This tag is concerned with the usage of the glyphs ( and ), known as parentheses (singular parenthesis) in American English and as brackets in British English.
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“A/An” preceding a parenthetical statement
When a/an precedes a parenthetical aside (sometimes seen in informal/conversational writing), should the vowel rule depend on the first word in parentheses, or the next word in the "regular" flow of ...
7
votes
3answers
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When a sentence uses an optional plural, should the rest of the sentence treat it as singular or plural?
Consider the following sentence:
We assume that the individual(s) possesses some general knowledge of the rules of football.
Is "possesses" correct there? Should it be "possess"? Is the rule ...
7
votes
4answers
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In which cases is a comma/period placed inside or outside of parentheses?
Are there cases where a period is placed inside parentheses? In which cases the period (or a comma) should be placed inside the parentheses?
51
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8answers
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Is it acceptable to nest parentheses?
Is it acceptable to nest parentheses (for example, if I (meaning myself) write like this)?
7
votes
4answers
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Where does the question mark go — inside or outside the parentheses?
I know that when brackets enclose part of a sentence, the full stop goes outside.
I tripped over this morning. I was distracted by a plane (which turned out to be Superman).
If it's a full ...
4
votes
2answers
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Where to put the periods when using a parenthetical sentence?
I have two complete sentences; the second is in parentheses, essentially a comment on the first. Where do I place the periods? I would use this:
They played opera. (I covered my ears.)
Is this ...
12
votes
3answers
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Parentheses vs. double commas vs. dashes to provide additional detail
When do you use commas and when do you use parentheses to provide more detail about something?
For example:
The suspect, Tom Wilson, is now being charged with murder.
The suspect (Tom Wilson) is ...
3
votes
3answers
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When using complete sentences in parenthetical e.g. or i.e. situations, should the first word be capitalized?
In a bulleted list of very technical sentences, where each bulleted item has one or two parenthetical examples or restatements which are complete sentences, should the first letter of each e.g. or ...
7
votes
1answer
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Parenthetical pluralization of words ending in “-y”
Sentences constructed with a word written in the singular and parenthetically in the plural are straightforward when that word does not end in -y, e.g.:
List all applicable employee(s).
How does ...
1
vote
1answer
334 views
(I'm not sure) how to capitalize this sentence
When a sentence begins with a parenthetical clause (uncommon, I'm sure), how should the following portion be capitalized? My thought is it would be either
(In my opinion, at least[,]) the play was ...
41
votes
13answers
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If an insertion in parentheses ends with a smiley, how do I distinguish between the two?
I know smileys are not part of written language (yet), and any questions about them are irrelevant to linguistics and are kind of not serious. So take my question with a smiley then.
It bugs me ...
4
votes
2answers
165 views
Changing plurality in parentheses
If a set of parentheses lies between a subject and its verb, and the parentheses contain an substitutive subject whose singularity/plurality disagrees with the original subject, whose ...
-1
votes
1answer
56 views
Lowercase Letter in Brackets [duplicate]
Please look at the following sentence with the bracketed lowercase letter.
“Doctor Rogers' thesis states that ‘[p]atients often display psychosomatic symptoms.’ ”
Is the author decapitalizing the ...
11
votes
1answer
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How to deal with abbreviations like 'etc.' at the end of parentheses which are closing a sentence?
In Hungarian, when there's a dot both inside and outside parentheses at the end of a sentence, we write it as follows:
Sok állatom van (kutya, macska stb.).
(Meaning: I've got many animals ...
20
votes
3answers
813 views
What is the optional plural form of a word that ends in “‑y”?
I guess “optional plural” is the correct term. I’m referring to things like
It can be found at the following location(s).
Please pick up your ticket(s).
But how do I do that to a word that ends ...
10
votes
3answers
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What does an exclamation mark inside parentheses “(!)” mean?
What does an exclamation mark inside parentheses "(!)" mean? I saw this in a book review I was reading and I didn't understand what the use of it was. Can someone help me?
9
votes
3answers
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Is there a grammatical rule for using “read” between parentheses? [closed]
As an example:
I am bored (read: lazy).
I wish to know if English Grammar has a formal construct for this usage.
4
votes
2answers
188 views
When to choose em dash over parenthesis for parenthetical phrases?
According to Wikipedia:
The em dash, m dash, m-rule, or "mutton" (—) often demarcates a break
of thought or some similar interpolation stronger than the
interpolation demarcated by parentheses
...
4
votes
4answers
611 views
How do I manage periods for abbreviations with parentheses, right before a period?
"In the case of medical diagnostics, there is a cost associated with each medical procedure that provides additional information (blood test, x-ray, etc.)."
Should that end with "etc.).", "etc)." ...
2
votes
1answer
515 views
Multiple sentences inside parenthesis
I have read the few questions about punctuations in parenthesis, but I think none of them answers my question. I've looked at:
Where does the question mark go — inside or outside the parentheses?
In ...
10
votes
7answers
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What is the common name for brackets, braces, and parentheses?
I need to name a variable containing ()[]{}, what is the common name for all of them?
Two side questions:
parentheses is plural, or singular, or both?
is abbreviating it as parens understandable?
9
votes
3answers
530 views
How to deal with irregular plural(s)?
What happens if you have a written phrase like
We were looking at the same poster(s).
but with a noun that has an irregular plural? E.g. with baby/babies, would this be the correct form?
We ...
4
votes
3answers
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Singular or plural verb when pluralisation is used in parentheses [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When a sentence uses an optional plural, should the rest of the sentence treat it as singular or plural?
Which is correct?
Buy an apple from the vendor(s) that are ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
How do I correctly use the possessive apostrophe with a parenthetical citation?
Is the apostrophe in the right place in the following sentence?
Pendleton, et al. (2002)’s research implies that extension of treatment allows for greater weight loss.
3
votes
1answer
148 views
Entire sentence in parentheses
I am formatting a new book for my company and ran into a problem.
There is a sentence that reads:
Before beginning, watch Part I in the DVD series, God & the History of Art. (If available as ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Exclamation mark before closing parenthesis [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Where does the question mark go — inside or outside the parentheses?
Consider this:
Even a fool gets to be young once (but not twice!). Do you understand?
The ...
2
votes
3answers
652 views
Continuing a sentence in a parenthesis and then starting a new one inside the same
Take a look at this meaning:
By the way, I marked position 2854 (in the code. It's the slash).
Is is correct to start a new sentence within a parenthesis like this? Or another, worse, example:
...
1
vote
0answers
263 views
Should one use 'a' or 'an' when the following word is in parentheses? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“a/an” preceding a parenthetical statement
This question is a little hard to summarize in the title.
I sometimes like to use parentheses to add additional ...
