The (Busty) Brackets Page: [ ]
Brackets are a kind of fail-safe, back up punctuation.
Sentences may sometimes get a bit complex.
To help the reader follow your thoughts more easily, brackets are sometimes useful.
The easiest way for me to demonstrate this is to include the comparison of dashes, parentheses and brackets which also appear in the dashes and parentheses sections.
So here:
Since dashes, parentheses and brackets all have the function of setting off some part of an idea, I want to write an example using dashes, parentheses and brackets.
Notice how dashes and parentheses each has its own feel.
You'll choose the punctuation to achieve the feel you want your writing to have.
Henry--you know what a jerk he is--spent the day with his fly open.
Henry (you know what a jerk he is) spent the day with his fly open.
Brackets, however, are used to keep complicated issues understandable.
For instance, in a quote, an idea that is not part of the quote may be inserted.
Sally Mae said, "Henry [you know what a jerk he is] spent the day with his fly open."
Another place to use brackets when you want to put an aside within an aside.
If you have a series in parentheses, and within the parentheses you want to further explain.
The three things he said (George smokes, Henry [you know what a jerk he is] spent the day with his fly open, and Fenster never cries) were printed in the newspaper.
Please fool around with these three punctuation marks.
Look over some writing you've done and find places where any of them could make a difference.
Or do what I just did, which was to have some fun playing with them.
Here's some room for you if you'd like:
Return to Step Two.
