Have you ever found yourself unsure about where to place a period when using parentheses? It’s a common question among writers and can be confusing to navigate. The good news is that there are guidelines to follow that can help make your writing clearer and more professional.
It’s important to pay attention to the placement of periods and parentheses to avoid any misunderstandings or confusion for your readers. In this article, we’ll explore the rules for using periods inside and outside of parentheses and provide examples to help you master this important aspect of punctuation.
Period Inside or Outside Parentheses -Image
Understanding Parentheses in English Language
Parentheses are a common punctuation mark in the English language. They are used to enclose additional information or examples within a sentence. Here are a few things to keep in mind when using parentheses:
- Parentheses are also known as round brackets.
- They are always used in pairs, with an opening bracket and a closing bracket.
- The information enclosed within parentheses can be a phrase, a sentence, or multiple sentences.
- The enclosed information can be either a clarification or an example of what is being discussed in the main sentence.
- The enclosed information can also be a parenthetical sentence, which is a sentence that interrupts the main sentence but is grammatically independent.
- In a parenthetical sentence, the period can go inside the closing bracket.
Here are a few examples to illustrate the use of parentheses:
- The restaurant (which is located on Main Street) is one of the best in town.
- I have three favorite colors (blue, green, and yellow).
- The movie was terrible (I fell asleep halfway through).
- The Barbie movie was a disaster. (Don’t be influenced by my opinion, though.)
In each of these examples, the information within parentheses provides additional context or clarification to the main sentence.
It is important to note that if the enclosed information is a whole sentence, but is placed at the end of the whole, bigger sentence, the period goes outside the closing bracket. For example:
- I love to read (especially mystery novels). They keep me up all night.
In this example, the parenthetical sentence is followed by a separate sentence that is not enclosed within parentheses.
Period Inside or Outside Parentheses?
When it comes to using punctuation marks inside parentheses, there are a few rules to keep in mind. In this section, we will discuss the two scenarios that can arise when using punctuation inside parentheses: a complete sentence inside parentheses and a partial sentence inside parentheses.
Complete Sentence Inside Parentheses
When a complete sentence is enclosed in parentheses, the punctuation mark that belongs to the sentence should be placed inside the parentheses. Let’s look at an example:
- Incomplete sentence: I love to travel (especially to Europe).
- Complete sentence: I love to travel. (Yesterday I went to Europe.)
Partial Sentence Inside Parentheses
When a partial sentence is enclosed in parentheses, the punctuation mark that belongs to the sentence should be placed outside the parentheses. Let’s look at an example:
- Correct: I love to travel to Europe (especially Italy).
- Incorrect: I love to travel to Europe (especially Italy.)
In the correct example, the comma belongs to the sentence outside the parentheses, so it is placed outside the parentheses. In the incorrect example, the comma belongs to the sentence inside the parentheses, so it should be placed inside the parentheses.
Punctuation Outside Parentheses
When it comes to using parentheses in writing, it’s important to know where the punctuation should go. In general, periods should stay outside of parentheses unless the parentheses enclose a whole sentence. Here are some examples to illustrate this point:
- Incorrect: I love eating pizza (especially pepperoni.)
- Correct: I love eating pizza (especially pepperoni).
In the first example, the period is inside the parentheses, which is incorrect because the parentheses only enclose a phrase, not a complete sentence. In the second example, the period is outside the parentheses, which is correct because the parentheses enclose a complete sentence.
Another example:
- Incorrect: The movie was really good (I loved the ending).
- Correct: The movie was really good. (I loved the ending.)
In the first example, the period is outside the parentheses, which is incorrect because the parentheses only enclose a phrase, not a complete sentence. In the second example, the period is inside the parentheses, which is correct because the parentheses enclose a complete sentence.
In short, if the parentheses enclose a complete sentence, then the period should go inside the parentheses. If the parentheses enclose a phrase or incomplete sentence, then the period should go outside the parentheses.
It’s important to note that this rule applies to other types of terminal punctuation as well, such as question marks and exclamation points. If the parentheses enclose a complete sentence that ends with a question mark or exclamation point, then the punctuation should go inside the parentheses. If the parentheses enclose a phrase or incomplete sentence that ends with a question mark or exclamation point, then the punctuation should go outside the parentheses.
Punctuation and Parentheses in Formal Writing
When it comes to formal writing, it’s important to use proper punctuation and parentheses to convey your message clearly and effectively. Whether you’re writing a research paper, a business report, or any other formal document, following the appropriate style guide is essential.
One important aspect of formal writing is the use of in-text citations. When citing sources, it’s important to use parentheses to indicate the author and publication year of the source. For example: “According to Smith (2010), the study found that…” In this case, the period goes outside the parentheses because the parenthetical phrase is an incomplete sentence.
Another important aspect of formal writing is the use of proper grammar and punctuation. When using parentheses, it’s important to ensure that the sentence is grammatically correct both with and without the parenthetical phrase. For example: “The results of the study (which was conducted in 2010) were inconclusive.” In this case, the sentence is grammatically correct both with and without the parenthetical phrase.
Punctuation and Parentheses
When it comes to using punctuation in conjunction with parentheses, there are a few special cases to consider. These cases involve exclamation marks, question marks, commas, semicolons, dashes, ellipsis, and sic notation. Let’s take a closer look at each of these cases.
Exclamation Marks and Question Marks
When using parentheses with an exclamation mark or question mark, the punctuation mark should be placed inside the parentheses if it applies only to the parenthetical material. If the punctuation applies to the entire sentence, then it should be placed outside the parentheses. Here are a few examples:
- She said she loved the movie (which surprised me!) – the exclamation mark applies only to the parenthetical material, so it is placed inside the parentheses.
- Did you hear what she said about the movie (it was terrible)? – the question mark applies to the entire sentence, so it is placed outside the parentheses.
Commas and Semicolons
When using commas or semicolons with parentheses, the punctuation should be placed outside the parentheses if it applies to the entire sentence. If it applies only to the parenthetical material, then it should be placed inside the parentheses. Here are a few examples:
- She said she loved the movie. (Which surprised me!).
- The movie was terrible; I can’t believe she said she loved it. (But maybe she was just being polite.)
Conclusion
In conclusion, the placement of periods in relation to parentheses can be confusing, but following a few simple rules can help ensure clarity in your writing.
First, if the parentheses enclose a complete sentence, the period should be placed inside the closing parenthesis. On the other hand, if the parentheses enclose only a phrase or incomplete sentence, the period should be placed outside the closing parenthesis.
It is important to note that if a sentence includes a parenthetical phrase or clause, the period should be placed outside the closing parenthesis, even if the phrase or clause is a complete sentence on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I put a period inside or outside parentheses?
Whether you should put a period inside or outside parentheses depends on the context. If the sentence outside the parentheses is a complete sentence, then you should put the period outside the parentheses. If the sentence inside the parentheses is a complete sentence, then you should put the period inside the parentheses.
When should I put a comma inside or outside parentheses?
If the comma is part of the sentence outside the parentheses, then you should put it outside the parentheses. If the comma is part of the sentence inside the parentheses, then you should put it inside the parentheses.
Does a period go inside or outside quotation marks?
In American English, periods generally go inside quotation marks. However, there are some exceptions, such as when the period is not part of the quoted material.
Should a question mark go inside parentheses?
If the question mark is part of the sentence inside the parentheses, then you should put it inside the parentheses. If the question mark is part of the sentence outside the parentheses, then you should put it outside the parentheses.
In MLA format, should the period be inside or outside quotes?
In MLA format, periods generally go inside quotes. However, there are some exceptions, such as when the period is not part of the quoted material.
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