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Parentheses: How to Use Them in English Writing

By: Author English Study Online

Posted on Last updated: November 13, 2023

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In this page, we will cover the rules for using parentheses, including when to use them and how to use them correctly. We will provide examples of their usage in different contexts, and offer tips for avoiding common mistakes. By the end of this article, you will have a solid understanding of how to use parentheses and brackets in your writing, and be able to communicate your ideas with clarity and precision.

Table of Contents

Understanding Parentheses

In English writing, parentheses are punctuation marks used to set apart certain words, phrases, or sentences . They are also known as round brackets and are represented by a pair of curved lines ( ).

Parentheses are used to add extra information in the text that is not essential to the sentence’s meaning but can provide additional context.

They can also be used to clarify a point or direct the reader’s attention to something specific in a sentence or a paragraph.

• For example, consider the following sentence: “ John (my neighbor) is a great cook .”

In this sentence, the phrase “my neighbor” is enclosed in parentheses, indicating that it is additional information that is not necessary to the meaning of the sentence.

Parentheses can also be used to include citations or references in a sentence .

• For instance, “ The study found that the majority of participants (n=50) preferred chocolate over vanilla ice cream. “

Here, the citation “n=50” is enclosed in parentheses, indicating that it is additional information that supports the sentence’s claim.

It is important to note that when using parentheses, the sentence should still make sense without the enclosed information. If the enclosed information is essential to the sentence’s meaning, it should be placed outside the parentheses.

Uses of Parentheses

Parentheses are punctuation marks that are commonly used in writing to enclose additional information that is not essential to the main sentence. In this section, we will explore some of the common uses of parentheses.

In Sentences

Parentheses can be used to add extra information to a sentence that is not essential to the main point. This information can be a word, phrase, or even a complete sentence. For example:

• The new restaurant (which opened last week) is already receiving rave reviews.
• Mary (who is my neighbor) is a great cook.

In both of these examples, the information in parentheses is not essential to the main sentence, but it provides additional context or clarification.

In Mathematics

In mathematics, parentheses are used to indicate the order of operations. For example, in the equation 2 + 3 x 4, the answer would be different depending on whether you add 2 and 3 first, or multiply 3 and 4 first. To avoid confusion, we use parentheses to indicate the order of operations:

• 2 + (3 x 4) = 14
• (2 + 3) x 4 = 20

In Computer Programming

In computer programming, parentheses are used in a variety of ways. One common use is to enclose arguments in a function call. For example, the following code calls a function named “print” and passes it the argument “Hello, world!”:

• print(“Hello, world!”)

Parentheses are also used to group expressions or to specify the order of operations. For example, the following code multiplies two numbers and then adds a third number:

• (2 * 3) + 4

Types of Parentheses

In English, there are four main types of parentheses that we use in writing. These are round brackets, square brackets, curly brackets, and angle brackets. Each type of bracket has its own specific use and purpose.

Round Brackets

Round brackets, also known as parentheses, are the most commonly used type of bracket in English writing. They are used to enclose information not essential to the main sentence. This information can be an explanation, clarification, or an aside.

• For example, “ We are going to the park (weather permitting). ” The information inside the parentheses is not necessary for the sentence to be grammatically correct.

Square Brackets

Square brackets are used to enclose information that has been added to a quote or text but was not part of the original. They are often used in academic writing to make a quote more understandable or to clarify something that may be unclear.

• For example, “The author stated that ‘the study was conducted on a sample of [50] participants.’ “

Curly Brackets

Curly brackets, also known as braces, are used to group together related items or to indicate a set of choices. They are not commonly used in English writing, but they can be helpful in certain situations.

• For example, “The {red, green, and blue} cars are all on sale.”

Angle Brackets

Angle brackets , also known as chevrons , are used in certain technical contexts such as coding or mathematics. They are used to enclose code or to indicate a mathematical operation.

• For example, “

This is a paragraph

” is a common HTML code that is used to create a paragraph on a web page.

Rules of Using Parentheses

Parentheses are punctuation marks that are used to enclose words, phrases, or sentences that are not essential to the main idea of a sentence. Here are some general rules for using parentheses in English writing and mathematical expressions.

In English Writing

1. Use parentheses to enclose nonessential information that provides additional details or clarifications.

For example:

• The new restaurant (which just opened last week) is already getting great reviews.
• My sister (who is a doctor) recommended this medication.

2. Use parentheses to enclose numbers or letters in a series or list.

• The three main colors used in this painting are red, blue, and green (RGB).
• Please refer to section 3.2 (Data Analysis) for more information.

