Brackets vs. Parentheses – Definition, Types and Examples

Punctuation is a series of signs employed to govern and emphasize the symbolic significance of messages, mostly by splitting or connecting phrases, terms, and sentences. Punctuation marks are frequently misused. Brackets and Parentheses are the two most perplexing punctuation marks. Parentheses and square brackets serve as punctuation marks. They are classified as brackets and are employed to include observations or additional details inside statements. They serve quite distinct functions. Parentheses and brackets are usually used in pairs.

Round Brackets or Parentheses

When contrasted with other kinds of brackets, parentheses or round brackets (( )) are the most popular. Parentheses are generally punctuation marks that can be employed to separate apart irrelevant or unrelated content. They are frequently employed to provide additional clarification or specific feedback from the writer’s perspective, as well as to define symbols.

Square Brackets or Brackets

Brackets or square brackets ([ ]) are a type of punctuation mark that is frequently utilized to change or add knowledge to stated content. Although square brackets look and function identically to parentheses, the two punctuation symbols are not interchangeable. It may additionally be employed to add details to a parenthesis-enclosed paragraph.

Brackets vs. Parentheses

While parentheses (( )) and square brackets ([ ]) are punctuation marks, they are not identical in any way. Both marks are brackets, although they have distinct functions. They are also commonly used in mathematics and programming for computers. Brackets are often square or box-shaped marks that are employed by an individual apart from the person who composed them to provide explaining or missing data. Parentheses are often round or curved symbols utilized to provide supplementary or supporting data which is not included in the main text.

Rules for using Brackets

The following are some guidelines to remember when employing brackets:

1. Employ brackets exclusively if they assist others to understand the material.
2. When you add the content in brackets, those phrases need to be technically accurate.
3. A statement might become more confusing and harder for people to comprehend if there are too many brackets.
4. Curved brackets and angle brackets are examples of different kinds of brackets used in fields like arithmetic and the field of linguistic. Because these have specialized usage, they are usually not used in most texts.

Rules for using Parentheses

The following are some guidelines to remember when employing parentheses:

1. Include a starting parenthesis but remember to include an ending parenthesis.
2. Don’t overuse parentheses in the content of your writing.
3. When you often use parentheses, consider replacing them with commas or dashes. They’ll do the same thing while providing you with a further sentence variation.
4. Linking additional portions of the text is provided in parentheses.

Examples of Brackets & Parentheses in a Sentence

1. I visited the world’s tallest building (in Dubai, UAE).
2. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru (1861–1931) was the first Prime Minister of India.
3. I met her [in the mall].
4. I have to clean my house [including the roof and stairs].
5. She likes to play with [her younger sister] Radha.
6. Many people like sweets (I don’t).
7. I will go [to function] tomorrow.
8. They both belong to different states [Mumbai and Delhi].
9. The headquarters of the United Nations Organization (UNO) is located in New York.
10. She gave her pen to her friend [Seema].
11. Her school (St. John’s school) is going to organize a grand exhibition.
12. Please take off your shoe(s) outside the room.
13. I scored the highest marks in my class [class 6]
14. The residents of the village thought that their village was haunted by a ghost (have you ever seen a ghost?)
15. She bought many clothes [shirts, dresses, and trousers] for her sister.

Types of Brackets

There are mainly four different types of brackets:

Round Bracket or Parentheses ( ):

Primitive further details is denoted by parentheses or round bracket.

Square Bracket or Bracket [ ]:

Words in the passage shows the fact that have been introduced from an individual in addition to the initial source have been enclosed in square brackets.

Angle Bracket < >:

Angle bracket can be employed as a replacement to square brackets to contain editing directions, temporary written material, or links.

Braces { }:

Braces are used to substitute commas to contain a particular form of content all over a piece of writing. It can also be used to make your work more appealing.

Practice Questions on Brackets & Parentheses

The sentences below are about parentheses and brackets. Indicate whether the statement is true or false.

1. Parentheses are not a type of punctuation mark.
2. Parentheses or round bracket are most popular.
3. Round bracket or bracket are used to change or add knowledge to stated content.
4. Bracket and parentheses are not used for mathematical calculations.
5. There are mainly six types of bracket.

Answers:

1. Parentheses are not a type of punctuation mark. False
2. Parentheses or round bracket are most popular. True
3. Round bracket or bracket are used to change or add knowledge to stated content. True
4. Bracket and parentheses are not used for mathematical calculations. False
5. There are mainly six types of bracket. False

Frequently Asked Questions on Brackets & Parentheses:

Que 1. What are Brackets?

Ans. Brackets or square brackets ([ ]) are a type of punctuation mark that is frequently utilized to change or add knowledge to stated content. Although square brackets look and function identically to parentheses, the two punctuation symbols are not interchangeable. It may additionally be employed to add details to a parenthesis-enclosed paragraph.

Que 2. When to use Brackets?

Ans. Brackets are employed to supplement a statement with additional data, knowledge, or clarification. They may be used to surround a group of words that may be changed, to illustrate possibilities or opportunities, or to suggest slight grammatical modifications, primitive or changes in the quote. Brackets may additionally be employed to differentiate between many items in an individual’s text, including a film name or an author’s name.

Que 3. How to use Brackets & Parentheses?

Ans. The following are some guidelines to remember when employing brackets:

1. Employ brackets exclusively if they assist others to understand the material.
2. When you add the content in brackets, those phrases need to be technically accurate.
3. A statement might become more confusing and harder for people to comprehend if there are too many brackets.
4. Curved brackets and angle brackets are examples of different kinds of brackets used in fields like arithmetic and the field of linguistic. Because these have specialized usage, they are usually not used in most texts.

The following are some guidelines to remember when employing parentheses:

1. Include a starting parenthesis but remember to include an ending parenthesis.
2. Don’t overuse parentheses in the content of your writing.
3. When you often use parentheses, consider replacing them with commas or dashes. They’ll do the same thing while providing you with a further sentence variation.
4. Linking additional portions of the text is provided in parentheses.

Que 4. When to use brackets and  Parentheses?

Ans. Square Brackets or Brackets ([ ]):
Brackets are employed to supplement a statement with additional data, knowledge, or clarification. They may be used to surround a group of words that may be changed, to illustrate possibilities or opportunities, or to suggest slight grammatical modifications, primitive or changes in the quote. Brackets may additionally be employed to differentiate between many items in an individual’s text, including a film name or an author’s name.

Round Brackets or Parentheses (( )):
Because parentheses typically work in combinations, once you open one, you must shut it with the second side. If you wish to add additional details to a statement, you employ parenthesis. In order to employ them correctly, anything included between the parenthesis might not be required for the phrase to stand independently as a technically correct idea.

Que 5. Give some examples of Brackets & Parentheses.

Ans.

1. I visited the world’s tallest building (in Dubai, UAE).
2. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru (1861–1931) was the first Prime Minister of India.
3. I met her [in the mall].
4. I have to clean my house [including the roof and stairs].
5. She likes to play with [her younger sister] Radha.
6. Many people like sweets (I don’t).
7. I will go [to function] tomorrow.
8. They both belong to different states [Mumbai and Delhi].
9. The headquarters of the United Nations Organization (UNO) is located in New York.
10. She gave her pen to her friend [Seema].
11. Her school (St. John’s school) is going to organize a grand exhibition.
12. Please take off your shoe(s) outside the room.
13. I scored the highest marks in my class [class 6]
14. The residents of the village thought that their village was haunted by a ghost (have you ever seen a ghost?)
15. She bought many clothes [shirts, dresses, and trousers] for her sister.