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What Are Parentheses? When to Use Parentheses in Writing

Parentheses are used in writing to set off additional information within a sentence. While parenthetical information isn’t usually essential, it often provides helpful insight for a reader.

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Introduction

Our text compare tool is a fantastic, lightweight tool that provides plagiarism checks between two documents. Whether you are a student, blogger or publisher, this tool offers a great solution to detect and compare similarities between any two pieces of text. In this article, I will discuss the different ways to use the tool, the primary features of the tool and who this tool is for. There is an FAQ at the bottom if you run into any issues when trying to use the tool.

What makes Originality.ai’s text comparison tool stand out?

Keyword density helper – This tool comes with a built-in keyword density helper in some ways similar to the likes of SurferSEO or MarketMuse the difference being, ours is free! This feature shows the user the frequency of single or two word keywords in a document, meaning you can easily compare an article you have written against a competitor to see the major differences in keyword densities. This is especially useful for SEO’s who are looking to optimize their blog content for search engines and improve the blog’s visibility.

Ways to compare

File compare – Text comparison between files is a breeze with our tool. Simply select the files you would like to compare, hit “Upload” and our tool will automatically insert the content into the text area, then simply hit “Compare” and let our tool show you where the differences in the text are. By uploading a file, you can still check the keyword density in your content.

URL compare

Comparing text between URLs is effortless with our tool. Simply paste the URL you would like to get the content from (in our example we use a fantastic blog post by Sherice Jacob found here) hit “Submit URL” and our tool will automatically retrieve the contents of the page and paste it into the text area, then simply click “Compare” and let our tool highlight the difference between the URLs. This feature is especially useful for checking keyword density between pages!

Simple text compare

You can also easily compare text by copying and pasting it into each field, as demonstrated below.

Features of Originality.ai’s Text Compare Tool

Ease of use

Our text compare tool is created with the user in mind, it is designed to be accessible to everyone. Our tool allows users to upload files or enter a URL to extract text, this along with the lightweight design ensures a seamless experience. The interface is simple and straightforward, making it easy for users to compare text and detect the diff.

Multiple text file format support

Our tool provides support for a variety of different text files and microsoft word formats including pdf file, .docx, .odt, .doc, and .txt, giving users the ability to compare text from different sources with ease. This makes it a great solution for students, bloggers, and publishers who are looking for file comparison in different formats.

Protects intellectual property

Our text comparison tool helps you protect your intellectual property and helps prevent plagiarism. This tool provides an accurate comparison of texts, making it easy to ensure that your work is original and not copied from other sources. Our tool is a valuable resource for anyone looking to maintain the originality of their content.

User Data Privacy

Our text compare tool is secure and protects user data privacy. No data is ever saved to the tool, the users’ text is only scanned and pasted into the tool’s text area. This makes certain that users can use our tool with confidence, knowing their data is safe and secure.

Compatibility

Our text comparison tool is designed to work seamlessly across all size devices, ensuring maximum compatibility no matter your screen size. Whether you are using a large desktop monitor, a small laptop, a tablet or a smartphone, this tool adjusts to your screen size. This means that users can compare texts and detect the diff anywhere without the need for specialized hardware or software. This level of accessibility makes it an ideal solution for students or bloggers who value the originality of their work and need to compare text online anywhere at any time.

Parentheses are a type of punctuation. You can use them when writing to separate information within a sentence that adds additional detail or context. 

The information set off in parentheses is called “parenthetical information.” 

Parentheses have quite a lot of uses in writing. Learn about what parentheses are and when to use them in writing.

Then, review your content with the Originality.ai Grammar Checker to make sure you’re using punctuation (like parentheses) properly.

What Are Parentheses?

Parentheses are curved marks () used in writing to enclose and set information apart. They are always used in pairs, with an opening and closing parenthesis. 

  • “Parentheses” is plural.
  • “Parenthesis” is singular.

They are found on the keyboard, just above the 9 and 0. Parentheses have many uses, from setting off information within a sentence to enclosing some mathematical calculations. 

Inserting Additional Information Into a Sentence

Parentheses can enclose additional information (like this) without interrupting the flow of a sentence very much. 

Parenthetical information doesn’t stop the sentence so much as insert something additional, almost as an aside. A writer might choose to enclose information in parentheses for varying reasons. 

Non-essential information

Generally, the information placed in parentheses gives the reader more information but doesn’t change the sentence’s meaning. In theory, you could remove the whole parenthetical and the sentence would read the same but with a little less information. 

