Enclosing single words, phrases or even sentences, parentheses are punctuation marks that add extra information in a sentence. Always written in pairs, they are always written within a text or paragraph.
Also known as square brackets, brackets are often used to indicate the addition of extra words in a direct quotation. This is necessary to bring clarity or context when quoting a person or document. If a direct quote is changed, it’s vital to use brackets to avoid a misquoting the person or document.
Example: Johnny left the room (to get himself a snack).
Adrianne cried “Johnny didn’t tell me that he was going to do it [leave the room].”
Parentheses, Brackets and Other Punctuations
Parentheses, brackets and the words within them should be treated as separate elements that are not part of the sentence. So, if the parentheses or brackets are removed, the sentence should still be understandable and complete.
If they pertain only to the phrase inside parentheses, other punctuations like periods, question marks and exclamation marks should be placed inside the parenthesis. If they belong to the whole sentence, place the appropriate punctuation at the end of the sentence. Remember to never place a comma right before a closing parenthesis.
Example: Do you know what my daughter (Anna) has done?
Ben climbed the wall (with a rope?) to win the prize.
Practical tips for parentheses and brackets
Use parentheses for brief asides, clarifications, or abbreviations that the reader can skip without losing the sentence’s main point. Keep parenthetical content short and place it where it won’t break the sentence flow.
Use square brackets when working inside a quotation to add context, correct grammar, supply missing words, or indicate an editorial comment. Brackets make it clear those words were not part of the original quote.
Place terminal punctuation inside the parentheses only if it applies to the parenthetical material alone; otherwise put it after the closing parenthesis. Avoid inserting extra commas immediately before a closing parenthesis.
- Do: Introduce a term and its abbreviation once-Natural Language Processing (NLP).
- Don’t: Hide essential information inside parentheses that readers need to understand the sentence.
- Do: Use brackets to clarify pronouns or tense in quotations-e.g., “[she] responded.”
FAQ
Can I nest parentheses?
Nesting parentheses is uncommon in formal writing. If you must nest, use brackets for the inner set to avoid confusion: (outer [inner]).
Where do question marks and exclamation points go?
If the parenthetical is itself a question or exclamation, keep the punctuation inside. If the punctuation applies to the whole sentence, place it after the closing parenthesis.
When are brackets preferred over parentheses?
Choose brackets when altering or clarifying quoted material; choose parentheses for your own side comments, examples, or nonessential information in your narrative.
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