3. Use parentheses to indicate an abbreviation or acronym.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends getting vaccinated.
• The United States of America (USA) has a diverse population.

In Mathematical Expressions

1. Use parentheses to group operations together and clarify the order of operations. For example:

• 2 x (3 + 4) = 14

2. Use parentheses to indicate the domain or range of a function. For example:

• f(x) = x^2, where x ∈ (-∞, ∞)
• g(x) = 1/x, where x ∈ (0, ∞)

3. Use brackets to indicate the floor or ceiling function. For example:

• ⌊5.7⌋ = 5
• ⌈3.2⌉ = 4

Exercises for Practice

Now that we’ve gone over the basics of using parentheses and brackets, it’s time to put your knowledge to the test with some exercises. Don’t worry, we’ve got the answers for you too!

Add parentheses or brackets where necessary in the following sentences:

• The cat sat on the mat and licked its paws.
• My favorite colors are blue, green, and yellow.
• The concert, which was sold out, was amazing.
• The teacher gave us a pop quiz today.
• The cat sat on the mat (and licked its paws).
• My favorite colors are (blue, green, and yellow).
• The concert (which was sold out) was amazing.

Choose the correct punctuation mark to complete the sentence:

• The weather is nice (, / ; / -) we should go for a walk.
• He is a doctor (, / ; / -) he works at the hospital.
• The book, which was written by J.K. Rowling (, / ; / -) is one of my favorites.
• I need to buy milk, bread, and eggs (, / ; / -) I’m going to the grocery store.
• The weather is nice; we should go for a walk.
• He is a doctor; he works at the hospital.
• The book, which was written by J.K. Rowling, is one of my favorites.
• I need to buy milk, bread, and eggs; I’m going to the grocery store.

Rewrite the following sentences using parentheses or brackets to add extra information:

• The movie was good. It was directed by Steven Spielberg.
• The cake was delicious. It was made by my mom.
• The building is old. It was built in the 1800s.
• The movie (directed by Steven Spielberg ) was good.
• The cake (made by my mom) was delicious.
• The building (built in the 1800s) is old.

These exercises should help you become more comfortable using parentheses and brackets in your writing. Keep practicing and soon it will become second nature!

• Question Mark (?)
• Exclamation Mark/Point (!)
• Quotation Marks (” “)
• Quotation Marks Rules
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Parentheses: When to Use Parentheses in Writing (Examples)

If you'd like to know more about parentheses and how to use them, you've come to the right place. This article will teach you everything you need to know to use them properly and when.

• Parentheses are punctuation marks you use for adding nonessential information to your text. 

This guide is part of our free online Grammar Book .

When to Use Parentheses

So, first of all, what are parentheses? They're a pair of punctuation marks - a single one called a parenthesis - that you can use to enclose a word or group of words to separate them from the rest of the text.

In that way, they're similar to quotation marks or dashes. But the difference is that the information contained within parentheses is nonessential. In other words, removing it wouldn't affect the overall meaning, and the reader could still understand your point. 

• You'll always place a parenthesis at the beginning of the nonessential text and another one at the end, so it's wrapped up nicely like a gift.

Here's an example:

My breakfast (eggs on toast) always sustains me until lunchtime.

The reader doesn't need to know what the writer eats for breakfast. It can be helpful for them to know, but that's not the main point of the sentence. The point is to say that it sustains them until lunchtime. For that reason, leaving out the information on the specific foods eaten wouldn't affect the meaning. That's why it's in parentheses.

• Don't confuse parentheses with brackets, which are like square parentheses. They look like this: [ ].

And before we dive in and learn when to use parentheses, there's one more thing you should know:

• Parentheses can contain a single word, a sentence fragment, a complete sentence, or even multiple sentences.

Now let's get started.

Give Additional Information

The first way parentheses come in handy is to provide additional information about the rest of the sentence. Again, this information will always be nonessential but could be something you think your readers might be interested in knowing. It could be to explain or illustrate a point.

Here are some examples:

Everything I set out to do today (clean the house, fix my car and eat a nourishing meal) was a complete and utter success. My brother (Ben) is coming for dinner .  Tonight's gala is a huge occasion. (Everyone who's somebody will be there.)

The information within parentheses could be removed in all the examples above, and the reader would still understand what you meant.

Notice how we have a mixture of content types within the parentheses. We have a dependent clause in the first example, a single word ( proper noun ) in the second, and an independent clause in the third.