Examples: 

  • She wore her new coat (the blue one) to school.
  • Today is Tuesday, March 23 (and also my birthday!).
  • I work 20 hours a week (usually on nights and weekends).

In each of these sentences, you could remove the parentheses, and the information between them and the main idea of the sentence is still there:

  • She wore her new coat to school.
  • Today is Tuesday, March 23. 
  • I work 20 hours a week. 

However, while not essential, the parenthetical information adds some extra insight for the reader. 

Explanatory information or examples

Parentheses can enclose information that helps to explain or exemplify something within a sentence. Again, it may not be critical information, but it adds context. 

Examples: 

  • All three primary colors (red, yellow, and blue) are important when painting.
  • Follow the steps to registration (see page 2 of your student guide).

Reference citations

In some writing styles, in-text citations, also called direct or parenthetical citations, may be put in parentheses.

Examples:

  • The study revealed that people were not eating enough chocolate (Smith, 2024).
  • The text outlined how dogs understand our words (Butler, 2018, p. 102).

Translated information

Parentheses can be used to provide a translation of a word, term, or phrase within a sentence.

Example: The French-Canadian family baked a delicious tourtière (pie) for dîner (dinner).

Acronyms

Sometimes, parentheses are used to introduce acronyms.

Examples:

  • Classes on AI (artificial intelligence) are held daily at the university.
  • She studied ML (machine learning) in her classes.

The Use of Parentheses With Numbers

Parentheses have applications in writing that are related to numbers, too.

  • Dates with a sentence: Emily Dickinson (1830–1886) was born in Amherst, MA.
  • Area codes: (555) 555-5555
  • Some math operations: (8 x 4) + 2
  • Numbers in a list: The steps are (1) crack the egg, (2) beat the egg, and (3) fry it.

Parentheses With Other Punctuation

You shouldn’t put a punctuation mark before an opening parenthesis. However, you can place a punctuation mark after a closing parenthesis when necessary. 

The parentheses should never impact the punctuation of the sentence in which it appears. 

Period

In writing, place the period outside the parentheses (after the closing parenthesis) when:

  • The parenthetical is part of the sentence surrounding it. It doesn’t matter if the parenthetical is a dependent or independent clause.
    • Dependent clause: She is my best friend (most of the time).
    • Independent clause: She is my best friend (you are, too). 

Notice that when the parenthetical is an independent clause but also still an element of the sentence it is within, it does not begin with a capital letter. 

The period goes inside the parentheses (before the closing parentheses) when:

  • The parenthetical information is a complete sentence but stands apart from another sentence. 
    • She is my best friend. (I’ve known her for years.)
    • She is my best friend. (We get along most of the time.)

Since there is a period after the first sentence, the parenthetical sentence begins with a capital and gets its own punctuation within the closing parenthesis.

Exclamation mark or question mark

These marks can go inside or outside the parenthetical, depending on how they are being used.

If the whole sentence is a question or exclamation, the (?) or (!) goes outside the closing parenthesis:

Examples: 

  • Is she your best friend (or do you not always get along)?
  • Let’s plan a trip with her (she is my best friend)! 

However, if just the parenthetical is a question or exclamation, the (?) or (!) goes inside

Examples: 

  • She is my best friend (is she yours?).
  • She is my best friend (so are you!). 

Note that in these examples, the parenthetical gets the (?) and (!), but the overall sentence is a statement, so the end punctuation is a period. 

Commas and dashes

A set of parentheses is not set off by commas. A comma does not precede an opening parenthesis, but a closing parenthesis may need one at times:

Examples: 

  • When I called you (about noon) you said you couldn’t go. 
  • If you have a chance, I need apples (the organic ones), bananas, and oranges. 

The pause created by parenthetical information can make it feel like a comma is needed, but the parenthesis themselves are enough to make that pause. 

Parentheses vs. brackets

Parentheses and brackets are used differently in writing. While parentheses enclose additional information, brackets are mainly used for editorial notes and stage direction. 

However, they can occasionally be used with parentheses. When parentheses are needed inside a parenthetical, replace the interior set with brackets rather than doubling up on parentheses.

Example: When I cleaned the refrigerator, I found gross fruit (pears [moldy], apples [mushy], and peaches [with green fuzz]). 

In the case of a list like the example above, all the punctuation can get distracting. So, you may want to rewrite the sentence for a cleaner read instead.

