Mark, the original query came via me from a group in Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
England, and the brackets in question are ( ). Here in the UK we use the
term brackets to refer to this sort, [ ] being known as square brackets.
Parentheses is just a clever way of referring to brackets of either
description, and indicates no particular distinction between them. At least,
so I've always believed. I'm sure the Rodent will pitch in here and correct
me if I'm wrong.
If, as it would appear from your post, there is a specific distinction drawn
in US, then I'm delighted to have learned yet another little snippet of
fascinating knowledge.
And Jon, where on earth did you find that naughty and rather splendid poem?
joanna
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Weiss" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, November 10, 2006 8:20 PM
Subject: Re: Pope also liked them
> John: This isn't a replt to you per se, just a convenient place to make a
> query. Am I wrong in assuming that the criticism was of use of brackets
> [ ] and not parentheses ( )? Or have I been misusing the terms all these
> years? If it is about [ ] then the criticism is directed at
> self-proclaimed post-modernists. I don't mean to criticize the poets in
> question myself by sayng "self-proclaimed," I just have very little use
> for the term.
>
> Mark
>
> At 03:06 PM 11/10/2006, you wrote:
>>Fate urged the Sheers, and cut the Sylph in twain,
>>(But Airy Substance soon unites again)
>>
>> -- The Rape of the Lock
>>
>>I've always thought someone should have made a movie of that poem. But it
>>should have been made in the Thirties, with Clark Gable and Jean Harlow.
>>Like so much else, too late, too late!
>>
>>Also I think it used to be common to put vocatives in parentheses, as in
>>Jonson's:
>>
>> To draw no envy (Shakespeare) on thy name
>>
>>A pleasant orthographical convention the passing of which is regrettable.
>>
>>And I always enjoy seeing those right margin braces to set off triple
>>rhymed
>>lines in heroic couplets: "Hey look I'm using an extra rhyme!" Those
>>were
>>the days ...
>
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