You can also use parentheses to clarify what an acronym stands for:

I make a monthly donation to the WWF (World Wildlife Fund).

Or to show a word can be singular or plural:

Tick the box(es) below as appropriate.

Provide the Author's Commentary

Parentheses can also be used to add your own commentary to your text as the writer. This can be a great way to bring your text alive and add some humor and personality.

Tom announced that he was leaving the company (no surprise after the events of the last few weeks). Your submission to the contest (which caught everyone's eye by the way) has been recorded and we shall get back to you soon with the results. Alice showed up late (surprise surprise) and was rude to everyone. Typical!

Enclose Numbers or Letters

You can use parentheses to enclose numbers or letters when you're using them to show the order in your text.

For example:

To unlock the screen, (1) press the power button, (2) swipe the screen with your finger and (3) enter your pin code. I'm not going because (a) I don't want to, and (b) I'm too tired.

Note that it sometimes might be more appropriate to write a bulleted list, especially if there are more than four items in your list.

Cite Sources

Some style guides have you use parentheses for in-text citations. For example, the APA, Chicago, and MLA formats. This means that when you quote a journal or other reputable source in your academic paper, you must insert the author's name and year in parentheses at the end of the quote. Then, at the end of your paper, you'll have a reference list where all your citations are referenced to their broader source (this will also make use of parentheses).

Here's an example of what an in-text citation can look like:

Subjects in the study were found to be more relaxed after a warm cup of chamomile tea (Grant, 2004). 

Punctuation With Parentheses

Now that we've covered all our bases on when to use parentheses, let's see how we can make good use of punctuation in and around them. It's pretty straightforward as long as you understand a few rules.

Firstly, if the parenthetical text is a full, complete sentence that stands on its own, then you should punctuate it as usual, meaning the punctuation will be within the parentheses .

Understanding punctuation rules with parentheses is pretty simple. (But mistakes are easily made.)

Notice how the first word is capitalized, and there's a period at the end, contained within the parentheses. On the other hand, don't include any punctuation if the text contained within the parentheses isn't a complete sentence (i.e., it's a single word, phrase, or dependent clause). Punctuate the rest of the sentence as usual.

Learn the dos and don'ts of flower arrangement (and watering) in our upcoming workshop.

Notice how the first word isn't capitalized, and there's no punctuation—only the period at the end of the sentence itself.  There's one exception to this rule, and that's with exclamation points and question marks . If the parenthetical text is a question or an exclamation, you may include those punctuation marks, regardless of whether it's a complete sentence . For example:

It was then I spotted a (huge!) black spider crawling up my bedroom wall. His dog (Rex?) was excited to see us all.

Unlike with quotation marks, commas and full stops should be placed after the closing parenthesis, as such:

I approached him (reluctatntly), and asked if he was okay. She claimed that origami was more fun than Twister (but I'm not sure she really believed it). 

Some Additional Notes on Parentheses

We've covered most of what you need to know, but I want to address a few more points before I conclude this article.

Read on to find out what they are.

Subject-Verb Agreement

One of the most important things you'll ever learn - a rule that spans the entire grammar spectrum - is always ensuring subject-verb agreement.

• Subject-verb agreement is when the verb is conjugated correctly according to its subject .

For example, the following sentence does not have correct subject-verb agreement because the subject is 'boys,' which is third person plural, and the verb is 'loves,' which is the conjugation for third person singular only.

The boys loves spaghetti bolognese for dinner. 

For this sentence to have correct subject-verb agreement, we'd have to change the verb to ' love .'

Applying this to sentences with parentheses can be a little tricky because you must ignore the text within the parentheses.

My mum (and half the population) loves the new Elvis movie. 

At first glance, it might appear that this sentence doesn't have correct subject-verb agreement because 'mum' + 'half the population' = a plural subject. But this isn't the case since we must ignore the text within the parenthetical phrase ('half the population') and count only 'mum' as the subject. Therefore, the subject is singular, and 'loves' is appropriate.

Here are some more examples:

Tom (along with the rest of us) was very disappointed with the outcome. My daughter (and her cute pup) is joining us later. The country (and to some extend, the whole continent) is in crisis.

Use Parentheses Sparingly

Last but not least, use parentheses sparingly. This punctuation mark is often overused, which causes it to lose its effect. To avoid this, ensure you only use it when the information contained within it is something you'd be happy to remove. Look at your sentence and ask yourself , would the sentence still make sense without this information? If so, then you can put it in parentheses. If not, then don't.

