How to Format Brackets vs. Carrots
Your computer's keyboard contains many shortcuts for commonly used symbols, such as the so-called "carrot" -- sometimes spelled "caret" -- and the bracket. The keys make it very simple to format these symbols, which are used for math equations and other functions. Remember, there are several different types of brackets you can use.
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Instructions
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Press down the "shift" key on your keyboard. Continue to hold it down while you press the key with the 6 as well as the "^" symbol. The "^" symbol is the caret.
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Release the keys quickly at the same time and the caret appears.
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Press down the "shift" key and continue to hold it as you press down the key with both a "," and a "<" on it. The "<" is one of two angled bracket keys. You can also opt for the key with the ">" and the "." on it.
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Release the keys quickly at the same time to format your angled bracket.
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Press the "[" or "]" key on the upper-right side of your keyboard to get your square brackets. For these symbols, you don't need to use a shift key.
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Hold down the "shift" key while pressing either of the square bracket keys.
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Release the keys at the same time and the curly brackets appear, which look like "{" and "}."
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Press down the "shift key" and hold it while pressing the "9" or "0" keys.
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Release the keys at the same time. Curved brackets appear, which look like "(" and ")." Sometimes these are called parentheses, but when using them in mathematical equations, it is more proper to call them curved brackets.
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Tips & Warnings
There are several resources on the Internet that can help you learn the appropriate usage of each type of bracket.
These formatting tips work with a standard American keyboard. Keyboards from other countries may have different placement for the bracket and caret symbols.
References
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