I use them occassionally at work - but i don't think i have been using them in the correct context. So rather than make a further idiot of my self, i thought i would ask you lot.
Use round brackets (aka parentheses) for additional information or explanation 1) To clarify or inform. Jamie's bike was red (bright red) with a yellow stripe. 2) For asides and comments The bear was pink (I kid you not). Use square brackets for editorial information, etc 1) To amend or supplement the given details His first book [The Colour Of Magic] was written in 1989. 2) To replace phrases for clarity or brevity [The treaty] decreed that no bear should be painted pink.
Hmm. that's an interesting question. I'm sure they have many uses, but I know of one use for sure. I often use them to add info into quotes. This is used to show the reader that the author of the paper added that, and not the speaker of the quote. It's difficult to explain, but I remember learning this in an English class of mine
They are brackets. And you use them only when you're quoting somebody and you want to change part of the quote. So if the quote is Mary went to school and you wanted to say which school, you would do it like this Mary went to [Hixson Elementary]. They are also sometimes used in math.
