\documentclass{article} \usepackage{phfparen} \begin{document} Write parentheses with the backtick (`) character. \begin{align*} `*(1) & & `*[1] & & `*{1} & & `*<1> \\ `*(\frac{1}{2}) & & `*[\frac{1}{2}] & & `*{\frac{1}{2}} & & `*<\frac{1}{2}> \\ `*(\frac{1}{2 + \frac{1}{2}}) & & `*[\frac{1}{2 + \frac{1}{2}}] & & `*{\frac{1}{2 + \frac{1}{2}}} & & `*<\frac{1}{2 + \frac{1}{2}}> \\ `*(\frac{1}{2 + \frac{1}{2 + \frac{1}{2}}}) & & `*[\frac{1}{2 + \frac{1}{2 + \frac{1}{2}}}] & & `*{\frac{1}{2 + \frac{1}{2 + \frac{1}{2}}}} & & `*<\frac{1}{2 + \frac{1}{2 + \frac{1}{2}}}> \\ \end{align*} Same for inline math: \( `*(1) \), \( `*(\frac{1}{2}) \), \( `*[\frac{1}{2}] \), \( `*{\frac{1}{2}} \), \( `*<\frac{1}{2}> \) If you need small braces, write without asterisk, e.g.~\( `(\frac{1}{2 + \frac{1}{2}}) \) \end{document}