What's the meaning of all the [ ] in JAR-OPS?

[Trolle]

Here I am doing some light reading in JAR-OPS-1 and I continuously come across brackets (i.e. [ ] ) often with no characters in them. Or, text like this:

An operator must select and specify in the operational flight plan a take-off alternate [aerodrome] if it would not be possible to return to the [departure] aerodrome [ ] for meteorological or performance reasons. The take-off alternate
[aerodrome, in relation to the departure aerodrome,] shall be located within:

Why put aerodrome or departure in brackets rather than directly in the text? Why put brackets with no text?

Is it the changes to the reg they are highlighting? Is the author bracket-happy?

[selfin]

Para 8 of page F-1 of JAR-FCL 1 amendment 7,

New, amended and corrected text will be enclosed within heavy brackets until a subsequent ‘Amendment’ is issued.

or para 2.3 on page 1-0-1 of amendment 1,

2.3 [New, amended and corrected text will be enclosed within heavy brackets until a subsequent
amendment is issued.]

Same style in JAR-OPS (you sure you don't want to be using EU OPS?)

[Trolle]

Thanks for the answer. I assumed that was it.

Did a little digging...yeah, I should be reading EU-OPS...I think Thanks

That's what self-study will get you and a plethora of different regulations.