Apple AppleScript Finder Guide - Manual (Page 11)

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P R E F A C E
Other AppleScript Dialects 0
A dialect is a version of the AppleScript language that resembles a particular
human language or a programming language. This guide describes the terms
defined by the Finder for use with the AppleScript English dialect. Versions of
the Finder for use with other dialects work the same way but define terms and
syntax appropriate for those dialects.
Conventions Used in This Guide 0
Words and sample scripts in monospaced font are AppleScript language
elements that must be typed exactly as shown.
Here are some additional conventions used in syntax descriptions:
language element
Plain computer font indicates an element that you must
type exactly as shown. If there are special symbols (for
example, + or &), you must also type them exactly as
shown.
placeholder Italic text indicates a placeholder that you must replace
with an appropriate value. (In some programming
languages, placeholders are called nonterminals.)
[ optional] Brackets indicate that the enclosed language element or
elements are optional.
( a group) Parentheses group together elements. If parentheses are
part of the syntax, they are shown in bold.
( a group). . . Three ellipsis points (. . .) after a group defined by
parentheses indicate that you can repeat the group of
elements within parentheses one or more times.
[ optional]... Three ellipsis points (. . .) after a group defined by
brackets indicate that you can repeat the group of
elements within brackets 0 or more times.
a | b | c Vertical bars separate elements in a group from which
you must choose a single element. The elements are
often grouped within parentheses or brackets.