Parentheses

Parentheses are a pair of signs ( ) helpful in marking off text. You use parentheses in specific situations that can be covered by a few simple guidelines. Setting off incidental information Parentheses are used to enclose incidental or extra information, such as a passing comment, a minor example or addition, or a brief explanation. The writer may choose to put additional information within parentheses or to set off the text using dashes or commas. Again, overuse of parentheses or dashes can be distracting to readers.

Some of the local store owners (Mr. Kwan and Ms. Lawson, for example) insisted that the street be widened. OR Some of the local store owners Mr. Kwan and Ms. Lawson, for example insisted that the street be widened. Roger Worthington (a poorly drawn character in the novel) reveals the secret in the last chapter. OR Roger Worthington, a poorly drawn character in the novel, reveals the secret in the last chapter.

Other punctuation marks with parentheses Don't put any punctuation mark before parentheses, and put a comma after the closing parenthesis only if the sentence needs a comma anyway. Use a pointed stick (a pencil with the lead point broken off works well) or a similar tool. No comma appears before or after the parentheses. If you were to remove the parenthetical remark, the remaining sentence would not need a comma: Use a pointed stick or a similar tool. Banging the wall and screaming (unrestrained by his father, I might add), Sam was acting like a brat. In the preceding sentence, no comma appears before the parentheses. A comma follows the parentheses because if the parenthetical comment is removed, the rest of the sentence would require a comma: Banging the wall and screaming, Sam was acting like a brat. Punctuation within parentheses If your parentheses enclose a sentence-within-a-sentence, don't use a period within the parentheses. Do use a question mark or an exclamation mark if it is called for.

Mother love (hers was fierce) ruined the young boy's life. They finally said (why didn't they admit it earlier?) that she had been there. The wedding reception (what a fiasco!) ended abruptly.

If the parentheses enclose a complete sentence that can stand alone, place the period inside the closing parentheses.

(Her father was the only one who didn't attend.)

If the parentheses enclose a phrase that falls at the end of the sentence, place the closing punctuation outside the closing mark.

The only one who didn't attend was Mr. Jensen (her father).

Miscellaneous uses of parentheses You should learn how to use parentheses in special situations. For example, use parentheses to enclose a date or a citation.

Sir William Walton (19021983) composed the oratorio Belshazzar's Feast. According to the reports of her contemporaries, she was a mediocre critic and a worse artist (Travis, 2662).

In scientific, business, or legal writing, parentheses are used to restate a number. However, in most writing, it is not justified, and it creates an overly official tone.

The bill is due and payable in thirty (30) days. (acceptable) My grandfather knew my grandmother for sixty (60) years. (not appropriate)

Practice Exercise Insert parentheses and brackets as appropriate in these sentences. You may check your answers using the key. When something is put in parenthesis it is separated off from the main part of the sentence by a pair of brackets, commas, or dashes. This is usually because it contains information or ideas that are not essential to an understanding of the sentence: 1. The tour guide noted that we may a have lunch at a local restaurant, b at the restaurant on the ship, or c at the cafe by the pool. 2. We built we tried at least a small oval wall out of fieldstones for the flower garden. 3. The National Education Association NEA boasts nearly three million members. 4. Paramecia use their cilia to gather microorganisms like bacteria and algae see pg. 147. 5. It was an exciting weekend what a reunion! 6. The AAA American Automobile Association, serving America since 1921, has millions of loyal members. 7. Pocahontas c.15951617 was the daughter of a Powhatan chief. 8. "It the Trojan horse was one of the most cleverly plotted red herrings decoys created by the Greeks," stated Mr. Clark, our world history teacher. 9. Be sure to perform the experiment steps in the following order: 1 carefully take one section of a peeled onion in your hand, 2 with a pair of tweezers gently secure and peel a piece of membrane, 3 place the membrane on a microscope slide, 4 place one drop of iodine on the membrane, and 5 place the slide under the microscope to observe the cell walls of the membrane. 10. "Molly Aunt May's first cousin Jody's second daughter traveled all the way from Seattle to attend the wedding," explained Lila.

Answers 1. The tour guide noted that we may (a) have lunch at a local restaurant, (b) at the restaurant on the ship, or (c) at the cafe by the pool. 2. We built (we tried at least) a small oval wall out of fieldstones for the flower garden. 3. The National Education Association (NEA) boasts nearly three million members. 4. Paramecia use their cilia to gather microorganisms like bacteria and algae (see pg. 147). 5. It was an exciting weekend (what a reunion)! 6. The AAA (American Automobile Association), serving America since 1921, has millions of loyal members. 7. Pocahontas (c.15951617) was the daughter of a Powhatan chief. 8. "It [the Trojan horse] was one of the most cleverly plotted red herrings [decoys] created by the Greeks," stated Mr. Clark, our world history teacher. 9. Be sure to perform the experiment steps in the following order: (1) carefully take one section of a peeled onion in your hand, (2) with a pair of tweezers gently secure and peel a piece of membrane, (3) place the membrane on a microscope slide, (4) place one drop of iodine on the membrane, and (5) place the slide under the microscope to observe the cell walls of the membrane. 10. "Molly [Aunt May's first cousin Jody's second daughter] traveled all the way from Seattle to attend the wedding," explained Lila.