bracketing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Technical
Quick answer
What does “bracketing” mean?
The act of using brackets to set apart a word, phrase, or piece of information within a sentence.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of using brackets to set apart a word, phrase, or piece of information within a sentence; also, the grouping of items or concepts into a single category.
In photography and optics, the technique of taking several shots of the same subject with different exposure settings to ensure one optimal image. In linguistics, the analytical process of assigning a syntactic structure to a sequence of words using brackets.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Spelling and punctuation conventions for brackets ( ) vs parentheses may vary slightly in style guides. The photographic technique is universally understood.
Connotations
Neutral/technical in both varieties. Slightly more common in academic/professional British English due to historical publishing conventions.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English in academic contexts (e.g., linguistics, textual criticism). The photographic term is equally common globally.
Grammar
How to Use “bracketing” in a Sentence
The [technique/method] of bracketing [NP] (e.g., 'bracketing of the clause')Use bracketing to [VP] (e.g., 'use bracketing to isolate the phrase')[NP] involves bracketing (e.g., 'The analysis involves bracketing each constituent').Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bracketing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The editor suggested bracketing the subsidiary clause.
- You should bracket those figures for clarity.
American English
- The linguist bracketed the constituent phrases.
- Bracket the optional arguments in the analysis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in formal reports for setting aside figures or caveats (e.g., 'with the bracketing of exceptional items').
Academic
Common in linguistics, literary criticism (textual analysis), statistics (confidence intervals), and philosophy (phenomenological epochē).
Everyday
Very rare. Most commonly understood in the context of photography (camera settings).
Technical
Core term in photography (exposure/HDR), linguistics (tree diagrams), engineering (tolerance ranges), and survey design.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bracketing”
- Misspelling as 'bracketting' (double 't').
- Using 'bracketing' to mean 'supporting' (confusion with the verb 'bracket' in a structural sense).
- Incorrect preposition: 'bracketing in' instead of 'bracketing of' or 'bracketing with'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'bracketing' can refer to the use of any type of brackets: round ( ), square [ ], curly { }, or angle < >, depending on the convention of the field.
Yes, the verb is 'to bracket'. 'Bracketing' is the present participle or gerund (e.g., 'He is bracketing the notes') or the action nominal form (e.g., 'The bracketing of the text').
It ensures that at least one shot has the optimal exposure, and it allows multiple shots to be combined later into a single image with perfect highlight and shadow detail (an HDR image).
No, it is a specialised term. Most people will only encounter it in technical contexts like photography, academic writing, or linguistics.
The act of using brackets to set apart a word, phrase, or piece of information within a sentence.
Bracketing is usually formal / technical in register.
Bracketing: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbrækɪtɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbrækɪt̬ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this technical nominal form]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a photographer using a BRACKET to hold up a light. BRACKET-ING is the process of putting different 'lights' (exposures) around the ideal shot.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE/THOUGHT IS A STRUCTURE (syntactic bracketing). CAPTURING TRUTH IS SURROUNDING IT (exposure bracketing).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is 'exposure bracketing' a standard technique?