What are parentheses in writing?

Parentheses are the curved marks ( ) that set off extra or less important information in a sentence. The sentence should still make sense if you remove the words inside the parentheses.

When should my child use parentheses instead of commas?

Use parentheses when the information is more of a side note or quick explanation, and the writer wants it to feel separate from the main sentence. Use commas when the information is closely connected and flows naturally as part of the sentence.

Do parentheses go before or after the period?

If the words in parentheses are part of the sentence, the period goes after the closing parenthesis: "We left early (around 7 p.m.)." If the entire sentence is inside parentheses, the period goes inside: "(We left early.)"

What are parentheses used for in school assignments?

In school writing, parentheses can show definitions, dates, examples, or short comments that support the main idea. They also appear in citations and references, especially in research papers and formal essays.

What Are Parentheses? Definition and Examples

How to explain parentheses to your child

Parentheses are like a quiet side comment in a sentence. The words inside them give extra details, but the sentence still makes sense without those words. For example: "We went to the park (the one near school) after lunch." If you cover the part in parentheses, the sentence still works.

Worked examples of parentheses

Example 1 (middle school level):

Sentence: "My brother (who is 10) loves science videos."

Without the parentheses, the sentence is: "My brother loves science videos." This is a complete sentence. The words in parentheses, "who is 10," give extra information about the brother, but they are not required for the sentence to be complete.

Example 2 (high school level):

Sentence: "The novel (first published in 1965) is still popular today."

Without the parentheses, the sentence is: "The novel is still popular today." The phrase "first published in 1965" is extra information that helps the reader understand the time period, but it is not part of the core meaning. Parentheses show that this detail is helpful but not essential.

Going deeper with parentheses

As students move into higher grades, parentheses are used in more precise ways. In essays and reports, parentheses can show dates, abbreviations, or brief explanations, such as "The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) released new data." They can also be used to add a quick example or clarification that would interrupt the flow if written another way.

Parentheses are different from commas and dashes. Commas usually set off information that is closely tied to the sentence. Dashes often add a strong break or dramatic pause. Parentheses, on the other hand, signal that the information is quieter and less central, almost like the writer is whispering an aside to the reader.

In more advanced writing, parentheses can also appear inside citations and references, such as "(Smith, 2020)" in research writing. Students learn to choose between parentheses, commas, and other punctuation based on how important the information is and how they want the sentence to sound.

Common mistakes with parentheses

Leaving out needed punctuation around parentheses. Mistake: "We visited the museum (it was huge yesterday." The closing parenthesis is missing and there is no period at the end. Correction: "We visited the museum (it was huge) yesterday." or "We visited the museum yesterday (it was huge)."
Putting a period in the wrong place. Mistake: "We had pizza for dinner. (It was my favorite.)" when the parentheses are part of the same sentence. Correction: "We had pizza for dinner (it was my favorite)." The period goes after the closing parenthesis when the parenthetical is part of the sentence.
Using parentheses for information that is actually essential. Mistake: "The winner (of the contest) will receive a scholarship." Here, "of the contest" tells which winner, so it is essential. Correction: Remove the parentheses and write: "The winner of the contest will receive a scholarship."

Where your child sees parentheses in everyday life

Parentheses show up in many places outside of school. They appear in text messages when someone adds a side comment, in instructions that give extra tips, in recipes that explain a step, and in signs or flyers that include dates or short notes. Once your child knows what parentheses do, they will start noticing them in books, websites, and even game instructions.

Related terms to explore

To better understand how parentheses fit with other punctuation, it can help to review these terms:

Explore reading and language arts practice on Learning Hub

Create a free account to explore free K-12 reading and language arts practice with your child on Learning Hub.

What are parentheses?