Typesetting Tip #5: Brackets
There are 3 different types of brackets: parentheses, box brackets, and curly brackets. Here’s a brief overview of how each should be used.
- Parentheses ()
- Box brackets []
- Curly brackets or Braces {}
Basic Rules
Parentheses () are used to display optional or additional information in a sentence that could be removed without destroying the meaning of the main text.
Box brackets [] are used to enclose explanatory or missing material, especially in quoted text.
Curly brackets or braces are used to indicate a series of equal choices: “Select your favorite letter {a,b,c,z} and type it now”. They also have specialized usage in music notation and poetry. In computer programming, they typically represent the beginning and end of a sequence of statements.