What is the Difference Between Brackets and Parentheses?

The main difference between brackets and parentheses lies in their usage and purpose in written text:

Parentheses (()):

• Used to add extra information in text, such as complementary explanations, personal commentary from the author, or defining acronyms.
• Also used for in-text citations in APA, Chicago, and MLA formats.
• Commonly used in mathematical expressions to denote a method signature or pass arguments into a method.

Square Brackets ([]):**

• Mainly used in quotations to add extra information that wasn't in the original quote.
• Indicate changes or comments within quoted material.
• Less common than parentheses, often found inside quotations to show text added to the original quote.

In summary, parentheses are used to add extra information in text or for in-text citations, while square brackets are used primarily in quotations to add extra information that wasn't in the original quote.

Comparative Table: Brackets vs Parentheses

The difference between brackets and parentheses lies in their shapes and usage. Here is a table summarizing the differences:

In programming, parentheses are used for defining a method signature or passing arguments into a method, while square brackets are used for array declaration or accessing elements in a collection class. In mathematics and science, brackets (square brackets) and parentheses (round brackets) are used to enclose numbers, words, or symbols for different purposes. For example, in chemistry, brackets are used for concentrations, while parentheses are used for partial pressures.