Now Where Did I Put Those Parentheses?

If you’re like me, parentheses can pose a challenge for your writing, especially if they come at the end of the sentence. Today we’re going to discuss the basic rules and how to punctuate within parentheses and at the end of sentences.

Parentheses are basically used to separate nonessential information from the rest of your sentence, almost like a side note or thought. They always come in pairs; you must have an opening and a closing.

Rule 1: Use parentheses around information that isn’t essential or for abrupt changes in thought.

If the words inside the parentheses form a complete sentence, the punctuation goes inside them.

If the words inside the parentheses are not a complete sentence, the punctuation goes outside of the closing parentheses.

Exception to Rule 1: Always place commas, semicolons and colons outside of the closing parentheses.

Examples:

No personal calls are allowed on company time.
(Refer to the policy manual.)

The festival will be held next year (in August).

Rule 2: If the information inside the parentheses requires an exclamation point or question mark, use it inside the parentheses but only if the sentence ends with a different mark.

Examples:

Cinderella (remember that band?) will go on tour this summer.
Do you remember the band Kix (can you remember that far back) from the 80’s?

Rule 3: Use parentheses to clarify the preceding words.

Examples:

Next week we will study hydroponics (growing plants without soil).

Rule 4: Use parentheses when you need to reference documentation or a source.

Examples:

We have a strict privacy policy. (See Insert 1.)
Hydroponics comes from the Greek words hydro water and ponos labor. (Wikipedia.org.)

Rule 5: Use parentheses around acronyms and abbreviations if they’re used with the spelled-out words.

Examples:

Please refer to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Rule 6: Use parentheses in a horizontal list that contains letters or numbers.

Examples:

Bring these three items to your audition: (1) demo tape, (2) instrument, and (3) a good attitude.
Please include the following information on your application: (a) name, (b) instrument played, and (c) contact phone number.

Rule 7: Capitalize the first letter inside parentheses if it’s a proper noun or forms a complete sentence.

Examples:

Please verify all items. (Check the boxes that apply.)

Rule 8: Use parentheses around numerals that are used with the spelled-out number.

Examples:

I have ninety-nine (99) bottles of beer on the wall.

Rule 9: Use parentheses for minor subdivisions in alpha-numeric outlines.

Examples:

1. A.
   B.

(1)

(a)
(b)

There you have it—the complete rules of parentheses use for your writing. Don’t worry; I have to refer to them myself (Especially if I haven’t used them in awhile.)

Image courtesy: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/22/27660155_40c6a9869f.jpg

Written by Patti Stafford from Patti Stafford
Posted on January 27th, 2010 and filed under Writing
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