Parentheses ( ) are a type of punctuation. Parentheses are always used as a set of two.
Put parentheses around words and information that are not of major importance. The words that are inside a parentheses could be left out and the sentence would still make sense. The information inside a set of parentheses is known as “parenthetical” information.
These sentences have parenthetical statements inside the parentheses:
Dog-lovers (my sister Jan, for example) think I’m strange for living without a pet.
My brother (who lives in Arizona) thinks every day should be a sunny day.
My dad and younger sister (unlike the rest of the family) are talented athletes.
I can sing (of course), but I don’t play an instrument.
Notice that we can leave out the parenthetical words, and the sentences still make sense:
Dog-lovers think I’m strange for living without a pet.
My brother thinks every day should be a sunny day.
My dad and younger sister are talented athletes.
I can sing, but I don’t play an instrument.
Parentheses are useful for setting off extra or unimportant ideas inside a sentence. Always use both parts of the parentheses. Open the parentheses, and then close the parentheses.
▶It’s your turn. Find the parenthetical information in this sentence and insert a set of parentheses. Some girls me, for example don’t like wearing dresses. Did you find the three words that should be inside a set of parentheses? Good for you!