Editor's Corner

For your reading pleasure today, I have three basic rules for parentheses and punctuation. This information is from the Grammarbook.com website. (I have reformatted some of the text to make it easier to read.)

Parentheses

Rule 1: Use parentheses to enclose words or figures that clarify or are used as an aside.

Examples:

· I expect five hundred dollars ($500).

· He finally answered (after taking five minutes to think) that he did not understand the question.

Note: Commas could have been used in the above example. Parentheses show less emphasis or importance.

Rule 2: Use full parentheses to enclose numbers or letters used for listed items.

Example:

We need an emergency room physician who can (1) think quickly, (2) treat patients respectfully, and (3) handle complaints from the public.

Rule 3: Periods go inside parentheses only if an entire sentence is inside the parentheses.

Examples:

· Please read the analysis (I enclosed it as Attachment A.). [KC – This is a particularly ugly way to do it. I’d opt for the second or third example instead.]

· Please read the analysis. (I enclosed it as Attachment A.)

· Please read the analysis (Attachment A).