Bracket facts for kids

Brackets are special punctuation marks that come in pairs, like ( ) or [ ]. They are used in math and in writing to help organize information. They can set apart extra details or explain things more clearly. The two parts are called the left bracket (like "[") and the right bracket (like "]").

What we call brackets can be a bit different depending on where you are. In American English, "bracket" usually means the square ones, like [ ]. But in British English, "bracket" often means the round ones, which Americans call "parentheses."

Round Brackets: Parentheses

Round brackets look like this: ( ). They are also known as parentheses, curved brackets, or oval brackets.

How We Use Parentheses

Parentheses have many uses in writing and math:

• Adding Optional Text: They can show words that are not strictly needed for the sentence to make sense, like "(this part is extra)."
• Showing Word Endings: They can show different ways a word can end, such as "vote(s)" which means "vote" or "votes."
• Clarifying Meaning: They can add a clearer meaning or a different way to understand something. For example, "There are some (many) pages" means there are actually a lot of pages.
• Adding Humor: Sometimes, they are used to add a funny comment or a quick thought, like "They sell pre-owned (read: "used") cars."
• Showing Negative Numbers: In math, parentheses can show a negative number, like ($10).
• Grouping in Math: They group numbers or terms in a calculation to show which part to solve first. For example, 6 x (2 + 3) = 30.
• Adding Emphasis: Occasionally, people use multiple parentheses to show strong emphasis, like "(((wow)))."

Parentheses in Writing

Parentheses enclose text that could be removed without changing the main meaning of the sentence. They are great for adding extra information or details. For example:

• "Sen. John McCain (R., Arizona) spoke at length." This tells us more about Senator McCain.
• They can also show if a noun can be singular or plural, like in the word "claim(s)."

Other Brackets

Besides round brackets, there are other types:

Square Brackets

Square brackets look like this: [ ]. They are often used to add information that wasn't in the original text, especially when quoting someone. They can also clarify or correct something.

Curly Brackets

Curly brackets look like this: { }. They are mostly used in mathematics and computer programming to group items or sets of information.

Images for kids

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  An example of curly brackets used to group sentences together