3 Errors in Using Parentheses

3 Errors in Using Parentheses 3 Errors in Using Parentheses 3 Errors in Using Parentheses By Mark Nichol Parenthetical marks can cause difficulties for writers- and, as a result, for readers. In each of the following examples, parentheses are misused; discussion and revision of each sentence follow. 1. The act brings the United Kingdom into line with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) recommendations in dealing with bribery and corruption. One writing convention is to insert an acronym or initialism of a term in parentheses after that term is introduced, after which the abbreviation, rather than the full term, is used in subsequent references. However, it is awkward to introduce a term in this manner when it appears in possessive form, with an apostrophe followed by s. In such cases, it is best to replace the possessive form with a prepositional phrase so that the parenthesis immediately follows the term itself: â€Å"The act brings the United Kingdom into line with the recommendations of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in dealing with bribery and corruption.† 2. Moving tangible and nontangible (for example, data files and intellectual property) assets is an option. Again, a parenthesis that provides more information should immediately follow the relevant word or phrase; in this case, the parenthetical refers not to â€Å"tangible and nontangible† but to assets: â€Å"Moving tangible and nontangible assets (for example, data files and intellectual property) is an option.† 3. This work does not cover all aspects of IT integration (those are laid out in a detailed IT integration plan that will take months to complete while parallel IT environments are operated). This treatment of a parenthesis is not strictly wrong, but when the parenthesis consists of a complete sentence, it is clearer to treat it as such, with the first letter of the first word capitalized and with a period preceding the close parenthesis mark (and terminal punctuation following the preceding sentence): â€Å"This work does not cover all aspects of IT integration. (Those are laid out in a detailed IT integration plan that will take months to complete while parallel IT environments are operated.)† If, however, a complete sentence in parentheses falls within another sentence, leave the first letter of the first word lowercase and omit the period. (Exception: A question mark or exclamation point at the end of the wording in parentheses should be retained regardless of where the parenthesis falls.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Good At, Good In, and Good WithTen Yiddish Expressions You Should KnowOne "L" or Two?