Final Thoughts: Use Parentheses Sparingly

Too much parenthetical information in a written piece can appear clunky and cause too many pauses in the flow. (Having recurring parentheses throughout a piece of writing can begin to look like a lack of confidence or certainty, too.) If you find you are using a lot of parentheses in one piece of writing, look for ways to rewrite, rephrase, and use different punctuation. 

There are usually other ways — using commas or dashes, for instance — to set off additional information. Don’t let that stop you from using parentheses; just use them wisely. 

Make editing your content for proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation a breeze with the Originality.ai Grammar Checker.

Then, learn more about grammar, punctuation, and spelling in our resources:

Melissa Fanella

Melissa Fanella is a writer, editor, and marketing professional with over 15 years of experience in content and messaging for businesses and nonprofits. Her expertise is in crafting authentic, people-first content that is compelling and engaging for audiences and positioned for business goals.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it important to check for plagiarism?

Tools for conducting a plagiarism check between two documents online are important as it helps to ensure the originality and authenticity of written work. Plagiarism undermines the value of professional and educational institutions, as well as the integrity of the authors who write articles. By checking for plagiarism, you can ensure the work that you produce is original or properly attributed to the original author. This helps prevent the distribution of copied and misrepresented information.

What is Text Comparison?

Text comparison is the process of taking two or more pieces of text and comparing them to see if there are any similarities, differences and/or plagiarism. The objective of a text comparison is to see if one of the texts has been copied or paraphrased from another text. This text compare tool for plagiarism check between two documents has been built to help you streamline that process by finding the discrepancies with ease.

How do Text Comparison Tools Work?

Text comparison tools work by analyzing and comparing the contents of two or more text documents to find similarities and differences between them. This is typically done by breaking the texts down into smaller units such as sentences or phrases, and then calculating a similarity score based on the number of identical or nearly identical units. The comparison may be based on the exact wording of the text, or it may take into account synonyms and other variations in language. The results of the comparison are usually presented in the form of a report or visual representation, highlighting the similarities and differences between the texts.

String comparison is a fundamental operation in text comparison tools that involves comparing two sequences of characters to determine if they are identical or not. This comparison can be done at the character level or at a higher level, such as the word or sentence level.

The most basic form of string comparison is the equality test, where the two strings are compared character by character and a Boolean result indicating whether they are equal or not is returned. More sophisticated string comparison algorithms use heuristics and statistical models to determine the similarity between two strings, even if they are not exactly the same. These algorithms often use techniques such as edit distance, which measures the minimum number of operations (such as insertions, deletions, and substitutions) required to transform one string into another.

Another common technique for string comparison is n-gram analysis, where the strings are divided into overlapping sequences of characters (n-grams) and the frequency of each n-gram is compared between the two strings. This allows for a more nuanced comparison that takes into account partial similarities, rather than just exact matches.

String comparison is a crucial component of text comparison tools, as it forms the basis for determining the similarities and differences between texts. The results of the string comparison can then be used to generate a report or visual representation of the similarities and differences between the texts.

What is Syntax Highlighting?

Syntax highlighting is a feature of text editors and integrated development environments (IDEs) that helps to visually distinguish different elements of a code or markup language. It does this by coloring different elements of the code, such as keywords, variables, functions, and operators, based on a predefined set of rules.

The purpose of syntax highlighting is to make the code easier to read and understand, by drawing attention to the different elements and their structure. For example, keywords may be colored in a different hue to emphasize their importance, while comments or strings may be colored differently to distinguish them from the code itself. This helps to make the code more readable, reducing the cognitive load of the reader and making it easier to identify potential syntax errors.

How Can I Conduct a Plagiarism Check between Two Documents Online?

With our tool it’s easy, just enter or upload some text, click on the button “Compare text” and the tool will automatically display the diff between the two texts.

What Are the Benefits of Using a Text Compare Tool?

Using text comparison tools is much easier, more efficient, and more reliable than proofreading a piece of text by hand. Eliminate the risk of human error by using a tool to detect and display the text difference within seconds.

What Files Can You Inspect with This Text Compare Tool?

We have support for the file extensions .pdf, .docx, .odt, .doc and .txt. You can also enter your text or copy and paste text to compare.

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There is never any data saved by the tool, when you hit “Upload” we are just scanning the text and pasting it into our text area so with our text compare tool, no data ever enters our servers.

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