Best Practices for Using Brackets in Writing: Parentheses, Square Brackets, and Curly Brackets

When it comes to embedding brackets within brackets in writing, it can sometimes get tricky to determine the correct way of doing so. This article aims to clarify the best practices for using different types of brackets and their appropriate placements to ensure clarity and readability in your text.

Parentheses (Round Brackets)

Parentheses, commonly known as round brackets, are used to insert additional information or comments within a sentence. The general rule is to use parentheses to denote text that provides clarification or is secondary to the main point of the sentence. For example:

They are planning a big event (expected to attract hundreds of attendees) in the park next month.

Square Brackets

Square brackets are often used to indicate editorial or additional information that was not originally written by the author. This can be useful when providing background or clarification, or when referencing sources such as quotation marks. Square brackets should be used to denote these additions, as shown in the following example:

Leonardo Fibonacci [Italian mathematician] wrote a seminal work on number theory in 1202.

It's important to note that square brackets are not typically used within parentheses unless the additional information provided by the brackets is secondary to the parenthetical text.

Curly Braces

Curly braces, also known as braces or cURLY brackets, are used for a variety of purposes, such as in mathematical or scientific notation. For example, in mathematical expressions, curly braces can be used to denote sets. Here is an example:

H {6f [3x-4yw-v] 3z}

In the context of writing, curly braces are not commonly used. However, they can be used to indicate placeholders, HTML tags, or XML tags. For instance:

"name/address"

Alternating Bracket Types for Readability

Alternating different types of brackets can often improve readability and avoid confusion. While there are no rigid rules requiring the use of one type over another, it is generally advised to use a mixture of round, square, and curly brackets to enhance clarity. Here is an example from a mathematical expression:

nx log2(π [2a?b /5a?–?b])

Consulting Style Guides

The best way to ensure you're using brackets correctly is to consult a relevant style guide. Different industries and publications have their own preferred conventions. For example:

Oxford Style Guide: This guide does not specify a particular order for using brackets but suggests consistency across your work. American Medical Association (AMA): AMA guidelines suggest using parentheses, square brackets, and curly braces in a specific order to denote different types of text.

Here is another example where a combination of parentheses, square brackets, and curly braces is used for clarity:

For example, Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Remember, the key is to use the types of brackets that best suit the context and make the text more readable. By following the right convention, you can ensure that your writing is clear and easily understood by your audience.