Dictionary of English - bracket

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This is another word for parenthesis. Brackets separate a word or phrase from the rest of the sentence. You can use them to add information without breaking up the main sentence, which still remains intact if the words in the brackets are removed: How could Jim (a man he had known for years) behave towards him in such a despicable manner? The information in brackets is not crucial to the structure and meaning of the sentence.

A pair of commas can be used in the same way as brackets when the subsidiary piece of information has a stronger link with the main sentence; for example: The horses, which had been toiling all morning, were given an hour's break at noon. A pair of dashes can also be used parenthetically. See also dash.

Ghana was the first country to adopt the pan-African colours. The star is known as the ‘lode star of African freedom’. Effective date: 28 February 1966. >>