Parentheses
Adding explanations and clarification to sentences
Relative Emphasis
| PARENTHESES | COMMAS |
|---|---|
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Parentheses are used in pairs. Informally, they enclose a comment that goes off the central idea of the sentence. Formally, they enclose explanations, dates and numbers. |
Commas set off a comment closely related, relevant, to the central idea of the sentence: modify, qualify, clarify or add details. |
1. ASIDE COMMENTS Parentheses (often overused) enclose explanations or clarification. |
Parentheses, a form of punctuation, mark explanations or clarification. |
2. RESTATES OR TRANSLATES Parentheses (a set of curved brackets) enclose explanations or clarification. Punctuation is placed outside of the last parenthesis (if the enclosed text is not a sentence). (However, an enclosed sentence such as this one, places the period inside the ending parenthesis.)
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Parentheses, a set of round brackets, add explanations or clarification. |
3. A SERIES WITHIN A CLAUSE A series (words, phrases, or expressions) can be set off from the sentence with parentheses. Dashes work better to visually separate a phrase already containing commas from the main sentence.
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A series, words, phrases, or expressions, can be set off from the sentence with parentheses. A series (e.g., words, phrases, or expressions) can be set off from the sentence with parentheses. Also see For example.
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4. IN-TEXT LISTS Follow these steps: (1) place whole egg in water, (2) boil one minute, (3) run cold water over the egg, (4) let it stand three minutes. Also see bulleted lists.
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Follow these steps. Place whole egg in water, boil one minute, rinse with cold water, let stand three minutes. Use commas for shorter list items and semicolons for clauses or if list items include commas. |
5. TELEPHONE NUMBERS After the show call 1 (888) 555-5555. (Enclose the rea code.)
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Parentheses, a form of punctuation, mark explanations or clarification. |
6. ABBREVIATIONS The American Kayaking Association (AKA) has a newsletter.
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The American Kayaking Association, AKA, has a newsletter. . |
7. IN-TEXT CITATIONS AND DATES Vitus Bering was a Danish-born navigator in the service of the Russian Navy. (Singleton et al. 345) The sea was named after Vitus Bering (1681-1741).
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8. GROUPING IN MATHEMATICS, LOGIC OR COMPUTER LANGUAGE (3+4) x 6 / 3+ (4x 6) grouping "(form.h1.value='hello'); (form.h2.value='correct')" code grouping 160 lbs (US) clarification of system 72.5 kg (kilograms) clarification of terms Ag – silver (argentum) clarification of terms 4:45 (EST) time zones clarification of zone (CMOS 15.44–55) Periods are often omitted after common abbreviations for measurement.
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Note that parentheses are not supported by some news service printers. |
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Common Mistakes
| ERROR | FIX |
|---|---|
He's paddling to Alaska (he could have flown!)
Incorrectly punctuated independent clause |
He's paddling to Alaska. (He could have flown!) |
He's paddling to Alaska (a place he has wanted to see) . Incorrectly punctuated dependent clause |
He's paddling to Alaska (a place he has wanted to see.) |
He's paddling to Alaska (from the south.) Incorrectly punctuated phrase |
He's paddling to Alaska (from the south). |
Resources
- AP Stylebook. The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law. 42nd ed. New York: Basic Books, 2007 . (330) Print.
- MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. NewYork: Modern Language Association of America. 2009.( 3.2.5) Print.
- Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 6th ed. Washington, D.C: American Psychological Association, 2010. (4.09) Print.
- Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. 4th ed. 2009: Oxford University Press. (477) Print.
- University of Chicago Press. The Chicago Manual of Style. 15th edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003. (6.97–6.103) Print.
Practice
Parentheses
Are the parentheses used correctly?
- Select the option: correct or incorrect.
- Read the feedback to check your response.