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Brackets and Braces

Square brackets are punctuation marks used to enclose materials in the same manner as parentheses. However, they typically enclose material introduced by someone besides the original author. Braces are also called curly brackets and are typically used in programming language.


Infographic: What Are Square Brackets? Square brackets are used to include additional information that is introduced by someone else besides the original author.


In this article, we provide more details and examples on the use of brackets and braces. 


What are Square Brackets?


Square brackets (written as [ ]) are typically used in writing and editing to add or clarify information that was not originally present in the text. They make it possible for an editor, translator, or author to insert comments, clarifications, or other necessary elements without altering the original words. Here are a few common uses of square brackets:


1. Square Brackets in Translated Text


When translating text, square brackets are used to add contextual information or to clarify a point that might otherwise be lost in translation. This might involve specifying names, providing background information, or inserting explanations to aid understanding.

Check out the examples below: 

  1. During the celebration, we enjoyed some Japanese rice cakes [mochi] with green tea.

  2. He greeted me with a cheerful good morning [buenos días] as I entered the café.

  3. For lunch, we ordered a classic a French-Canadian dish of fries, cheese curds, and gravy [poutine] to share.

  4. She was excited to experience her first flower viewing [hanami] during cherry blossom season in Japan.

  5. They served a Polish dumpling filled with potato or cheese [pierogi], which was delicious and very filling.


2. Square Brackets for Parentheses within Parentheses


When there are parentheses within parentheses, square brackets are used to make the text clearer. This happens occasionally when you need to provide additional clarification without creating confusion. Using square brackets in such cases helps readers easily differentiate between different nested elements.


Examples:


  1. The meeting (which lasted two hours [from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.]) was very productive.

  2. Her favorite books (particularly novels [fiction and historical]) were on display.

  3. I finally got to see my favorite band (The Eagles [a famous rock band]) perform live.

  4. The doctor advised a balanced diet (including more greens [spinach, kale, etc.]) for better health.

  5. Her research (focusing on marine life [specifically coral reefs]) was groundbreaking.



3. Square Brackets in Phonetics


Square brackets are also used in phonetics to enclose phonetic transcriptions. Phonetic transcriptions show the specific sounds of speech, and square brackets indicate exact pronunciation.


Here are a few examples of square brackest being used in phonetics:


  • The phonetic transcription of “bat” is [bæt].

  • The pronunciation of “sing” in phonetics is [sɪŋ].

  • “Caught” can be transcribed phonetically as [kɔt].


In these examples, square brackets help linguists and language learners understand how to pronounce words precisely, distinguishing between different sounds that might not be evident from standard spelling.


Angle Brackets


Angle brackets, written as ⟨ ⟩, are not commonly used in standard writing but appear in specialized fields like linguistics, mathematics, and computer programming. In linguistics, they can indicate graphemes (letters or symbols that represent sounds), and in mathematics or programming, they often signify a specific syntax or formula.


Uses in Different Fields


Linguistics. Used to enclose graphemes, as in ⟨k⟩ for the letter "k."

Mathematics. Used to denote intervals or vectors, e.g., ⟨a, b⟩ for vectors or intervals.

Programming. Commonly seen in markup languages like HTML, where they enclose tags, e.g., <div>.


In everyday writing, angle brackets are rare, but they serve important functions in technical contexts.


Braces


Braces — also called curly brackets, written as { } — are primarily used in programming languages to group expressions or statements. In general English writing, braces are less common but may appear in mathematical expressions or to enclose lists within text.


1. Use of braces in programming


In most programming languages, braces are used to contain blocks of code or to define the beginning and end of a particular structure. For instance, in languages like JavaScript or Python, braces enclose sets of commands or function definitions.


See the example below: 


function greet() {

    const greeting = "Hello, world!";

    console.log(greeting);

}


In this example, braces define the function’s scope, containing all the commands that make up the greet function.


2. Braces in mathematics and set notation


In mathematics, braces are used to define sets. A set is a collection of distinct elements grouped together by a common property, such as a list of numbers or objects.


Here are a few examples of braces being used in mathematics:


  1. Set notation: {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

  2. Range in inequality notation: {x | 1 < x < 5}


3. Braces in writing


Although rare, braces may be used to provide optional lists or alternate options in specific forms of text.

Example:

  • “Please choose your toppings {lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles}.”

  • “Fill out the following details {name, age, address}.”


In these cases, braces provide a clear visual separation for lists or options.

 

Contact us for help in editing and proofreading your content or manuscript


 


How EminentEdit can help 


At EminentEdit, we offer content editing and academic editing services that cover all aspects of writing, including punctuation. Our editing and proofreading services provide the final polishing touches that make sure that your punctuation matches the style guide that you are working with. 


We also make sure that even before any work gets done we both are on the same page through clear and effective communication. Take a look at our editing SOP below.

 
EminentEdit SOP
 

Our services don't just start with proofreading the final product. It also includes help from the very start, such as editing and double-checking your thesis or academic essay proposals. Our academic editing services include:


  • Developmental editing to make sure your proposal can be transformed into an academic project that can pass

  • Editing and proofreading for academic essays

  • Editing for grant proposals

  • Substantive editing to improve the quality of your writing on a sentence level

  • Extensive commentary and recommendations to improve literature review, structure, and arguments

  • Proofreading to make sure your writing is grammatically correct with proper spelling and punctuation


Get in touch through our contact page here: CONTACT US AT EMINENT EDIT. 

 

Cite this EminentEdit article

Antoine, M. (2024, November 13). Brackets and Braces. https://www.eminentediting.com/post/brackets-and-braces




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