When i refer to integrity, i have something very specific in mind. integrity, as i will use the term, requires three steps: discerning what is right and what is wrong; acting on what you have discerned, even at personal cost; and saying openly that you are acting on your understanding of right and wrong. the first criterion captures the idea that integrity requires a degree of moral reflectiveness. the second brings in the ideal of a person of integrity as steadfast, a quality that includes keeping one’s commitments. the third reminds us that a person of integrity can be trusted.

source: carter, stephen l. “the insufficiency of honesty.” atlantic monthly feb. 1996: 74+. print.

based on the passage above, which of the following reflects the correct use of brackets?
a. “[w]hen i refer to integrity, i have something very specific in mind,” states carter in his essay.
b. it is important to remember that “[w]hen [he] refer[s] to integrity, [carter has] something very specific in mind.”
c. “referring to integrity” is something that is important to [carter].
d. according to carter, “he [has] something specific [integrity] in mind.”

B. It is important to remember that “[w]hen [he] refer[s] to integrity, [Carter has] something very specific in mind.”

The option that uses brackets correctly is option B. Brackets should be used whenever you are altering words in a direct quotation without significantly changing the meaning of the quote. In this case, option B is the only one that changes words that are within quotation marks (because they are a direct quote) while maintaining the meaning of the quote.

faithful servants eumaeus and philaetius:

his ragged vest then drawn aside disclosed the sign conspicuous, and the scar exposed: eager they view'd, with joy they stood amazed with tearful eyes o'er all their master gazed:

these servants know ulysses by the scar he got when he was a child - so when he showed them the mark, they immediately knew this is truly their master and they hugged him, finally starting to believe his words.

the sentence does not violate the phrase structure second rule (introduced by noam chomsky) because noun phrases consist of a determiner such as a, the or every, and a noun. in the sentence, the noun phrase the cake includes a determiner (the) and a noun (cake).

on the other hand, the first rule indicates that a sentence encloses a noun phrase, followed by a verb phrase. the example sentence can be analysed as follows:

john (n) + ate (v) + the (det) + cake (n).