Also, ask yourself whether a different punctuation mark would be better suited. Try dashes, for instance, or even commas , and see if that works better. Sometimes, more than one option is appropriate, so it's up to you to pick the best one.

Case in point:

My sister (whom I love dearly but who annoys me greatly) always steals all my clothes . My sister, whom I love dearly but who annoys me greatly, always steals all my clothes. My sister - whom I love dearly but who annoys me greatly - always steals all my clothes.

Concluding Thoughts

That concludes this article on parentheses; I hope you found it helpful and feel that you understand how and when to use them.

Let's summarize what we've learned:

• Parentheses are a form of punctuation.
• You can use them to provide additional, nonessential information or extra commentary, cite sources, or enclose letters or numbers in lists.
• Watch out for your punctuation in and around parentheses.
• Ignore the parenthetical text when checking subject-verb agreement.
• Use parentheses sparingly.

If you enjoyed this article, you'd love our Grammar Book , a free online database of grammar articles just like this one. Check it out!

Learn More:

• Periods: When to Use Periods in Writing (Examples)
• Exclamation Points: When to Use Exclamation Points in Writing (Examples)
• Semicolons: When to Use Semicolons in Writing (Examples)
• Question Marks: When to Use Question Marks in Writing (Examples)
• Commas: When to Use Commas in Writing (Examples)
• Colons: When to Use Colons in Writing (Examples)
• Homophones: What Is a Homophone? (Meaning and Examples)
• Parallelism: What Is Parallelism? Definition and Examples
• Imperative Sentences: What Are Imperative Sentences? Definition and Examples
• Language Register in English Writing: Definition, Meaning, and Examples
• What is a Plural Noun? Definition and Examples
• Regular vs Irregular Verbs: Definitions, Differences, Examples
• Auxiliary Verbs: What Are Auxiliary Verbs? Definitions and Examples
• Transitive and Intransitive Verbs: Definition and Examples
• Interrogative Sentences: What Are Interrogative Sentences? Definition and Examples

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Punctuation Guide: Parenthesis, Hyphens, Dashes, and Ellipses

• Commas, Colons, and Semicolons
• Parenthesis, Hyphens, Dashes, and Ellipses
• Apostrophes, Quotation Marks, and End Punctuation

A  hyphen -   is used to join two or more words together into a compound term . There are no extra spaces. 

• part-time, back-to-back, well-known
• He had the most up-to-date information available to help him make an informed decision.
• After ending a long-time feud, he became friends with his brother-in-law.

*Consult a dictionary to see if your compound word uses a hyphen or is one word without a hyphen.

• He gave one-third of the last cookie to each of his friends, keeping none for himself. 
• She turned eighty-five the year she published her first book.

Put hyphens between the letters of a word using  hyphens  to indicate that a word is spelled out letter-by-letter.

• Do you want to go for a w-a-l-k? I can’t say the word in front of the dog, or he’ll go crazy!

The prefixes  all ,  ex , and  self  should be joined to words using a  hyphen . Suffixes such as  elect  should also be attached using  hyphens .

• Her ex-wife had stayed at the all-inclusive resort at the same time as the president-elect of Haiti.

You can also use hyphens to connect prefixes such as un and pre to capitalized words.

• Robin’s family held a pre-Thanksgiving celebration every year since they couldn’t be together on the actual holiday.

Hyphens  can be used to indicate a hesitation or stammer .

• “I’m s-s-s-so sorry,” she cried.

Hyphens  help clarify the meaning of words .

• Resign means to quit. Re-sign means to sign again.

A  dash  is used to separate words into statements.

The en dash which is twice as long as a hyphen which is used to indicate a range or connection. There are no spaces around an en dash.

• They rode the Amtrak Raleigh – Durham train many times between 2017 – 2019.

The em dash is even longer and is used in place of a comma, parenthesis, or colon for emphasis. Most of the time you will see a space before and after this dash.

• After the proposal, he gave his answer — Yes!
• The beach — finally reopened after the oil spill — was gorgeous.
• Maddey —  her umbr ella in hand — wal ked o ut int o th e storm. 

Brackets/parentheses are also used in academic writing to separate citations from the rest of the text. Check out our citation page for more information.

Here's an example of an intext citation in MLA style.

• For optimal decomposition, experts believe you should aim for a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 30:1 (Johnson, 2019).

Parenthesis (Round Brackets)

P arentheses () are used around nonessential information or abrupt changes in thought.  Extra text that is separated out like this is called  parenthetical  text.  

• Joe always turns his carefully edited essays in on time (he is a well-organized student).

