We all know (and love) parentheses, but I wonder if you know when to use related punctuation. Brackets, for example, are handier for more than just playoffs. And what about braces? Where do they fit into the equation? Bonus question: do you know where brackets and braces are found on your keyboard? How many of you just looked down?
Parentheses: Parentheses are used within sentences to include non-mandatory information that adds to the sentence. So in other words, if you took that information out, nothing would be lost from the sentence. The difference between when to use parentheses versus commas or dashes is a matter for another tip (perhaps next week).
Brackets: There are two main purposes for brackets within sentences. My scholar or journalist readers know the first one, the case of using brackets to insert changes into a quotation for the sake of clarity and/or grammatical correctness. This is different from the use of ellipses. If, for example, you had a source tell you, “It changed my life,” a writer might have to clarify that sentence for an audience. The quote might then appear, “[Kris’s writing tips] changed my life.” If you wrote this line, “It (Kris’s writing tips) changed my life,” the parenthetical section would look as if it appeared in the original source.
This bracket insertion into a quote is also commonly seen when a writer adds in [sic]. Have you ever seen this and then thrown your hands up into the air, shouting “Et tu, dead Latin language!” No? Okay, well that’s a good thing. Just in case you’ve ever wondered what this addition meant, “sic” is short for “sic erat scriptum” or “thus it was written.” It’s a polite way to call out a mistake in a quotation and clarify that this was not a typo on the part of the more recent writer. For example, if you were quoting Dan Quayle, maybe you would say, the former vice president said, “I like a good potatoe [sic].”
So, in sum, bracket function #1: You use brackets to add clarity inside a quotation.
Bracket function #2: You use brackets inside of parenthesis for the sake of clarity just like you use single quotations inside of double quotations (want to see this in action? [it looks like this]). If you ever have a side note within a side note, brackets can be useful. It’s rare, but it’s good to know in case you need it. We all know grammar emergencies come up.
Braces: For those who really like tangents, you can use braces, built for side notes within side notes within side notes (I’m not joking [though it looks a bit crazy {crazy!}]). So, yes, braces are for more than just straightening your teeth, but I wouldn’t recommend them for everyday use.
Do you feel informed now?