How to add specific information after a word?

Question

Sometimes, in software logs, it might be useful to add specifics (like an identifier) to an item, like:

object[5] found

What is (more) correct?

object[5] found
object [5] found

=> space or no space?

For your information: it is not possible to replace the rectangular brackets by round ones.

I don't think there's a rule in English grammar that tells you how to do this, it's going to be a matter of opinion. If it's a footnote/endnote it's usual to have no space but also see this question on a usage "four (4)" which does have spaces. But sometimes every character counts. — Stuart F, Mar 18 '24 at 10:05
There is probably a convention here and the question would do better in Computing Science SE: https://cs.stackexchange.com — Greybeard, Mar 18 '24 at 11:14
I’m voting to close this question because the question would be better answered in Computing Science SE: cs.stackexchange.com — Greybeard, Mar 18 '24 at 11:16
The brackets here are not parentheses and don't follow English rules. More like object-5 than object [oh, yeah, it's the 5th in particular], — Yosef Baskin, Mar 18 '24 at 13:18

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 18 '24 at 10:00

1

I would have a space. As this is software, otherwise it would look like a zero-th indexed member of an array called object.

answered Mar 18 '24 at 10:00

John Go-Soco

Although my question is meant for logfiles (not the source code itself), you have a valid argument here: those files might be read by people, having notions of programming, and indeed might be confused the way you describe it. – Dominique Mar 18 '24 at 10:07

1 Answers1