The word "square bracket" is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /skwɛər ˈbrækɪt/. The first syllable, "skwɛər," represents the sound of "square" with an "s" sound at the beginning. The second syllable "bræk" represents the "bracket" and includes the sound of the letter "a" as in "bat." Finally, the "it" at the end of the word is pronounced with a short "i" sound, followed by a "t" sound. These 3 syllables combine to form the word "square bracket."
Square brackets, also known as box brackets or simply brackets, are punctuation marks that are shaped like right angles and are used to enclose or indicate certain types of information in written text. They are typically made up of two straight lines that are parallel to each other and connected by a shorter horizontal line at the top and bottom.
Square brackets are commonly used in different contexts, including:
1. Clarification or additional information: They can be used to include explanatory or additional details within a sentence or quotation that are not part of the original text. For example, "[sic]" is often placed within square brackets to indicate that an error or unusual feature in a quote is intentionally included.
2. Quotations and citations: Square brackets are used to indicate alterations, such as adding or changing words within a quote to make it grammatically correct or for clarification purposes. They can also be used to provide a citation or reference for a specific part of a quoted text.
3. Mathematical and scientific notation: In mathematics and other technical fields, square brackets are often used to group or enclose mathematical expressions, matrices, functions, or other specialized information.
Overall, square brackets serve as a tool to provide clarity, context, and additional information within a written text in various disciplines and fields.
The term "square bracket" is used to describe the punctuation marks "[" and "]". The etymology of the word "square" in this context comes from the appearance of the brackets, which are four-sided and have straight, perpendicular sides, forming a shape that resembles a square. The term "bracket" originated from Old French "braguette", meaning "codpiece", and later referred to various types of protective or ornamental devices. Over time, the word "bracket" evolved to include the meaning of a supportive or enclosing structure, which is why it is used to describe these punctuation marks.