English Improving Media

Parentheses

The difference between a 'bracket' and a 'parentheses' can be a bit confusing. Generally, 'parentheses' refers to round brackets ( ) and 'brackets' to square brackets [ ]. However, we are more and more used to hearing these referred to simply as 'round brackets' or 'square brackets'.

Usually we use square brackets - [ ] - for special purposes such as in technical manuals. Round brackets - ( ) - are used in a similar way to commas when we want to add further explanation, an afterthought, or comment that is to do with our main line of thought but distinct from it. Many grammarians feel that the parentheses can, in fact, be replaced by commas in nearly all cases.

EXAMPLES

The government's education report (April 2005) shows that the level of literacy is rising in nearly all areas.
I visited Kathmandu (which was full of tourists) on my way to the Himalayas for a trekking expedition.
You can eat almost anything while travelling in Asia if you are careful to observe simple rules (avoiding unboiled or unbottled water is one of the main rules to be aware of.)

The apostrophe

The apostrophe probably causes more grief than all of the other punctuation marks put together! The problem nearly always seems to stem from not understanding that the apostrophe has two very different (and very important) uses in English: possession and contractions.

THE APOSTROPHE IN CONTRACTIONS
The most common use of apostrophes in English is for contractions, where a noun or pronoun and a verb combine. Remember that the apostrophe is often replacing a letter that has been dropped. It is placed where the missing letter would be in that case.

Type Without contractions Contractions
Using "not" is not, has not, had not, did not, would not, can not isn't, hasn't, hadn't, didn't, wouldn't, can't
Using "is" she is, there is, he is, it is, Mary is, Jim is, Germany is, who is she's, there's, he's, it's, Mary's, Jim's, Germany's, who's
Using "am" I am I'm
Using "will" I will, you will, she will, we will, they will I'll, you'll, she'll, we'll, they'll
Using "would" I would, you would, he would, we would, they would I'd, you'd, he'd, we'd, they'd
Using "have" I have, you have, we have, they have I've, you've, we've, they've
Using "are" you are, they are, we are you're, they're, we're
People, even native English speakers, often mistake its and it's, you're and your, who's and whose, and they're, their and there. See below for the difference.

EXAMPLES

It's a nice day outside. (contraction)
The cat is dirty. Its fur is matted. (possession)
You're not supposed to be here. (contraction)
This is your book. (possession)
Who's at the door? (contraction)
Whose shoes are these? (possession)
They're not here yet. (contraction)
Their car is red. (possession)
His car is over there. (location)
THE POSSESSIVE APOSTROPHE
In most cases you simply need to add 's to a noun to show possession

EXAMPLES

a ship's captain
a doctor's patient
a car's engine
Ibrahim's coat
Mirianna's book
Plural nouns that do not end in s also follow this rule:

EXAMPLES

the children's room
the men's work
the women's club
Ordinary (or common) nouns that end in s, both singular and plural, show possession simply by adding an apostrophe after the s.

EXAMPLES

the bus' wheel
the babies' crying
the ladies' tennis club
the teachers' journal
Proper nouns (names of people, cities, countries) that end in s can form the possessive either by adding the apostrophe + s or simply adding the apostrophe. Today both forms are considered correct (Jones's or Jones'), and many large organisations now drop the apostrophe completely (e.g. Barclays Bank, Missing Persons Bureau) when publishing their name.

EXAMPLES

The Hughes' home (or the Hughes's home)
Mr Jones's shop (or Mr Jones' shop)
Charles' book (or Charles's book)

The Quotation

Use quotation marks to cite something someone said exactly. When rephrasing what someone told you, no quotation marks are needed.

EXAMPLES

"I'm going to the store now," she said.
Harry told me, "Don't forget your soccer jersey."
Harry told me not to forget my soccer jersey.
If quoting others within a quote, both single and double quotation marks are used to set the two separate quotations off from each other.

EXAMPLE

'I haven't spoken to Peter for months,' Dianne said.'The last time I spoke to him he said, "I'm going to Bahrain and won't be back for about three years", I've heard nothing since then'.
You may see single or double quotation marks used to mark out idiomatic or unfamiliar expressions

EXAMPLES

I've always thought that he was very annoying, a bit of a 'pain in the neck.'
I'm not sure what you mean by "custodial care", but I'm sure you will explain it to me.
Quotation marks both single and double are also used for specific purposes in bibliographic references or when citing sources in academic writing. There are a number of ways of organising bibliographies which set out standard formats. Most organisations and academic institutions will prefer one of these or have their own format published in a 'style guide'.

EXAMPLE

"The Migration Flight of the Lesser Tweazle", by Jeremey Adams, The Bird Spotter Magazine, July 2009.