Grammar Toolkit Parentheses and brackets What are parentheses

Grammar Toolkit Parentheses and brackets What are parentheses and brackets?

Grammar Toolkit Parentheses and brackets enclose extra information. They are always used in pairs. Information inside parentheses makes the meaning of the text clearer. It might be a reference or a writer’s aside. In a script, parentheses often show stage directions. Add 100 g chocolate (dark is best) Mohandas Gandhi (1869– 1948) Most people (but not me!) love the ocean. CAESAR: You too, Brutus? (clutchest) Text inside brackets shows information added to a quotation by someone other than the writer or speaker. Jenson wrote: “I was born on the fourth of July [1966], with a burst of fireworks. ”

Grammar Toolkit Parentheses and brackets Put parentheses or brackets around the extra information in colour. reference Australia has two territories ( see map on page 43. ) extra information Sam left for work early on Saturday ( people often worked six days of the week at this time. ) addition to a quotation Ryan was very active: “I loved surfing but Dean [his brother] was a footballer. ” writer’s aside Callum was terrified(who wouldn’t be? )but opened the door anyway. stage direction JULIET: ( searching for him) O Romeo, Romeo!

Grammar Toolkit Parentheses and brackets • Punctuation helps others to understand our writing. • Parentheses enclose extra information, such as an example or a comment, e. g. The unit of currency of Europe is the euro (1 euro equals 100 euro cents). • Brackets enclose information added to a quotation, e. g. Dickson writes: “I grew up in Sydney [Canada, not Australia] and worked in the steel mills. ”

Grammar Toolkit Parentheses and brackets The End