How to Use Parentheses
“Parentheses” — When and How to Use Them
I’m guessing most of you know how to use parentheses, but you may be surprised at some of the rules regarding how to punctuate them and when to use them. Let’s take a look.
The spelling of the word itself is the first thing to look at. Parentheses (with an es at the end) is plural and is almost always used that way. This differs from ellipsis and ellipses.
Both words indicate the plural form when spelled with an es at the end, but ellipsis (singular) is the punctuation mark, while parenthesis (singular) is only half the punctuation mark.
When to Use Parentheses
Parentheses are used to indicate side remarks or to provide additional information. An example follows:
- My black van (the one with the wheelchair ramp) has a handicap license plate.
Remember that whatever is inside the parentheses must not be critical to the sentence; in other words, if you remove what is inside the parentheses, the sentence should still make sense. If you try that with the above sentence, you’ll see it works. - My black van has a handicap license plate.
As you can see, the reader doesn’t get the additional information, but the sentence is still complete. This is the same as what we discussed previously with nonessential phrases, those offset by commas.
Using Punctuation with Parentheses
How to use parentheses with punctuation is more complicated. The common practice is to place the punctuation inside the parentheses if you’ve got a complete sentence.
- I wondered where to take her to eat dinner (Should I get Chinese food?), but I decided I should just ask her.
- If the parentheses information completes the sentence, place the punctuation outside.
He went north at the fork in the road (though he could have gone south).
If the words inside the parentheses do not form a complete sentence, then place the punctuation outside the parentheses. - He came to a fork in the road and paused to think (Which way to go?).
Notice in the sentence above, the period follows the parentheses, while the question mark is inside the parentheses. If a question mark or an exclamation point applies to what is inside the parentheses, they go inside. - Commas almost always follow the parentheses, but not always. If you want to determine whether or not to use a comma, simply take out the parenthetical information and apply the rules we talked about in the section on commas.
- He came to a fork in the road (checked his map), then decided to head north (comma needed).
- He came to a fork in the road, then decided to head north (sentence without parenthetical information).
- He came to a fork in the road (checked his map) and headed north (no comma needed).
- He came to a fork in the road and headed north.
As you can see, punctuation is determined by the structure of the sentence without the information within the parentheses.
One thing before we go further. Remember that whatever thought is within the parentheses should not be a primary part of the sentence; in other words, the sentence should stand alone. You should be able to remove the words inside the parentheses and have the sentence still make sense (presuming it made sense before).
Just when you thought you were done, we’re going to add a few more rules. If you have a sentence, and you insert a parenthetical thought in the middle which is functioning as an aside or inside comment, you don’t capitalize the thought or end it with a period.
- When Sean graduated from college, he was drafted by the Giants (he wanted the Patriots) which upset him.
On the other hand, if the sentence inside the parentheses comes at the end of the original sentence and adds information to the original, it requires an initial capital letter as well as a period at the end, inside the parentheses.
- When the Giants drafted Sean he was upset. (He hoped the Patriots would have chosen him.)
- If what you’re placing inside the parentheses is an extension of the original sentence or simply explaining something in the sentence, you do not capitalize the initial letter or end it with a period. I’ll provide and example from this book.
- Seldom do three letters stir such confusion. And yet it’s easy to spot the differences. It’s (with apostrophe) is always, and only, a contraction—either for “it is” or “it has,” as in “It’s been raining” (it has been raining). Or “It’s mine” (it is mine).
As you can see ”It has been raining” is merely explaining the phrase preceding it: “It’s been raining,” and the same applies to “It is mine.”
Other things to place inside parentheses include:
1. The numbers in numbered lists, such as “Bring these items to the interview: (1) a résumé, (2) a portfolio showing your design work, and (3) a list of references.”
2. Area codes for phone numbers: (415) 624-5555. We don’t think much about this now as most smartphones and contact-management lists format this automatically.
3. Time zones, which are often cited in emails and other correspondence when arranging interviews. An example follows:
- “The flight leaves at 6:00 p.m. (EST).”
To indicate a person’s birth or death date, as in:
- John Lennon (10/9/1940–12/8/1980), was a British (Liverpool) citizen and member of the rock band The Beatles.
To explain the meaning of, or to clarify, an abbreviation or acronym, as in:
- John Smith, the CMO (chief marketing officer) was just promoted again.
You may also do the reverse. “John Smith, the chief marketing officer (CMO), was just promoted again.”
It’s only necessary to do this the first time you cite it. The rest of the time, the parentheses are not necessary.
The meaning of the acronym is not capitalized unless it’s a proper noun. Note that chief marketing officer (above) is lowercase, but if the acronym had represented a proper noun, it would have been capitalized as in the example below.
- When we went to Houston, we visited NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and saw some interesting videos.
Though seldom used, the following rule is worth mentioning. Translations of a foreign language are often placed in parentheses.
- He claimed to know how to speak Italian, but his vocabulary was limited to buon giorno and buonanotte (good morning and good night).
A final note on punctuation and capitalization inside parentheses.
If what’s inside the parentheses forms a complete sentence, and it ends with a question mark or exclamation point, keep the terminal punctuation (? !), inside the parentheses. Only capitalize the first letter if it’s a proper noun or if what is contained inside the parentheses is a quoted sentence, or if it’s a complete sentence coming at the end of the main sentence.
- It looked as if we were in trouble. We had good advice (her dad told us “Don’t go!”), but we didn’t listen.
- It seemed as if he was going to prison for what he did. (Why shouldn’t he?)
If the parenthetical sentence ends in a period and occurs mid sentence, do not capitalize the first letter (unless it’s a proper noun), but still place the period inside the parentheses. If the sentence follows the main sentence, capitalize the initial letter.
One more thing to note. As we already said, the text inside the parentheses is not essential to the sentence and that affects which verb you would use. Look at the following.
- Dana and Nick are going to the party.
- Dana (and Nick) is going to the party.
In the first example, we’re saying both Dana and Nick are going to the party, and there is equal emphasis on each. In that case, a plural verb is necessary because there are two subjects — two people going to the party.
In the second example, the focus is on Dana. She’s the one going to the party, and oh yeah, Nick is too. In this case, we’re saying Dana is going and then adding that Nick is also.
For other punctuation tips, try this post.
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