square bracket
/'skweə'brækit/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- Either of two punctuation marks ([ or ]) used to enclose textual material: A "square bracket" is one of the two symbols, the opening bracket
[or the closing bracket], used in writing and printing to set off specific text from the main body of text.
Usage
- Square brackets are primarily used to insert editorial comments, explanations, corrections, or clarifications into a quotation.
- They are used in technical writing, such as mathematics and computing, to denote arrays, intervals, or specific operations.
- They can also be used within parentheses to avoid nested parentheses.
Examples
- Noun:
- The editor added a note in square brackets: "The witness stated [clears throat] before continuing."
- In the citation, use square brackets to indicate the year of publication: Smith [2020].
- The mathematical set is written as A = [1, 5].
Advanced Usage
- "To bracket something": To enclose a word or phrase within square brackets.
- When quoting, you should bracket any added words for clarity.
- Nested Brackets: Using brackets within parentheses (or vice versa) for complex clarifications.
- The study concluded (see data from the prior year [2022, p. 45]) that the trend was clear.
Variants and Related Words
- Bracket (noun/verb): A more general term for any of the marks , , , or used to enclose words or figures. Also means to place within such marks.
- Please bracket the optional clause.
- Parenthesis (noun): Typically refers specifically to the curved brackets .
Synonyms
- Bracket: (in the general sense of enclosing punctuation).
- Box bracket: (an alternative, less common name).
Related Phrases
- In brackets: Enclosed by square brackets.
- The translator's note was in brackets.
- Use of square brackets: The application or convention of employing these punctuation marks.
- The use of square brackets is standard in linguistic transcriptions.
Noun
- either of two punctuation marks ([ or ]) used to enclose textual material