4th Edition Questions

Hendrickson,

Question 1:

As a basic rule, when we add anything amid words we are copying exactly, our editorial addition is placed in square editorial brackets. That's a basic rule across virtually all style guides.

Contrary to this rule, when a title to a newspaper, book, etc., is missing essential information and we need to add in that information, citation guides have traditionally ignored their editorial-additions rule and used  parentheses for the addition amid the title.

The contradiction confuses many researchers. Therefore, EE4 brings the two practices into sync. There's one simple rule now: If we add anything into words we are copying exactly, we put our addition in editorial brackets.

Question 2:

EE3r's example is this:

       1. National Park Service, “Soldiers,” database, Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System (www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htm : accessed 1 April 2015), entry for Joseph Chess, Pvt., Co. 4, 28th Iowa Inf., Union.

EE4's example is this:

       2. National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System (https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-medals.htm: accessed 1 October 2023) > Medals of Honor > entry for Joseph S. Smith, Lt. Col., 2nd Army Corps, Union.

EE3r's example demonstrates emphasis on the individual database, which some researchers prefer. EE4's example demonstrates citing directly to the webpage, then citing the path to get to the entry—which some researchers prefer. Either approach is correct. Our choice may also be influenced by the construction of the website. 

This website, like most others have undergone structural changes since the 2015 entry was created. In fact, this website has undergone alterations since that EE4 citation was created in October 2023. That is the nature of the beast that we otherwise love.  Websites change.  We adapt. 

We study models in citation guides to learn which pieces of information are essential. We study models to learn the patterns that currently prevail. Then we choose what works best for each particular site we use, at the time we use it. 

For projects that extend over five, ten, or twenty years, that will create inconsistencies that annoy us to no end. We address those inconsistencies when we reach the publication stage. The last thing we do with a manuscript, in this age of Internet research, is to go back and check citations for online materials to make sure all URLs work and to bring citation formats into conformity with each site's current state.  Then, we can grieve at the realization that all our work to create perfectly constructed online citations will soon be sabotaged by website changes.

Hendrickson, your approaches (that I have seen) have been well-considered.