October 6, 2008 – 5:55 am
When writing an official report, the proper use of parentheses, brackets, and braces can clarify your message for your reader. However, many writers treat them as interchangeable punctuation tools when, in reality, each has a specific purpose.
Use parentheses ( ( ) ) to clarify, to place an afterthought, or to add a personal comment. Do not forget to include the period after the closing parenthesis.
- Example: Lieutenant Scott (RPD’s SWAT commander) resigned from the Metropolitan Tap Dance Association board of directors in 2006.
Used for clarification. Here, commas can replace the parentheses.
- Example: You will need a flashlight when working at night (don’t forget the batteries!).
An afterthought. Note that the period follows the last parentheses — not before the first. In this example, replacing the parentheses with a comma may not be entirely suitable. It would be better to use a period or a semicolon.
- Example: Most writers believe that parentheses and commas are always interchangeable (I disagree).
A personal comment.
Use brackets ( [ ] ) to signify an editor’s note in a regular piece of writing or to clarify or to revise a direct quote so that it appeals to your own writing. Brackets are often used to encompass the word “sic” (Latin for thus), suggesting that the previous word or phrase was written “as is”, with the error intended to be displayed.
- Example: “[The accident] was absolutely devastating,” said Mack Pettigrew, a local bystander at the scene of the incident. “It was absolutely devastating!” – the actual quote by Mack Pettigrew.
Braces ( { } ) are most widely used is commonly used when listing a numeric set in mathematics. Braces can also be used in regular writing to indicate a set of equal, independent choices.
- Example: { 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 }
- Example: Choose your favorite intermediate weapon { baton, OC spray, PR24 } and bring it to the training course.
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Although the issues may be different, the stories are the same regardless of where you are a cop. In Virginia, it is not uncommon for white tail deer to create situations that result in their own demise as a result of wondering into civilization. You can rest assured that if you have to shot an animal, someone will be there to criticize the action, the shot placement or the way you part your hair.
A Roanoke County Police Department recruit and an instructor crashed during a training exercise at the agency’s driver training range. The vehicle ran off the road, went down an embankment and landed upside down in a creek.
Again this week, we received more good stories from our CopCAST correspondents than we could use on the show so I thought I would post a few of the better ones to the blog for your enjoyment.
