Grammar – How to Use Parentheses in Writing

By Stuart Ackerman

     We use parentheses three ways in writing.

1.    To Show Less Important Information – We use parentheses in writing when we want to show that something is of less significance than something else.

For example:  My friend David (who is short) came over to play hockey. 

Here we can clearly see that the main idea of the sentence was that David was the friend of the speaker.  The fact that David was short was of less importance to the main idea of the sentence.  This idea that David is short also shows digression from the main idea.

2.    Numbers in a List – We can write a list by using commas but when we number the items in the list, we must use parentheses.

For example, a list with commas:

           I am going to buy milk, bread, and butter at the store.

           For example, a numbered list with parentheses:

           I am going to buy (1) milk, (2) bread, and (3) butter at the store.

            The main idea here is that if the list is going to be numbered, parentheses are needed.  Numbers are used when describing order.

3.    Citation – We use parentheses when citing written work.

For example:

The war began because “both sides were being funded by the same bankers” (Smith 1998).

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Tutorgiant.com provides  a Parentheses lesson with a worksheet.

PARENTHESES - Using Parentheses (Grades 7-8)

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      Writing                Grammar  

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