Brackets and Parentheses in English
Contents
History of Brackets/Parentheses
- Origin: Brackets and parentheses date back to ancient Greek and Roman texts for additional explanations or alternate readings.
- Evolution: Became more defined in the 16th century, with parentheses used for extra information and brackets for editorial comments.
How You Should Use Brackets/Parentheses
- Parentheses ( ) are used to include extra information or clarifications. Example: She is visiting London (her favourite city) next week.
- Brackets [ ] are used to add clarifications or editorial comments within quoted material. Example: "[The President] was said to be shocked by the news."
- Use parentheses to add non-essential information that can be omitted without altering the main message. Example: We went to the park (which was very crowded).
How Not to Use Brackets/Parentheses
- Do not use parentheses to insert entire sentences or long passages.
- Avoid using brackets in informal or casual writing.
- Do not place punctuation marks outside the closing parenthesis if it is part of the parenthetical material.
Common Mistakes with Brackets/Parentheses
Brackets and parentheses can sometimes be used incorrectly. Recognising these errors will help you write more clearly and effectively.
| Common Error | Should Be |
|---|---|
| *He bought a new car (which was blue). (It is fast) | He bought a new car (which was blue). It is fast. |
| *The book [that I wanted] is out of stock | The book (that I wanted) is out of stock. |
Changing Patterns of Use
The use of brackets and parentheses has adapted over time, especially with the rise of digital communication. Modern usage often prefers dashes or commas for additional information in informal contexts.
| Older Usage | Contemporary Usage |
|---|---|
| He went to the store (which was closed) to buy groceries. | He went to the store - which was closed - to buy groceries. |
| The results (which were unexpected) surprised everyone. | The results, which were unexpected, surprised everyone. |
Brackets and Parentheses in Other Languages
The use of brackets and parentheses varies across languages. Understanding these differences can help in learning and translation tasks.
| Language | Usage |
|---|---|
| French | Parentheses are used similarly to English. Brackets are less common and typically reserved for academic or formal contexts. |
| German | Brackets are used for editorial comments and numbered lists. Parentheses are used similarly to English. |
| Spanish | Parentheses are used for additional information, similar to English. Brackets are less frequently used. |
| Chinese | Parentheses are used for supplementary information, and brackets are used in some specific contexts like clarifying abbreviations. |
UK vs. US Usage
In British and American English, the terminology and usage of these punctuation marks differ slightly:
- UK: Uses the term "brackets" for round (parentheses) and "square brackets" for the square ones.
- US: Uses "parentheses" for round brackets and "brackets" for square brackets.
Brackets in Programming
Brackets are widely used in programming languages to define blocks of code, arrays, or lists:
- Parentheses ( ) are used to group expressions and function arguments. Example: function myFunction(arg1, arg2) { }
- Square Brackets [ ] are used to denote arrays or list elements. Example: let numbers = [1, 2, 3];
- Curly Brackets { } define the scope of functions, loops, or conditionals. Example: if (condition) { // code }
Angled Brackets
Angled brackets are used differently in various contexts:
- HTML/XML: Used to define tags. Example: <div>Content</div>
- Speech in Other Languages: In some languages, angled brackets are used to indicate speech or quotations. Example: <Hello> she said.
