Objective 3: Identify the purpose of parentheses and understand the situations when they are appropriate

 By the time you finish taking notes on this resource, you should understand: What parentheses What parentheses are used for How to use parentheses

 What are parentheses? These punctuation marks are the ones known as parentheses: ( )  Parentheses are generally used to off-set additional information from a sentence, such as citations, dates, or side notes.

 To enclose additional information that is not super important to the rest of the sentence, such as side notes or after thoughts We verified that he had graduated from high school (Franklin High School, class of ‘05) but his work history is still unclear. After three drafts of the paper, the teacher was frustrated with the student’s revisions (or, rather, lack of revisions).  To enclose dates, citations, or acronyms The Civil War ( ) was the bloodiest battle in American History. Hosseini describes the rise of communism in Afghanistan (67-70). The President of the United States (POTUS) is Barack Obama.

 Identify whether part of the sentence is just additional information. Take one of the examples from the last slide and take out the parentheses.  We verified that he had graduated from high school Franklin High School, class of ’05 but his work history is still unclear. The specific information about where the person went to high school and the year he graduated adds to the sentence, but is not particularly important. Therefore, it should be in parentheses.

 Identify a date, a citation, or an acronym in the sentence.  Take one of the examples from the last slide and take out the parentheses.  The Civil War was the bloodiest battle in American History.  The dates are added information and they break the flow of the sentence. They should be placed in parentheses.

 There are some specific rules for how to deal with parentheses and other punctuation, such as commas, periods, or question marks.  This is the rule: If the contents of the parentheses are a complete sentence, the other punctuation goes on the INSIDE. If the contents of the parentheses are NOT a complete sentence, the other punctuation goes on the OUTSIDE.

 Punctuation OUTSIDE I was very tired the day I took the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE). We had made a deal (three dollars each and five at the end of the week), and we had to stick with it.  Punctuation INSIDE: There is no greater honor than winning the Nobel Peace Prize. (If you care about that sort of thing, that is.) When it’s time to go, you’ll know. (Unless you don’t, in which case, ask.)

 Add parentheses in the appropriate places to the following sentences. Jane Austen is one of the most widely read authors in English literature. Austen’s best book is arguably Pride and Prejudice though some might say Sense and Sensibility. Elizabeth Bennett refuses to put up with the rude Mr. Darcy. We all know that won’t last. The novel begins, “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife” Austen 1.

Jane Austen ( ) is one of the most widely read authors in English literature. Austen’s best book is arguably Pride and Prejudice ( though some might say Sense and Sensibility ). Elizabeth Bennett refuses to put up with the rude Mr. Darcy. ( We all know that won’t last.) The novel begins, “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife” ( Austen 1 ).