I know why Brackets are used in quotes - usually to add a subject that wasn't in the original quote but was obvious from the context, which is missing in the quote.
I've seen these used a few times in the weirdest places and I just assumed the person who originally said the words mixed things up - so in the example quote given in the article I would've assumed Corky said "go home and bite pillow." (cause you know sometimes saying things outloud is messy and not precise)
It would never occur to me that the writer will replace a word in an actual quote.
> I would've assumed Corky said "go home and bite pillow."
I think that amounts to an assumption that the author is dishonest. If Corky's speech is broken in that he leaves out "my", the author's addition would be changing the quotation. Brackets can generally be assumed to replace tense (in single-word uses) or to paraphrase (in lengthy uses).
I agree with you, if its used as a correction or clarification, I can totally understand that. Especially when people are quoted from what they verbally said, where it sometimes require context. But would the quoted person like that? Maybe you are pulling things out of context and now it looks he/she meant something else...
I've seen these used a few times in the weirdest places and I just assumed the person who originally said the words mixed things up - so in the example quote given in the article I would've assumed Corky said "go home and bite pillow." (cause you know sometimes saying things outloud is messy and not precise)
It would never occur to me that the writer will replace a word in an actual quote.