Parentheses are a common punctuation mark used in writing. They are used to enclose additional information that is not essential to the sentence but provides extra details. When it comes to the plural of parenthesis, many people are unsure of what to use. In this article, we will explore the correct way to form the plural of parenthesis and provide tips to help you avoid common mistakes.
Definition and Plural of Parenthesis
What Does “Parenthesis” Mean?
A parenthesis (noun) is a curved punctuation mark used to add extra information or an aside in writing. These marks look like this: ( )
Simple Definition:
- Parenthesis = one of the curved symbols used to include additional words or ideas in a sentence.
Examples:
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Please read the note inside the parenthesis.
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The parenthesis adds extra information that isn’t essential to the main point.
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In this sentence, the parenthesis contains an example.
What Is the Plural of “Parenthesis”?
The correct plural of parenthesis is parentheses (pronounced puh-REN-thuh-seez).
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| parenthesis | parentheses |
Examples:
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Use parentheses to include additional details in your essay.
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The teacher showed how to place commas and parentheses correctly.
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Don’t forget to close both parentheses at the end of the sentence
Pronunciation Guide
| Word | IPA Pronunciation | How It Sounds |
|---|---|---|
| parenthesis | /pəˈrɛnθəsɪs/ | “puh-REN-thuh-sis” |
| parentheses | /pəˈrɛnθəsiːz/ | “puh-REN-thuh-seez” |
When to Use Parenthesis and Plural of Parenthesis
We use parenthesis when we want to refer to a single parenthesis, but remember that it is less applied in real situation.
“Parentheses” is the plural form of parenthesis and is commonly used than its singular noun form.
Parentheses are punctuation marks used to set off information that is not essential to the main point of a sentence. They can be used to enclose words, phrases, or entire sentences. Here are a few examples:
- John (my neighbor) is a doctor.
- The concert (which was sold out) was amazing.
- The cat (who is black) is sleeping on the couch.
When using parentheses, it is important to remember that the information inside them should not be necessary for the sentence to make sense. It should be additional information that can be omitted without changing the meaning of the sentence.
How to Use Parentheses in Writing
Parentheses ( ) are used to:
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Add extra information:
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She loves cats (especially white ones).
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Show clarification or translation:
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The city was founded in 753 B.C. (Before Christ).
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Include references or examples:
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Many animals (e.g., lions, tigers, bears) live in this region.
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Mark dates, numbers, or codes:
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The movie was released in 1999 (USA).
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Examples in Sentences
Singular: “Parenthesis”
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The writer forgot to close the parenthesis in his essay.
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Each parenthesis should match with another on the opposite side.
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A single parenthesis can change how the sentence looks.
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I noticed one extra parenthesis in the paragraph.
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She drew an open parenthesis before adding her note.
Plural: “Parentheses”
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The teacher asked students to use parentheses in complex sentences.
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Always put commas outside the parentheses.
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My keyboard has keys for both opening and closing parentheses.
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The editor added several parentheses for additional explanations.
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Incorrectly placed parentheses can confuse readers.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with parenthesis or parentheses.
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There’s a missing ______ at the end of this sentence.
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The editor used several ______ to include explanations.
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Each ______ must have a closing one to match.
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You can place numbers inside ______ for clarity.
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Only one ______ is needed here.
Answer:
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parenthesis
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parentheses
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parenthesis
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parentheses
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parenthesis
Exercise 2: Choose the correct sentence.
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a) The parenthesises are missing.
b) The parentheses are missing. ✅ -
a) Each sentence must contain a closing parenthesis. ✅
b) Each sentence must contain a closing parentheses. -
a) She added two parentheses to show an example. ✅
b) She added two parenthesises to show an example. -
a) The writer forgot one parenthesis. ✅
b) The writer forgot one parentheses. -
a) Incorrectly placed parentheses can confuse readers. ✅
b) Incorrectly placed parenthesises can confuse readers.