Manual: Parentheses, Brackets & Braces
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Often overlooked, parentheses, braces, and brackets are essential typographic tools. They enhance readability and help convey complex information. They are visually distinct symbols that harmonize with the alpha/numeric characters in a font.
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Parentheses are used to enclose, or set off, information that is explanatory, qualifying, or incidental. Items generally set off by parentheses include: abbreviations and acronyms, area codes and time zones, as well as numbered or lettered lists or rankings. A parenthetical phrase can be used in the middle of a sentence or at the end, directly preceding the period. If the parenthetical statement is a complete thought, it follows the period.
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Brackets are generally used to set off additional textual content within a parenthetical phrase, as a way to avoid the “nesting” of parentheses. Brackets are also used to enclose explanations or comments by an author, editor or publisher; to note a definition, translation or pronunciation; to clarify an omission; and to provide the source of a quotation. They appear in mathematics and chemistry, as well as in programming languages.
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Braces are a more decorative form of bracket. They serve various purposes, including denoting sets in mathematics (e.g., {x, y, z}), grouping items in programming languages, and enclosing options in bibliographic references (e.g., {et al.}). In informal writing, braces can indicate emphasis or convey a playful tone. Additionally, they are used to indicate attributes in linguistics, such as in phonetic transcriptions. They can also be used as oversized decorative and ornamental elements.
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Parentheses, braces and brackets should be centered vertically next to the text they enclose. In most typefaces, these marks are designed to center vertically on the lowercase x-height. If they are enclosing all caps, or lining figures, they may need to be raised slightly.
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Using parentheses, brackets, and braces properly is crucial for clarity and precision in textul communication. It ensures accurate and effective delivery of information.