Brackets (also called parentheses) enclose extra information or explanations which interrupt the normal progression of the sentence.
Note:
Full stops, question marks or exclamation marks are usually put outside the brackets (unless the brackets enclose a complete sentence).
Additional Information in Brackets
Note:
Depending on the importance attached to it, additional information can be enclosed in brackets, commas or dashes.
Abbreviations in Brackets
Note:
Full stops, question marks or exclamation marks are usually put outside the brackets (unless the brackets enclose a complete sentence).
Additional Information in Brackets
- Additional information is enclosed in brackets if the information is not essential for the understanding of the sentence.
- Example: Connor (Amy's boyfriend) bought the tickets.
Note:
Depending on the importance attached to it, additional information can be enclosed in brackets, commas or dashes.
- Brackets – not important
- Connor (Amy's boyfriend) bought the tickets.
- Commas – neutral
- Connor, Amy's boyfriend, bought the tickets.
- Dashes – emphasised
- Connor–Amy's boyfriend–bought the tickets.
Abbreviations in Brackets
- At the first mentioning of an organisation in a newspaper article, both its abbreviation and the spelled-out form are mentioned, one of which is enclosed in brackets.
- Example:
- He was an active member of the IOC (International Olympic Committee).
- He was an active member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
- Example: