Questions tagged [parentheses]
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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Is it correct to allow a parenthesized sentence to be followed by another parenthesized sentence? [duplicate]
I've searched. Other questions appear to mostly deal with nesting and punctuation positioning. This one does not at its core. I will stress again, due to multiple dupe flags.. This question is NOT ...
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Punctuation and closing parentheses and quotation marks [duplicate]
Why are the closing quotation marks or parentheses placed after and not before the period? Since the period signals the end of a sentence, placing them after it in effect leaves them out of the ...
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What do we call the target of an appositive?
From Wikipedia (emphasis mine):
Apposition is a grammatical construction in which two elements, normally noun phrases, are placed side by side so one element identifies the other in a different way. ...
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How can you differentiate these two propositional statements in English? [duplicate]
Consider:
(p ∧ q) ↔ r
p ∧ (q ↔ r)
These two formulae have different meanings, and yet, if one attempts to translate them into ordinary English in the usual way, they both seem to come to
p and q ...
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Can square brackets be used in the following way even though it is not a direct quote?
I am proofing an article and the author has written this:
She states: [A]n ekphrasis can be of any length, of any subject
matter, composed in verse or prose, using any verbal techniques, as
long as ...
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What are the capitalisation rules for prefixes in parentheses?
If you'd like to write (co)promotor at the beginning of a sentence, should both 'co' and 'promotor' be capitalised? For example, is it "(Co)Promotors are advised to ..."? Or is there another ...
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prepositional phrase beginning with of between commas
I have a question about a prepositional phrase beginning with 'of'
“The Marmite and the dripping soak into the burned toast,” she says,
of the culinary ode to her after-school snack, “and when you ...
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How can I introduce an acronym parenthetically in a hyphenated compound? [duplicate]
How do I introduce the acronym for "deep learning" in the following case:
"Deep learning-based"
Example:
Deep learning (DL)-based
or
Deep learning-based (DL-based)
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Is it acceptable to combine em dashes with parentheses?
Specifically, can I write something like "—(x)—"?
For example,
I thought x—(which was y)—so z.
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What are some alternatives to parenthetical statements?
What are some good alternatives to parenthetical statements in writing?
I notice that I tend to use (or rather, overuse) parenthetical statements when writing. Often, the parenthetical statements ...
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How can I avoid using so many "e.g." in my school writing? [closed]
when I write a paper in my class, I use far too many "e.g." inside parentheses. The alternative is to use "for example" and "for instance" like 50 times and that's not ...
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Where to put a hyphen when there's an abbreviation in the middle?
Ethiopia wants African Union (AU) mediated negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Using AP style. You want a hyphen in front of mediated. What is the correct way?
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Where the heck do I put a period in these sentences?
Hullo all,
I've been given a doozy of a job that is thick with sentences like this:
Student will demonstrate emphasizing with the feelings of another by remembering a similar past experience and ...
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Which is the proper way to use (and mark) nested parentheses?
I found some posts on whether it is acceptable to nest parentheses (e.g. here) but there is no discussion yet about which parentheses should be used when nesting, and how.
These are some alternative ...
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Examples of nested parentheses in contemporary / classical literature?
Looking at the answers to questions around whether it is acceptable to use nested parentheses:
Is it acceptable to nest parentheses? and
(Parentheses (inside parentheses))
it seems that nested ...
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Unable to understand the meaning of the statement
I am unable to grasp the meaning of the statement -
But unlike curly brackets, you may actually encounter them when reading outside of those disciplines, although not with any type of frequency.
...
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these data of yours [duplicate]
"These personal data of yours will be shared with authorized public institutions and organizations."
Is this sentence correct?
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What is the correct way to punctuate a sentence with a laughter interjection?
I would like to know your thoughts on how to correctly punctuate this sentence:
When people comment how sipag or consistent I am working out during this time, I shrug it off because a. I don’t take ...
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Singular or plural when the numeral for an additional item [eg 1 (+1) apple/s] is in parentheses?
Suppose I have a list:
2 oranges,
3 kiwis, and
1 (+1) apples.
The second apple was added to the basket by someone else, but is of equal importance.
Is the plural of apples correct, or should it be ...
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How to properly place hyphens in a suspended compound that includes a parenthesis?
What is the correct way to format the bolded portion of this sentence with respect to hyphens and associated spaces?
A set of approaches that mitigates these issues, by learning the optimal control ...
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Is there a correct way to do arbitrarily many nested parentheses? What would come after braces, and after that, etc.?
I know it's poor form to have nested parentheticals, but I want to do it as a kind of joke. What would be the correct way to nest arbitrarily many parentheses in writing? If I wanted to write a whole ...
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Question mark before or after parentheses for incidental text? [duplicate]
I have this sentence:
Can you share those documents with me?
And I want to add an incidental text like "(no problem if they are in progress)".
Shall I add that text before or after the quastion ...
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Hyphenating words with words in parenthesis
I know we could write
between high- and low-yield crop rotation groups
but how do we write the same sentence if we have to write
between high (CC and CCS) and low (CS and SCS) yield crop ...
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Question marks (again!)
I'm sorry, I've looked at other places here, and can't find the exact answer - maybe the searching strategy I'm using isn't good. There are some related ones, though none solving this that I can see.
...
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Regarding parentheses and the end of sentence period, when the parentheses begin in 1 sentence but end after a second complete sentence?
“Jim likes bananas (as well as apples. He also likes most vegetables).”
