Вы находитесь на странице: 1из 13

PUNCTUATION RULES PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS

Parentheses and Brackets


Parentheses and brackets must never be used interchangeably.

Parentheses
Rule 1. Use parentheses to enclose information that clarifies or is used as an
aside.

Example: He finally answered (after taking five minutes to think) that he


did not understand the question.

If material in parentheses ends a sentence, the period goes after the


parentheses.

Example: He gave me a nice bonus ($500).

Commas could have been used in the first example; a colon could have been
used in the second example. The use of parentheses indicates that the writer
considered the information less important—almost an afterthought.

Rule 2a. Periods go inside parentheses only if an entire sentence is inside the
parentheses.

Example: Please read the analysis. (You'll be amazed.)

This is a rule with a lot of wiggle room. An entire sentence in parentheses is


often acceptable without an enclosed period:

Example: Please read the analysis (you'll be amazed).

Rule 2b. Take care to punctuate correctly when punctuation is required both
inside and outside parentheses.
Example: You are late (aren't you?).

Note the question mark within the parentheses. The period after the
parentheses is necessary to bring the entire sentence to a close.

Rule 3. Parentheses, despite appearances, are not part of the subject.

Example: Joe (and his trusty mutt) was always welcome.

If this seems awkward, try rewriting the sentence:

Example: Joe (accompanied by his trusty mutt) was always welcome.

Rule 4. Commas are more likely to follow parentheses than precede them.

Incorrect: When he got home, (it was already dark outside) he fixed
dinner.
Correct: When he got home (it was already dark outside), he fixed dinner.

Brackets
Brackets are far less common than parentheses, and they are only used in
special cases. Brackets (like single quotation marks) are used exclusively
within quoted material.

Rule 1. Brackets are interruptions. When we see them, we know they've been
added by someone else. They are used to explain or comment on the
quotation.

Examples:
"Four score and seven [today we'd say eighty-seven] years ago..."
"Bill shook hands with [his son] Al."
Rule 2. When quoting something that has a spelling or grammar mistake or
presents material in a confusing way, insert the term sic in italics and enclose
it in nonitalic (unless the surrounding text is italic) brackets.

Sic ("thus" in Latin) is shorthand for, "This is exactly what the original
material says."

Example: She wrote, "I would rather die then [sic] be seen wearing the
same outfit as my sister."

The [sic] indicates that then was mistakenly used instead of than.

Rule 3. In formal writing, brackets are often used to maintain the integrity of
both a quotation and the sentences others use it in.

Example: "[T]he better angels of our nature" gave a powerful ending to


Lincoln's first inaugural address.

Lincoln's memorable phrase came midsentence, so the word the was not
originally capitalized.
Question Marks, Quotation Marks, and
Parentheses Quiz 1
1. For each of the following, choose the correct sentence.

A) He wanted to know when you will be here?

B) He wanted to know when you will be here.

2.

A) “Well,” she said, “you certainly didn’t waste any time.”

B) “Well”, she said, “you certainly didn’t waste any time”.

3.

A) “Is it almost over,” he asked?

B) “Is it almost over?” he asked.

4.

A) She screamed, “I’ve had it up to here!”.

B) She screamed, “I’ve had it up to here!”

5.
A) The song asks, “Would you like to swing on a star?”

B) The song asks, “Would you like to swing on a star”?

Question Marks, Quotation Marks, and


Parentheses Quiz 1
6.

A) Carmen said, “I think “Ring the Alarm” is a great song.”

B) Carmen said, “I think ‘Ring the Alarm’ is a great song.”

7.

A) She asked (actually she pleaded), but he would not budge.

B) She asked, (actually she pleaded) but he would not budge.

8.

A) We didn’t want to go. (Because of the weather.)

B) We didn’t want to go (because of the weather).

9.

A) “May I have a rain check on that lunch,” I asked?


B) “May I have a rain check on that lunch?” I asked.

10.

A) Do you believe the saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned”?

B) Do you believe the saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned?”

Quiz Results
1. For each of the following, choose the correct sentence.

Correct Answer: B He wanted to know when you will be here.

Explanation: this is not a direct question.

2.

Correct Answer: A “Well,” she said, “you certainly didn’t waste any time.”

Explanation: periods and commas always go inside quotation marks.

3.

Correct Answer: B “Is it almost over?” he asked.

