How to use a quote with frequent changes?

Question

I am editing a manuscript in which the author frequently wants to change words within a fairly long quote (two sentences or more), and believes that if he does so he no longer needs to put the rest of the quote within quotation marks. I tell him he can't do that.What is the right way, if there is one, to do this. I would rather not have to paraphrase the whole quote for him, but maybe that's the only way.

Answer 1

Of course he needs quotation marks - opening and closing, and sub-quotes as well if appropriate. If he wants to editorialize within the quote, he should use brackets. But done in excess, brackets make the author appear disrespectful of the speaker's words. Another alternative is to leave the quote intact, but follow with a fuller explanation, disclaimer, rebuttal, etc.