Apostrophes

Dashes, Parentheses, and Brackets

Introduction

Ever found yourself perplexed by the myriad ways we punctuate our sentences? Whether you're a high school student striving to ace your English paper or a professional writer keen on fine-tuning your craft, understanding the nuances of punctuation marks like dashes, parentheses, and brackets can make a world of difference. These often overlooked elements can dramatically change the tone, clarity, and impact of your writing. Let's delve into the fascinating world of dashes, parentheses, and brackets to see how these versatile tools can elevate your narrative.

Dashes

When to use dashes?

1. Use a dash to indicate an abrupt break in thought or speech.

EXAMPLE

• The hurricane—it was massive—did not come on land. [The information it was massive is set off with dashes because it breaks into the sentence.]

2. Use a dash to mean namely, in other words, or that is before an explanation.

EXAMPLE 

• Claire is more than a sister—she is my best friend. [The dash here means that is. The words she is my best friend further explain Claire’s opinion of her sister.]

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Parentheses

When to use parentheses?

Use parentheses to enclose informative or explanatory material of minor importance.

EXAMPLE 

• Florence Nightingale (known as “The lady with the lamp”) began the modern nursing profession. [The information known as “The lady with the lamp” goes in parentheses because it is extra, minor information that does not affect the overall meaning of the sentence.]

Brackets

When to use brackets?

Use brackets to enclose an explanation within quoted or parenthetical material.

EXAMPLES 

• “Our bodies need three to four hours of deep sleep [called “orthodox” sleep] each night,” said Dr. Ross. [Called “orthodox” sleep is in brackets to show that it is not part of the original quotation.] 
• Easter Island (2,200 miles west of Chile [3,540 kilometers]) has mysterious stone statues. [3,540 kilometers is in brackets because it is an explanation within parenthetical information.]

Another use of brackets is to insert the Latin word sic into a quotation to show that an error exists in the original quotation. 

EXAMPLE 

• Susan’s report began, “James Joyce’s novel The [sic] Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is unique.” [The correct title of the novel is A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Adding the word sic in brackets shows that the mistake was made in Susan’s report, not in this quotation from it.]

Dashes, Parentheses, and Brackets

The following sentences contain errors in punctuation. Write each sentence, deleting incorrect punctuation and inserting correct dashes, parentheses, and brackets as necessary. Make sure that any parenthetical material is properly capitalized and punctuated.

1. The Impressionist art movement [see Chart A(page 12) for a list of the major artists] developed in reaction to the sentimentality of previous art.
2. I resent your implication that I had something to do with oh, you’re never going to believe the truth anyway.
3. A. J. Foyt [born in 1935 in Houston, Texas] was the first person to win the Indianapolis 500 four times.
4. The report stated, “In that year (1977) the town’s population increased 20 percent.”
5. Leon Hatcher [Do you remember him from high school?] was named Engineer of the Year.
   

Answers

Parentheses are acceptable in item 5. 

1. The Impressionist art movement (see Chart A[page 12] for a list of the major artists) developed in reaction to the sentimentality of previous art. 
2. I resent your implication that I had something to do with—oh, you’re never going to believe the truth anyway. 
3. A. J. Foyt (born in 1935 in Houston, Texas) was the first person to win the Indianapolis 500 four times. 
4. The report stated, “In that year [1977] the town’s population increased 20 percent.” 
5. Leon Hatcher—do you remember him from high school?—was named Engineer of the Year.

Conclusion

Mastering the use of dashes, parentheses, and brackets is akin to discovering hidden treasures in the realm of punctuation. These small but mighty marks can add depth, clarity, and nuance to your writing, making it more engaging and precise. So whether you're a student aiming for perfect grammar or a seasoned writer looking to polish your prose, don't underestimate the power of these punctuation tools. Embrace them, experiment with them, and watch your writing come to life.