Using brackets
Last updated: 2026-05-29
A bracket is a negotiating range instead of a single number. Rather than naming one figure, a party proposes a low and a high — a way to signal movement and invite the other side to meet somewhere in between without either party committing to a hard number first.
The convention ADR Sentinel uses: the lower party moves to the low figure, and the higher party moves to the high figure.
Record a bracket
Brackets work on both offers and demands:
- Open the Record Offer or Record Demand modal as usual (see Recording an offer / Recording a demand).
- Click Use Bracket. The amount field expands into a Bracket Range.
- Enter the Low Amount ($) and the High Amount ($).
- Add a note or non-monetary terms if you want, then record it.
How brackets appear
A bracketed entry shows in the ledger as a range — for example $80k–$120k — rather than a single figure, so it's always clear at a glance which entries were ranges and which were firm numbers.
When the parties agree to work within a bracket, you can accept it directly from the ledger (the action reads Accept Bracket).
When to use one
Reach for a bracket when a party wants to show willingness to move without anchoring on a single number, or when you're trying to establish a settlement zone before haggling over the exact figure. For a firm number, just record a normal offer or demand.