{"id":795,"date":"2025-04-18T22:57:07","date_gmt":"2025-04-18T22:57:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/?post_type=chapter&p=795"},"modified":"2025-06-26T20:44:24","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T20:44:24","slug":"punctuation-learn-it-5","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/punctuation-learn-it-5\/","title":{"raw":"Punctuation: Learn It 5","rendered":"Punctuation: Learn It 5"},"content":{"raw":"

Brackets<\/h2>\r\nBrackets are a fairly uncommon punctuation mark, but they do have more than one use.\r\n

Quotations<\/h3>\r\nThe main use of brackets is in quotations: they can be used to clarify quotes.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1764\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\"]\"Appropriate Figure 2<\/strong>. An opening and closing bracket.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n\u200bFor example, say you want to quote the following passage:\r\n\r\n\u201cI finally got to meet him today. I had a really great time with him. He was a lot taller than expected, though.\u201d\r\n\r\nMaybe you don\u2019t want to use this whole passage or want to add clarity.\r\n\r\nYou might write:\r\n\r\n\u201cI finally got to meet [Trent] today.\u201d Here, the brackets replace him and explain who the word him references.\r\n\r\nWhen you can, avoid brackets, however.\r\n\r\nInstead of writing \u201c[Trent] was a lot taller than expected,\u201d you might write:\r\n\r\nTrent is \u201ca lot taller than expected.\u201d\r\n\r\nThe brackets let the reader know that while the word Trent wasn\u2019t in the original quote, his name was implied there. When using brackets, be careful not to change the original meaning of the quote.\r\n\r\n<\/section>\r\n

Using Brackets for Typos and Errors<\/h3>\r\nAnother use of brackets is when there is a spelling or informational error in the original quote. In those cases you use [sic<\/em>], which means that the typo was in the original source of the quote.\r\n\r\n
\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • The report stated, \u201cThe new policy will effect [sic] all employees starting next month.\u201d\r\n
      \r\n \t
    • Here, [sic] is denoting that the misuse of effect rather than affect is part of the original quote.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
    • In the opinion article, the writer said, \u201cThe goverment [sic] should focus more on environmental policies.\u201d\r\n
        \r\n \t
      • Here, [sic] is denoting the misspelling of the word government in the original quote.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>
        [ohm2_question]34356[\/ohm2_question]<\/section>
        See if you can correctly place the brackets in the following interactive.[embed]https:\/\/lumenlearning.h5p.com\/content\/1290910655996694208[\/embed]\r\n\r\n<\/section>","rendered":"

        Brackets<\/h2>\n

        Brackets are a fairly uncommon punctuation mark, but they do have more than one use.<\/p>\n

        Quotations<\/h3>\n

        The main use of brackets is in quotations: they can be used to clarify quotes.<\/p>\n

        \n
        \"Appropriate
        Figure 2<\/strong>. An opening and closing bracket.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

        \u200bFor example, say you want to quote the following passage:<\/p>\n

        \u201cI finally got to meet him today. I had a really great time with him. He was a lot taller than expected, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

        Maybe you don\u2019t want to use this whole passage or want to add clarity.<\/p>\n

        You might write:<\/p>\n

        \u201cI finally got to meet [Trent] today.\u201d Here, the brackets replace him and explain who the word him references.<\/p>\n

        When you can, avoid brackets, however.<\/p>\n

        Instead of writing \u201c[Trent] was a lot taller than expected,\u201d you might write:<\/p>\n

        Trent is \u201ca lot taller than expected.\u201d<\/p>\n

        The brackets let the reader know that while the word Trent wasn\u2019t in the original quote, his name was implied there. When using brackets, be careful not to change the original meaning of the quote.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

        Using Brackets for Typos and Errors<\/h3>\n

        Another use of brackets is when there is a spelling or informational error in the original quote. In those cases you use [sic<\/em>], which means that the typo was in the original source of the quote.<\/p>\n

        \n
          \n
        • The report stated, \u201cThe new policy will effect [sic] all employees starting next month.\u201d\n
            \n
          • Here, [sic] is denoting that the misuse of effect rather than affect is part of the original quote.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • In the opinion article, the writer said, \u201cThe goverment [sic] should focus more on environmental policies.\u201d\n
              \n
            • Here, [sic] is denoting the misspelling of the word government in the original quote.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n