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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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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:
However, while not essential, the parenthetical information adds some extra insight for the reader.
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:
In some writing styles, in-text citations, also called direct or parenthetical citations, may be put in parentheses.
Examples:
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).
Sometimes, parentheses are used to introduce acronyms.
Examples:
Parentheses have applications in writing that are related to numbers, too.
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.
In writing, place the period outside the parentheses (after the closing parenthesis) when:
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:
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.
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:
However, if just the parenthetical is a question or exclamation, the (?) or (!) goes inside.
Examples:
Note that in these examples, the parenthetical gets the (?) and (!), but the overall sentence is a statement, so the end punctuation is a period.
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:
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 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.
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:
