I know they are generally used in quotations. But not always. What does it mean when text is inside them?
2006-10-14 01:57:28 · 5 answers · asked by whiterook 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Square brackets are used to clarify a pronoun that seems unclear. Ex: "Why she would hang on to him [Hamlet's father]"
Also to comment or explain. Ex: He claimed he could provide "hundreds of examples [of court decisions] to illustrate." Milton's Satan speaks of his "study [pursuit] of revenge."
Also to show you know there is a spelling error in the original source's citation. Ex: "She said that we where [sic] going to go to the store."
2006-10-14 02:10:32 · answer #1 · answered by FlrBeachGirl 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Warning: you will get some odd answers! In the UK they call parentheses () brackets.
Basically, when you use parentheses () you are making an aside -- something that helps the reader understand what you are thinking or perhaps just more info about the subject of your sentence.
She had red hair (chestnut, really) that shone in the sun.
When you use brackets [ ] you are giving information to the reader that does not enhance the reader's understanding of the text, but does give additional information. This is often used to cite a quote or a reference which may be further explained in the bibliography -- knowing who said it doesn't help you to understand it, but it is still pertinent information. You will often also see the Latin word sic inside brackets -- this is used in a quote to show that any error made was original to the quote and not to the person quoting.
Fraser and Powell believed that their theory explained the origin of navel lint [Fraser and Powell, 1996].
Hope this helps.
2006-10-14 09:12:41 · answer #2 · answered by hep632 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Brackets are used in two cases:
1. to add explanation, correction, or comment within a direct quotation
Mamet said, "Another reason I want to go there [Turkey] is that my ancestors lived there for many generations."
Note: You cannot add anything in brackets that changes the original meaning of the quotation.
2. to act as parentheses within parentheses if you need to add information inside of the parentheses.
Most doctors hail the good results the drug Prozac is producing in people struggling with depression. (But a recent study [1997] suggests that the drug's side effects are debilitating for many.)
2006-10-14 09:04:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
the three answers before mine are more than enough. (hep is right about the 'english' bracket.) i wish i could vote them all as best answers!
2006-10-14 11:05:06 · answer #4 · answered by saberlingo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
e.g. I was thinking about this the other day (Tuesday) The day is in brackets, what you were thinking about?
2006-10-14 09:03:00 · answer #5 · answered by edison 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