Brackets versus parentheses

Would it be acceptable if I prefer to follow EE 2.58 ("Square brackets ... signify that we have added words not founds in the original source") rather than EE 14.11 ("When a paper carries either a city or state in its masthead title (but not both), put the missing place name in parentheses within the title")?

Example:  "Vermont News," St. Albans [Vermont] Daily Messenger, 22 May 1874, p. 5, col. 5.

Submitted byEEon Wed, 02/04/2015 - 13:25

Newonash, in a word: yes. Applying one rule to as many things as possible is a good principle.

In this case, EE would actually prefer what you suggest. However, traditional guides have long called for parentheses around the location when added to a newspaper's name and, with published material, EE does try to adhere closely to longstanding rules to make life easier for those who learned the dictates of those other guides in school and now hate to change their habits.

Bottom line: feel free to go forth and use those editorial brackets for clarity any time you need to add a place name to a newspaper title.