Parentheses vs. Brackets

Basically? They're the same thing.

...wait, you expected a longer tip?

Yeah. So you'll find that American people use this "(" and ")" and we call them parentheses (plural). As for the English? They call them brackets. So why is this important? Sometimes, if you use parentheses/brackets, in your story or poem, you'll get these random comments talking about your parentheses/brackets that can be slightly confusing, depending on what country you're from. So just keep that in mind.

I always thought brackets were these: [ ]

They seem to be used less often, rarely in fiction. They're more for computer programming and dealing with data.

Yeah, that's what we Americans think brackets are. ^_^ But, in King's English, brackets and parentheses are the same.

I see. So what to Brits call what we call brackets?

erm... square brackets.

That's what Lindsey said, and she should know cause she is from England.

In britain these:

( ) are brackets, as are these:
[ ].

RR*

Yeah, cal pretty much got it right -- I call them square brackets, although I do tend to use the word parentheses from time to time.

But these...

[]

... are 'braces'.

Oi vey.

... wait ... you don't call them brackets???

*head spins*

This is a strange world.

() <-- brackets
[] <-- square brackets

Square brackets would be an appropriate name for them. I mean, if it's not the correct terminology, it's still pretty obvious what you're talking about.

America just warp everything into wrongness, d--- them!:P

-Fantasy


Mod EDIT: Not a huge difficulty, but the forums (besides literary) are non-swearing all around. No d---.