Parentheses

Lesson 6 Parentheses

 

 Essential Question

How can we use (but not overuse) parentheses in a sentence?


Grammar in the World

If there is one punctuation mark that I use, perhaps, too much, it is likely parentheses. I like to explain (okay, maybe over-explain) things, and parentheses help with this over-explaining (although, admittedly, readers may get lost by the end of my paragraphs). While parentheses can be overused by people like me, they also have their place in the punctuation mark canon. In this lesson you will learn how to use (not overuse!) this helpful, clarifying punctuation mark.

   

image by Mizzou Academy

What Do I Know?

What do you already know about how to use parentheses in writing? Use this interactive to find out. 

Screen Shot 2021-04-05 at 8.46.19 AM.pngThink about where you would put parentheses in the following sentences.  Then check your answers.

  1. An early form of pizza was eaten as far back as the 1500s, but pizza as we know it today or at least somewhat as we know it today was invented in Naples in the late 18th century. answer
  2. In 1889, the margherita pizza a pizza made with basil, tomatoes, and mozzarella was named after Queen Margherita. answer
  3. Before Queen Margherita 1851-1926 made pizza popular by liking the pizza that was named after her, pizza was only eaten by very poor people and was scorned by people in the upper classes. answer
  4. When Italians immigrated to the United States, they brought pizza with them, and the first pizzeria Lombardi’s was opened in 1905 in New York City. answer
  5. Americans in the United States buy three billion pizzas every year that’s about 46 slices per person. answer

  

image source Links to an external site.

Building Blocks

Grammar is a complex system and structure of language. Mizzou Academy Grammar Lab spotlights one skill (or block) at a time, but it’s often helpful to see how a skill works together with other, related blocks to build the language structure as a whole. You may find the following resource topics helpful as context for this lesson:

 

Learn About Parentheses

 

When to use parentheses

Parentheses ( ) separate additional information from the rest of a sentence. They are often used in place of commas or em dashes. While they are helpful in clarifying information in a sentence, they should not be overused and, in fact, are often not recommended at all in academic writing. 

When to Use Parentheses

Example

To separate nonessential information from more important information in a sentence

My favorite type of music (much to the chagrin of my teenagers) is folk music.

To enclose letters or numbers in a list in a sentence

In order to get a good grade you should (1) pay attention in class, (2) do your homework, and (3) study for quizzes and exams.

To cite quoted or paraphrased information.

In the United States, March is designated Women’s History Month and is “set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history” (“Women’s History Month Links to an external site.”). 

To identify time zones.

Kickoff for Superbowl 2021 was at 6:30 p.m. (EST). 

To translate words or short phrases.

When the French teacher passed out the final exams, she told her students, “Bonne chance” (good luck)! 

To identify year of birth and death or the length of other events such as wars.

Maya Angelou (1928-2014) was both a civil rights activist and poet.

To explain the meaning of an abbreviation or acronym.

Although my husband likes DIY (Do It Yourself) projects, I prefer to hire a professional. 

 

Placement of Parenthesis

Punctuating with parentheses can be confusing. Follow these tips to make sure you place them properly within a sentence.

Rules

Examples

Only place periods, question marks, and exclamation points inside the parentheses at the end of a sentence if the parenthetical information is a complete sentence that stands alone. 

I have created a logo for our product presentation. (Please see attached file.)

If the parenthetical information is within the sentence, it does not need punctuation, even if it is a complete sentence. 


However, if the parenthetical information is a question or an exclamation, add a question mark or an exclamation point at the end of the parenthetical expression. 

My dog Chewie (a Vizsla) spends most of the day snoozing on the couch.

My dog Chewie (he is a Vizsla) spends most of the day snoozing on the couch.

My cat River Song (isn’t she cute?) pokes me with her claws when she wants me to wake up and feed her.

Place the end punctuation mark outside the parentheses if the parenthetical information ends the sentence but is an incomplete sentence itself. 

Would you please review the website template (linked below)? 

Place commas after the parenthetical expression. 

Marin’s birthday is coming up (in 4 days), and she wants a strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting.

 

 

 

Do I Get It?

What have you learned about using parentheses in your writing? Check your understanding with this interactive quiz. 

 

Now, think about where you would put parentheses in the following sentences.  Then check your answers.

1. Americans eat about 100 acres of pizza each day which is 350 slices per second.  answer

2. In what must be the most expensive pizza delivery ever, Pizza Hut paid the Russian Space Agency over one million dollars that’s a lot of money! to deliver a pizza to the International Space Station.  answer

3. My birthday is coming up in 6 days, and I think I want to eat pizza on my birthday.  answer

4. If you go to a pizzeria in Italy, they may tell you, “Buon Appetito” enjoy your meal!  answer

5. To make pizza dough, you should 1 mix your ingredients, 2 let the dough rise, 3 knead the dough, and 4 roll out the crust.  answer 

6. A documentary about the history of pizza will be on the Cooking Channel tonight at 7:00pm ET.  answer 

7. One of my favorite pizza toppings no restaurant ever seems to have it! is cream cheese.  answer

8. I want to eat some pizza ASAP as soon as possible.  answer