Why are parenthesis sometimes used during quotes?

Question

I have been wondering this for a long time. At first I thought it was because the person being quoted was leaving out the word(s) in parenthesis. If that was the case then the quote would never make any sense to begin with 95% of the time. In some instances the word that is in parenthesis could have been eliminated by the speaker, but not every time. Yet I don't understand why those words are being put in parenthesis. It makes absolutely no sense to me.

Here's an example that made me ask the question:

"There is no statutory requirement that mandates us to elect between the charges of (first-degree or second-degree murder). We will leave the ultimate decision to the fact finders when we go to trial in this complex case."

What is the point of putting first-degree or second-degree in parenthesis?

Yun I understand what you're saying, but look at the quote that I used. If they would've left out first-degree and second-degree... in the quote the the sentence would've went like this:

"There is no statutory requirement that mandates us to elect between the charges of. We will leave the ultimate decision to the fact finders when we go to trial in this complex case."

Answer 1

Because the speaker used a pronoun in the quoted sentence that refered back to what was in parenthesis. To keep the quote short, they substitute or insert the details from earlier in the interview that were abreviated within the quote using pronouns or other references.

In this case, there was probably discussion about the difference between first and second degree murder earlier in the article. In that context, leaving out the part in parenthesis made sense to the speaker and listener. When you pull that quote out separately from the whole interview, it no longer makes as much sense, so the words are added to explain the quote.

Answer 2

In a quotation, parenthesis are used to tell you that the words there are not the words of the speaker but there to help explain the point.

For instance: "I really don't like him (Adolf Hitler)."

You would have no clue who I was speaking of without that, but I didn't actually say the name, it was just added so you would know who I was referring to.

EDIT - To answer your question, sometimes they leave out the term the person actually used. The quote you are using probably said "them" or something like that, but it was left out in favor of the words in parenthesis.

Answer 3

It's used to correct a mistake by the quoter, to clarify what the person said or to take out any cuss words.
"Susan was great.
"Susan (Long) was great."

"He just f'ed up."
"He just (messed) up."

"He be the best player ever."
"He (is) the best player ever."