*In formal academic writing , don't overuse parentheses and check to see if they are essential. Oftentimes the information could be in a separate sentence or included with commas or semicolons.

Punctuation rules

When the words in parentheses form a complete sentence , place a period inside the closing parenthesis.

• No personal phone calls are allowed in the library. (Refer to the policy manual.)

When the words in parentheses are not a complete sentence, place the period outside the closing parenthesis.

Always place commas, semicolons, and colons outside the closing parenthesis.

• The adventure started with boarding a train (with a multitude of other travelers), and then finding the next clue to the treasure.  

If the information in parentheses has a question mark or an exclamation mark, use the punctuation mark inside the parentheses only if the sentence ends with a different mark.

• Julio (remember him?) stopped by to see me yesterday in the library.
• Do you remember Daniel (think you can remember back that far) from our English class?

Use parentheses to clarify preceding words.

• Next week we will study the hydrologic cycle (also known as the water cycle).

Use parentheses for references or documentation of sources.

• Fifty contracts were issued this year. (See Table 1.)
• The U.S. leads the world in Internet use (Leslie 89).

Use parentheses around an abbreviation or an acronym when it is used with the spelled–out word.

• Please submit the Student Aid Report (SAR).

Use parentheses in a horizontal list of items that uses either letters or numbers.

• Include the following: (a) name, (b) address, and (c) ID number.

Use parentheses around numerals used with a spelled–out number.

• I have ninety (90) dollars left from my paycheck.

Square Brackets and Ellipses

Square brackets  [ ] indicate where you have  inserted  words within a quotation so that it makes more sense.

• The thief said: "She [the store owner] told me to put my hands in the air."

The ellipsis (...) indicates where words are  removed  from the original quotation. It has space before and after the three dots.

• She began to count, "One, two, three, four …" until she got to 10, then went to find him.
• When Newton stated, "An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion ..." he developed the law of motion.
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• Next: Apostrophes, Quotation Marks, and End Punctuation >>
• Last Updated: Oct 19, 2023 8:54 AM
• URL: https://libguides.rccc.edu/punctuation

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• Writing Tips

Punctuation Tips: Parenthesis

8-minute read

• 3rd March 2023

Whether you’re writing an essay, email, or cover letter, you’ll likely use parentheses. Maybe you already know what a parenthesis is but aren’t sure when to use it. Did you know that there are different ways to use parentheses in writing? If you’re curious to know more about parentheses, including when to use them, then read on!

Here, we provide a comprehensive guide to using parentheses . By the end of this post, you’ll be able to define a parenthesis and know why and when to use it.

What Is a Parenthesis?

A parenthesis is a word, phrase, or clause inserted into a sentence as an explanation or afterthought. The information in parentheses is unnecessary but still related to the text. Here are a couple of examples with the parenthesis highlighted in green:

A parenthesis is usually offset with parenthetical punctuation marks, such as round brackets, commas, or dashes . A parenthesis often interrupts the flow of a text, earning it the nickname “The Interrupter”. 

The Purpose of Using Parentheses in Writing

We use parentheses to offset additional information in a sentence. For example, the parenthetical information can clarify the preceding writing or it might be a digression. This information can fit into one sentence, thus eliminating the need to write two sentences.

Examples of a Parenthesis

A parenthesis with brackets is the most common example, especially round ones. Let’s consider this example:

The parenthesis is clearly seen when parentheses (round brackets) are used to offset it. Round brackets are also used to introduce unfamiliar abbreviations when first used in writing. For example:

Square brackets or box brackets [ ] are used to alter words in a direct quotation in academic writing. These words clarify meaning, provide a brief explanation, or blend a writer’s words into the quote, making the quote more understandable for the reader. Consider this example:

Cyberbullying clarifies the meaning of the pronoun ‘it’ and is the word of the student writer rather than the original author (Taggert). In addition, you should know that square or box brackets must be used when altering words in a direct quotation. In other words, using round brackets would be incorrect.

You would also use square brackets when using sic in quotes . Sic is based on the Latin phrase sic erat scriptum (thus it was written), and is used to show that a quote has been reproduced exactly as it appears in the source text, complete with any errors:

Curly brackets or braces { } are rarely used in formal writing, but they serve a purpose. In this case, they denote a list within a list. Here’s an example:

The words in the braces illustrate a list within a list, in this case, the list of dairy products.

