CFs in a bracket $(-$ve symbol$),$ this means that money is going out$=$ cash outflows$=$spend the money$=$initial outlay$=$initial investment.

CFs without a brancket $(+$ve symbol$),$ money coming in$=$cash inflows

Example:

Gunung Ledang Berhad is considering two mutually exclusive projects. The cash flows $($in RM$)$ associated with both projects are as follows:

$\backslash$table$[[$Year$,\backslash$table$[[$Project$],[$Hang Tuah$],[$in RM$]],\backslash$table$[[$Project$],[$Hang Jebat$],[$in RM$]]],[0,(1,000),(1,000)$