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> Since many people never really use [] and {}, “brackets” casually refers to ().

I have never heard anyone call () "brackets". Is it more regional than just the US maybe?

Same. I've seen {} and [] both called braces and brackets, though usually in that respective order. The ambiguity is precisely why they are also called curly braces and square brackets. The double naming is more concrete.

I've never seen or heard any programmer call () brackets or braces. It's always parentheses. I may have heard a math or science teacher call them all brackets or braces, however, since they are synonymous there outside of odd exceptions like interval notation.

Fascinating! While I’ve definitely heard “brackets” used in the midwest occasionally, “parenthesis” is the standard term by far.

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