The Parentheses Page: ( )
Sometimes you just need to stick something into your sentence.
A kind of additional free prize.
The kids' meal from McDonalds.
Henry (you know what a jerk he is) spent the day with his fly open.
Or, maybe, sometimes you just need an explanation.
I teach at a school called NOVA (Northern Virginia Community College).
Setting up references in a research paper is the other general time you need parentheses.
. . . 600 decibels can be achieved (Humphrey). . .
The (Humphrey) means the fact just given was found in the book written by Humphrey in my "Works Cited Page"
. . .as Humphrey notes 600 decibels can be achieved (775). . .
The (775) means go to that page in the book by Humphrey listed in my "Works Cited Page."
(Note: I repeat the following in the "dash," "parentheses " and "brackets discussions.)
Since dashes, parentheses and brackets all have the function of setting off some part of an idea, I want to write an example using dashes, parentheses and brackets.
Notice how the dash and the parentheses each has its own feel.
You'll choose the punctuation to achieve the feel you want your writing to have.
Henry--you know what a jerk he is--spent the day with his fly open.
Henry (you know what a jerk he is) spent the day with his fly open.
Brackets, however, are used to keep complicated issues understandable.
For instance, in a quote, an idea that is not part of the quote may be inserted.
(Sally Mae said, "Henry [you know what a jerk he is] spent the day with his fly open.")
If you have a series in parentheses, and within the parentheses you want to further explain.
The three things he said (George smokes, Henry [you know what a jerk he is] spent the day with his fly open, and Fenster never cries) were printed in the newspaper.
Please fool around with these three punctuation marks.
Look over some writing you've done and find places where they could make a difference.
Or do what I just did, which was to have some fun playing with them.
Here's some room for you: Use it!
To return to Step Two, please click here: Step Two.