The finished sentence in the beginning of the parentheses, with 1 or more complete sentences after the partial sentence, all ...
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(I redesigned the entire magazine as well but that’s another story) [duplicate]
Finally, can someone settle the argument about the period going inside or outside of the close paren in this free-standing sentence?
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Brackets within brackets
I'm writing an academic paper and have added some information within a set of brackets. I have then added a citation to this piece of information, which has now left me with this sentence:
A total ...
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2
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Should I pluralize based on an item in parentheses [duplicate]
Which of the following two sentences is correct:
Jon (and Michael) is smart.
Jon (and Michael) are smart.
This example is clearly contrived but my question is whether the sentence should be ...
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How does parenthesis affect grammar, would it be "a (incorrect) report" or "an (incorrect) report?" [duplicate]
Would it be "a (incorrect) report" or "an (incorrect) report?"
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Use of parentheses/brackets in legal titles
Legal systems descended from British jurisprudence seem to like to use a lot of parentheses in titles:
Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958, India
Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act ...
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Using brackets in quotes: You['re] vs [You're]
Quick question, if the original quote is "You are..." but I'm attempting to combine the two words, would the correct way to use brackets be:
a. [You're] (entire word in bracket)
b. You['re] (...
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Where to put the parentheses in the sentence?
I want to add extra information in my sentence for the sake of clarity by using parentheses. Should I put them at the end or right after the word(s) they are related to?
For example, which of the ...
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Is "an (unique) index" or "a (unique) index" [duplicate]
I'd like to know the role of parentheses on a phrase. For example, which of the following is right, "it has an (unique) index" or "it has a (unique) index".
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Parentheses within abbreviations
The example that I have is from South Africa. Chartered accountants here abbreviate their titles in emails to:
CA(SA)
This is meant to abbreviate "Chartered Accountant (South Africa)". I feel, ...
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How to use two parenthetical qualifiers on the first mention of a noun? [closed]
I'm writing a paper that includes a reference to the University of North Georgia. The first time I mention this university, I'd like to add a qualifier stating its commonly-used acronym "UNG" that I ...
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Writing some as (S)ome - What does this really mean?
Statement: (S)ome happenings in the wake of freedom left a large legacy of misunderstanding.
Your employer(s) were not able to produce substantial documents to support your case. [background: two ...
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using comma within the appositive
If you have a list of items separated by commas, can it be used as an appositive if you separate it from the rest of the sentence by yet another by comma?
Here's an example:
The factory produces ...
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A or an before slash phrase? A or an before parenthetical phrase equivalent to slash phrase? [duplicate]
NOT A DUPLICATE!
The other question only asks about parenthetical phrases, not slash phrases.
The other question's parenthetical phrase (answer(s) explained that it's not really a parenthetical ...
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Directions within parentheses [duplicate]
I am writing a leader's guide for a preschool curriculum. When I put instructions inside of parentheses, should I end a full sentence with a period?
Examples:
(Give children time to respond)
(Show ...
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Parenthesis for English name(foreigner)
I have an English name but that English name is not shown on my passport or birth certificate. However, I would like to be known by that English name. How should I show people that I would like to be ...
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Nesting parentheses inside brackets
I want to insert a parenthetical phrase into a quotation as an editorial note. Since such notes are surrounded by square brackets to differentiate them from the original quote, I end up with this:
“...
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If a noun is followed by brackets, where should the apostrophe be placed to show possession?
Which of the following four sentences has used the apostrophe in the correct way?
Captain Jack Sparrow's (Johnny Depp) teeth were glinting in the sunlight.
Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp)'s teeth ...
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Is it "room(s)" or "room/s" when referring to the possibility of more than one of something? [Parenthetical plurals]
When offering the possibility that there could be more than one of something, how should that be written? Eg. You will be responsible for the cost of your room(s). Or should it be "room/s"?
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Does text in brackets invoke the "an" vs. "a" rule? [duplicate]
I saw the following sentence today:
It has a (admittedly poor) government.
I agree that without the text in brackets, this sentence is correct:
It has a government.
But when I read the ...
user108066
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Abbreviating a name inside brackets. Do I need to continue the brackets?
I am writing a report in English and am repeatedly abbreivating a name.
In the first sentence of doing this, I put the abbreviation inside brackets.
Do I now need to continue with the brackets for ...
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(un)conditional or (un-)conditional?
I want to write "conditional (mean imputation)" and "unconditional (mean imputation)" shorter, which of these 4 is the best way to do that? If multiple ways are correct, which is the most common (in ...
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Where do periods go when a statement in parenthesis ends in an abbreviation [duplicate]
I know that the standard use is that an abbreviation at the end of a sentence that would normally end with a period has just a single period. I also know that a sentence that ends with a statement in ...
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How would you punctuate a separate sentence within parentheses with an ellipsis at the end?
For context:
I think the whipped cream really helps cut through the strong alcohol taste, and >it also adds some fat, so give it a shot! (No pun intended…)
Do I need to put a period/full stop ...
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What do you call a parenthetical word / phrase / letter that changes the meaning of a sentence?
Common uses of parenthetical statements are equivalent to i.e. or e.g. appositives. This includes elaboration or examples that clarify but don't change the meaning of the larger phrase or sentence ...
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How is Mark Nichol using the term "free modifier"?
In 8 types of parenthetical phrases, he includes
Free modifier: A free modifier is an unspecialized interruption of additional information: “I stood up and, brushing off my pants,
continued ...
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