What are Different Types of Parentheses?

Parentheses, also known as round brackets, are a type of punctuation mark used in writing. They are primarily used to set off or enclose additional information, explanations, or asides within a sentence. Here are some different types of parentheses:

Standard Parentheses

The most common type of parentheses are round brackets “()”. They are used to enclose supplementary information that is not essential to the main sentence but provides additional context or clarification.

Example

The concert (which was held at the local stadium) was a huge success.

Square Brackets

Square brackets “[]” are sometimes used as an alternative to round brackets. They are used in a similar way to enclose inserted or explanatory material within a sentence.

Example

The author’s statement [in the interview] caused quite a controversy.

Curly Braces

Curly braces “{}” are less common in regular text but are frequently used in mathematics, computer programming, and markup languages. They are used to group related elements together or to indicate sets.

Example

The function {f(x)} is defined as the square of the input value.

Angle Brackets

Angle brackets “<>” have specific uses in various contexts, such as indicating mathematical inequalities or denoting HTML tags in web development. They are not commonly used as parentheses in general writing.

Example

The solution is found by iterating through all possible values of x < 10.It's worth noting that the specific usage of parentheses can vary across different disciplines, styles of writing, or languages. The above examples represent some common types found in English writing.