Commas are also commonly used for parentheses. They keep the focus on the surrounding text. For example:

Unfortunately, commas aren’t popular with readers for parenthetical emphasis. They have other roles, such as separating list items and offsetting adverbial phrases. Because of this, readers often become confused about where the parenthesis starts and ends. Therefore, writers should carefully consider using commas to offset parentheses. For instance, if a parenthesis contains commas, additional commas to offset it would potentially confuse the reader. Let’s look at an example:

Wow! Talk about a comma overload! It’s hard to know where the parenthetical offset is, and this would read better with round brackets. Let’s try this:

We can agree that the parenthetical offset is easier to see.

Parenthetical offset using dashes increases the focus on the parenthesis. We tend to find dashes in fiction writing; however, they can also be used in quotations. You would use either an en or em dash to offset a parenthesis. An en dash (–) uses a punctuation mark longer than a hyphen (-). An em dash (—) is a slightly longer punctuation mark than an en dash. Let’s look at examples of en and em dashes in action:

With the en dash, you add a space on either side of each dash. However, em dashes are left unspaced. So, if there are two types of dashes, which one should you use? This will depend on your audience. Dashes are used differently in U.S. English than in U.K. English . If your audience is using U.S. English, you will use the unspaced em dash; for U.K. English, it will be the spaced en dash.

You should know that using the hyphen (-) instead of dashes would be incorrect for parenthetical offset. In fact, many writers erroneously use hyphens to offset a parenthesis. They often aren’t aware of the dash rule or don’t know how to type an en or em dash .

When Should You Use a Parenthesis?

A parenthesis is good for adding extra information to a sentence. A text without a single parenthesis would be dull to read. You should also use one to interrupt a sentence with an afterthought or digression. Additionally, parentheses are needed to separate words or phrases for clarity. Moreover, you need parentheses when introducing unfamiliar abbreviations in academic writing.

Rules for Parentheses

Of course, there are rules for using parentheses, which you should be aware of.

Placement Within a Sentence

Parentheses can enclose a single word, a sentence fragment, a complete sentence, or multiple complete sentences.

·   Single word – Pauline is coming to my party (yay!), and she’s bringing a cake.

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·   Fragment – Pauline is coming to my party (or so she says), and she’s bringing a cake.

·   Full sentence – Pauline is coming to my party, and she’s bringing a cake. (Does she remember how to get to my place, though?)

·   Multiple sentences – Pauline is coming to my party, and she’s bringing a cake. (Does she remember how to get to my place, though? She forgot the last time.)

Punctuation Usage With Parentheses

Parentheses tend to end up with some extra punctuation, especially when they’re at the end of a sentence.

Periods, commas, exclamation points, and question marks that belong to the outside sentence always go outside the parenthesis. For example:

Formatting Parentheses in Academic Writing

Parenthetical information should not be necessary to the rest of the text. If you remove the text in parentheses, the sentence should still be complete and correct. Consider these examples:

If we remove the text in parentheses, the sentence isn’t clear. What do they need to be? However, with “before 6 p.m.” in parentheses, we know this individual needs to be back at their hotel before 6 p.m.

The subject-verb agreement should also ignore anything in parentheses. For example:

You will need to use the correct bracket style in academic writing. Round brackets, ( ), add extra information in a text, while square brackets, [ ], add extra information that wasn’t in the original quote. Additionally, round brackets are used when introducing abbreviations. Finally, you use square brackets when using sic in quotes.

So that’s it for parentheses. Here’s a summary of key points:

●  Parentheses are important for any text; without them, the text would be dull to read.

●  Brackets, commas, and dashes exemplify parentheses; however, commas can sometimes be confusing when used as parentheses.

●  Parentheses can enclose a single word, a sentence fragment, a complete sentence, or multiple complete sentences.

●  You will need to format parentheses correctly for academic writing.

●  Be careful with punctuation use with parentheses.

●  Brackets play a crucial role in academic writing (introducing abbreviations).

Parentheses make any text more interesting to read. The additional information, clarification, or afterthought provided by a parenthesis in a sentence is usually essential to keep readers informed, on track, or engaged with the author’s thinking. Therefore, writers should be comfortable using parentheses. You will use parentheses more in some contexts and less in others. No matter the context, if your parenthesis is short, consider not using any parenthetical punctuation.

Are you currently working on a cover letter, essay, or other writing and unsure of correctly using parentheses? How about letting the proofreading experts at Proofed review your writing? We can check for grammar and punctuation errors and ensure perfect spelling. We will also ensure the correct use of parentheses. Consider submitting a 500-word document for free today!

