What is the correct way to use parentheses?
A full sentence in parentheses is capitalized and is followed by a period preceding the closing parenthesis: “Have these resources on hand before you begin. (Items listed in parentheses are desirable but not essential.)”.Use parentheses when you think that readers may benefit from a brief definition or restatement of a word. Such parenthetical text can be a good idea when a word has many possible different definitions, or when you are using a discipline-specific word with an audience who may not be familiar with it.Use square brackets ( ) — not parentheses () — to indicate where you have in any way altered the original text of a source. 8. Do not use quotation marks to add emphasis to, or apologize for, an unusual word or phrase. Either rephrase or, if you must.
But in some fields, such as law, it's not only acceptable, but customary to use parentheses within parentheses. For what it's worth, he also has this on the use of parentheses: Virtually any punctuation mark is subject to an annoying overuse, but this is especially true of parentheses, which to be effective must be used sparingly.Sometimes seeing long names of popular organizations (i.e. Central Intelligence Agency) can be quite troubling for the reader of your essay. In an essay that will be using the name of the organization more than once, it is best to follow it with the common acronym associated with it (shown in parentheses).
Parentheses are a pair of signs ( ) helpful in marking off text. You use parentheses in specific situations that can be covered by a few simple guidelines. Parentheses are used to enclose incidental or extra information, such as a passing comment, a minor example or addition, or a brief explanation. The writer may choose to put additional.