Explanation: “Is it almost over?” is a question, so the question mark must be


placed inside the quotation marks.

4.

Correct Answer: B She screamed, “I’ve had it up to here!”


Explanation: an exclamation point replaces a period at the end of a sentence.

5.

Correct Answer: A The song asks, “Would you like to swing on a star?”

Explanation: “Would you like to swing on a star?” is a question, so the


question mark must be placed inside the quotation marks.

6.

Correct Answer: B Carmen said, “I think ‘Ring the Alarm’ is a great song.”

Explanation: this sentence has a title within a quotation, so single quotation


marks are needed.

7.

Correct Answer: A She asked (actually she pleaded), but he would not
budge.

Explanation: commas are more likely to follow parentheses than precede


them.

8.

Correct Answer: B We didn’t want to go (because of the weather).

Explanation: if material in parentheses is not a complete sentence, it should


be part of the previous sentence.

9.
Correct Answer: B “May I have a rain check on that lunch?” I asked.

Explanation: “May I have a rain check on that lunch?” is a question, so the


question mark must be placed inside the quotation marks.

10.

Correct Answer: A Do you believe the saying, “A penny saved is a penny


earned”?

Explanation: “A penny saved is a penny earned” is not a question, so the


question mark must be placed outside the quotation marks.

Final Score: 0/10


Question Marks, Quotation Marks, and
Parentheses Quiz 1
1. For each of the following, choose the correct sentence.

A) He wanted to know when you will be here?

B) He wanted to know when you will be here.

2.

A) “Well,” she said, “you certainly didn’t waste any time.”

B) “Well”, she said, “you certainly didn’t waste any time”.

3.

A) “Is it almost over,” he asked?

B) “Is it almost over?” he asked.

4.

A) She screamed, “I’ve had it up to here!”.

B) She screamed, “I’ve had it up to here!”


5.

A) The song asks, “Would you like to swing on a star?”

B) The song asks, “Would you like to swing on a star”?

Question Marks, Quotation Marks, and


Parentheses Quiz 1
6.

A) Carmen said, “I think “Ring the Alarm” is a great song.”

B) Carmen said, “I think ‘Ring the Alarm’ is a great song.”

7.

A) She asked (actually she pleaded), but he would not budge.

B) She asked, (actually she pleaded) but he would not budge.

8.

A) We didn’t want to go. (Because of the weather.)

B) We didn’t want to go (because of the weather).

9.
A) “May I have a rain check on that lunch,” I asked?

B) “May I have a rain check on that lunch?” I asked.

10.

A) Do you believe the saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned”?

B) Do you believe the saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned?”

Quiz Results
1. For each of the following, choose the correct sentence.

Correct Answer: B He wanted to know when you will be here.

Explanation: this is not a direct question.

2.

Correct Answer: A “Well,” she said, “you certainly didn’t waste any time.”

Explanation: periods and commas always go inside quotation marks.

3.

Correct Answer: B “Is it almost over?” he asked.

Explanation: “Is it almost over?” is a question, so the question mark must be


placed inside the quotation marks.
4.

Correct Answer: B She screamed, “I’ve had it up to here!”

Explanation: an exclamation point replaces a period at the end of a sentence.

5.

Correct Answer: A The song asks, “Would you like to swing on a star?”

Explanation: “Would you like to swing on a star?” is a question, so the


question mark must be placed inside the quotation marks.

6.

Correct Answer: B Carmen said, “I think ‘Ring the Alarm’ is a great song.”

Explanation: this sentence has a title within a quotation, so single quotation


marks are needed.

7.

Correct Answer: A She asked (actually she pleaded), but he would not
budge.

Explanation: commas are more likely to follow parentheses than precede


them.

8.

Correct Answer: B We didn’t want to go (because of the weather).


Explanation: if material in parentheses is not a complete sentence, it should
be part of the previous sentence.

9.

Correct Answer: B “May I have a rain check on that lunch?” I asked.

Explanation: “May I have a rain check on that lunch?” is a question, so the


question mark must be placed inside the quotation marks.

10.

Correct Answer: A Do you believe the saying, “A penny saved is a penny


earned”?

Explanation: “A penny saved is a penny earned” is not a question, so the


question mark must be placed outside the quotation marks.

Final Score: 0/10

Вам также может понравиться