How to describe braces, brackets, parentheses?

Question

I have this term:

((x ,y, z))

and I need to describe in words that the x in this term should be outside the bars? Is this correct? outside the bars?

x ((y,z))

The position of the x doesn't matter, it could be also behind:

((y,z)) x

score 3 · Accepted Answer · edited Mar 04 '11 at 06:27

3

These - ( ) - are called 'parentheses' in English punctuation, but in maths they are called 'brackets'. In this situation I would say, 'x is outside the brackets'.

edited Mar 04 '11 at 06:27

answered Mar 03 '11 at 09:24

Ankur Banerjee

1,610

I thought brackets are this ones [] – Martin Fábik Mar 03 '11 at 09:27
I would call [] 'square brackets'. (In American English, [] are called just 'brackets' though.) The terminology used changes from context. In literature, () would be parenthesis; in maths, I would call it brackets. Similarly, {} in maths would be 'curly brackets' while in programming they would be called 'braces'. Have you heard of the term 'BODMAS' in maths, which is used to denote the order of operations? That's an an example of the term 'brackets' being used for () – Ankur Banerjee Mar 03 '11 at 09:32
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Bracket vs brace ◊ What is the common name for brackets, braces, and parentheses? ◊ What is the most professional name for “squiggly bracket”? – RegDwigнt Mar 03 '11 at 09:45

How to describe braces, brackets, parentheses?

1 Answers1