1.   What is the definition of parenthesis?

A parenthesis is a word, phrase, or clause inserted into a sentence as an explanation or afterthought. The information in parentheses is unnecessary but still related to the text.

2.   What are the uses of parenthesis in writing?

Parenthesis offsets additional information in a sentence instead of writing it in a separate sentence. For example, the parenthetical information clarifies or explains or might offer a digression.

3.   When should parenthesis be used instead of commas or dashes?

Parentheses are most useful to include short asides or background information such as dates, percentages, and financial information. Parentheses should be used for adding information to quotes or introducing unfamiliar abbreviations in academic writing. For more information on parentheses, commas, and dashes, check out this link .

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Rewriting Sentences

Using adverbs in writing.

Rewrite these sentences in the space provided. Include the adverb in parenthesis. For example, if you saw She makes mistakes. (rarely) , you would type She rarely makes mistakes.

Show all questions

I go to bed. (early)

I sleep for eight hours. (usually)

I sleep. (well)

I don't have coffee for breakfast. (often)

I have fruit juice. (normally)

I walk to college. (always)

My friends have lunch in the cafeteria. (every day)

But I don't eat. (there)

I don't like noisy places. (very much)

After school I don't go straight home. (usually)

I spend an hour in the gym. (usually)

I ran 100 m in 12 seconds. (last week)

I've wanted to be a good athlete. (always)

The best summary of Gerald Ford’s presidency is: Ford assumed office after Nixon’s resignation, continued many of Nixon’s policies, and did not win reelection in 1976.

How to Use Parentheses in Writing

The punctuation mark sets off thoughts from a sentence

• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

The parenthesis is a  punctuation  mark, which is written or typed as an upright curved line. Two parentheses, ( ), are generally paired and used to mark off explanatory or qualifying remarks in writing. Parentheses indicate an  interrupting phrase , a word group (a statement,  question , or  exclamation ) that interrupts the flow of a sentence  and can also be set off with  commas  or  dashes .

The parenthesis is a type of  bracket , which when paired with another bracket—[ ] — is used to interject text within other text. Parentheses are prevalent in mathematics, too, where they are used to set off arithmetic symbols as well as numbers, operations, and equations. 

Origins of the Parenthesis

The symbols themselves first showed up in the late 14th century, with scribes using  virgulae convexae  (also called  half moons ) for a variety of purposes. By the end of the 16th century, the  parenthesis  (from the Latin for "insert beside") had begun to assume its modern role, as Richard Mulcaster explained in "Elementarie," which was published in 1582:

"Parenthesis is expressed by two half circles, which in writing enclose some perfit branch, as not mere impertinent, so not fullie concident to the sentence, which it breaketh, and in reading warneth us, that the words inclosed by them ar to be pronounced with a lower & quikker voice, then the words either before them or after them."

In her book "Quoting Speech in Early English," Colette Moore notes that parentheses, like other marks of punctuation, originally had both " elocutionary  and  grammatical " functions:

"[W]e see that whether through vocal or  syntactic  means, the parentheses are taken as a means to downplay the significance of the material enclosed within."

Spanning more than 400 years (Moore's book was published in 2011), both authors say essentially the same thing: Parentheses separate text that, while important in that it adds meaning, is less significant than the text that falls outside of these punctuation marks.

Parentheses allow for the insertion of some verbal unit that interrupts the normal syntactic flow of the sentence. These are called  parenthetical  elements, which may also be set off by dashes . An example of parentheses in use would be:

"The students (it must be acknowledged) are a foul-mouthed bunch."

The important information in this sentence is that the students are foul-mouthed. The aside adds texture to the sentence, but the statement would work fine and make sense without the parenthetical information. The Chicago Manual of Style Online explains that parentheses, which are stronger than commas or dashes, set off material from the surrounding text, adding that; "Like dashes but unlike commas, parentheses can set off text that has no grammatical relationship to the rest of the sentence." The style guide gives these examples:

• Intelligence tests (e.g., the Stanford-Binet) are no longer widely used.
• Our final sample (collected under difficult conditions) contained an impurity.
• Wexford’s analysis (see chapter 3) is more to the point.
• The disagreement between Johns and Evans (its origins have been discussed elsewhere) ultimately destroyed the organization.

The style manual also notes that you can use parentheses as delimiters for letters or numbers in a list or outline, as well as in academic uses including parenthetical references to a list of works cited.

