the TLR author’s alterations from the source’s alterations, it is ok to say (some omissions in original).