Using Parentheses Correctly

Parentheses (as with other punctuation marks) can be tricky to use until you understand a few simple rules:

Adding additional information:  June Casagrande, author of "The Best Punctuation Book, Period.", notes that you can use parentheses to convey additional information, such as:

• The new sedan is fast (it goes from zero to 60 in just six seconds).
• The boss (who had walked in just in time to see the accident) was furious.
• She strolled the third  arrondissement  (district).

In the first sentence, the statement,  The new sedan is fast, does not end with a period. Instead, you place the period after the parenthetical sentence (as well as the final parenthesis),  it goes from zero to 60 in just six seconds . You also start the parenthetical sentence with a lowercase letter ( i ) because it is still considered part of the overall sentence and not a separate statement.

In the second sentence, you might argue that the parenthetical information (the fact that the boss saw an accident) is key to understanding the sentence. In the third sentence, the parenthetical word district is an English translation of the French word  arrondissement . Though the word  district  is parenthetical, it might be important in helping a non-French-speaking reader understand the sentence.

Delimiters for letters or numbers in a list:  The Chicago Manual of Style says you should put parentheses around each number or letter in a list, as in these examples:

• Compose three sentences to illustrate analogous uses of (1) commas, (2) em dashes, and (3) parentheses.
• For the duration of the experiment, the dieters were instructed to avoid (a) meat, (b) bottled drinks, (c) packaged foods, and (d) nicotine.

In-text citations/reference information : The Chicago Manual calls them parenthetical citations, while the American Psychological Association (which sets  APA style ) calls them in-text citations. These are citations placed within the text in an academic paper, journal article, or book that points the reader to a more complete citation in the bibliography or references section. Examples, as noted by  Purdue OWL , are:

• According to Jones (2018), "Students often had difficulty using APA style, especially when it was their first time" (p. 199). 
• Jones (2018) found "students often had difficulty using APA style" (p. 199); what implications does this have for teachers?
• The study participants showed no improvement in cholesterol levels (McLellan and Frost, 2012).

For these types of parenthetical citations, you generally include the year of the publication, the author(s)' names, and, if needed, the page number(s). Note also that in the previous sentence, you can use parentheses around a single letter, indicating that the word "number" may be singular referring to a single page number, or it may be plural, referring to two or more page numbers or that there may be only a single author or several authors.

Mathematical problems:  In  math , parentheses are used to group numbers or variables, or both. When you see a math problem containing parentheses, you need to use the  order of operations  to solve it. Take as an example the problem:  9 - 5 ÷ (8 - 3) x 2 + 6 . In this problem, you would calculate the operation within the parentheses first, even if it is an operation that would normally come after the other operations in the problem.

Parenthetical Observations

Neil Gaiman really likes parentheses. Biographer Hank Wagner quoted the British author in "Prince of Stories: The Many Worlds of Neil Gaiman" explaining why he is a fan of these curved punctuation marks:

"I admired [C.S. Lewis's] use of parenthetical statements to the reader, where he would just go talk to you. Suddenly the author would address a private aside to you, the reader. It was just you and him. I'd think, 'Oh, my gosh, that is so cool! I want to do that! When I become an author, I want to be able to do things in parentheses.' "

Gaimen may feel blessed when the author offers him a "personal" aside, but other writers say that parentheses may be a clue that the sentence is becoming contorted. As author Sarah Vowell notes in her book, "Take the Cannoli: Stories From the New World," with a touch of sarcasm:

"I have a similar affection for the parenthesis (but I always take most of my parentheses out, so as not to call undue attention to the glaring fact that I cannot think in complete sentences, that I think only in short  fragments  or long,  run-on  thought relays that the literati call  stream of consciousness  but I still like to think of as disdain for the finality of the period)."

So take the advice of "The Associated Press Stylebook." Be kind to your readers and use parentheses sparingly. Rewrite your sentence if you find you are including long asides or more than one set of parentheses. Use these punctuation marks only when you have a short, pithy, and interesting bit to convey to readers to heighten their interest—not confuse them.

• How to Use Brackets Correctly in Writing
• How to Use a Dash
• What Is a Citation?
• What are Ellipsis Points?
• What Is an Aside in Speech and Writing?
• Punctuating With Semicolons
• Definition and Examples of Spacing in Composition
• A Guide to Using Apostrophes Correctly
• Definition and Examples of Interrupting Phrases
• Guidelines for Using Quotation Marks Correctly
• Definition and Examples of Colons
• What Is an Ampersand Symbol?
• Documentation in Reports and Research Papers
• What Are the Parts of a Prepositional Phrase?
• What is the Zero (or Bare) Infinitive?
• The Comma in Punctuation