Join In
Twitter
YouTube
Weekly Newsletter
Libraries
A-Z Grammatical Terms
A-Z Confused Words
A-Z Awkward Plurals
Punctuation Lessons
Common Mistakes
(ordered by seriousness) ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists A-Z Idioms and Proverbs Tests and Games Top Tip Install a grammar checker
for your browser
(ordered by seriousness) ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists A-Z Idioms and Proverbs Tests and Games Top Tip Install a grammar checker
for your browser
Parenthetical Punctuation
This Page Includes...
What Is Parenthetical Punctuation? (with Examples)
Parenthetical punctuation is used in pairs to offset additional information in a sentence. Parenthetical punctuation includes the following punctuation marks: commas, dashes, and parentheses (called "round brackets" in the UK).The additional information offset by parenthetical punctuation is called a parenthesis.
Examples of Parenthetical Punctuation in Sentences
Here are some examples of parenthetical punctuation in sentences. In each example, the parenthesis being offset is shaded.- Mrs Allan, 64 at the time, rang the police immediately. (In this example, commas have been used as the parenthetical punctuation.)
- Due to pub quizzes, Buzz Aldrin — the second man on the Moon — is now as famous as Neil Armstrong. (In this example, dashes have been used.)
- Mrs O'Grady's other macaw (called "Billy Two") rides a motorized skateboard. (In this example, parentheses, i.e., round brackets, have been used.)
What Should I Use To Offset a Parenthesis?
It is your choice whether to use commas, dashes, or parentheses. Below are some guidelines:![]() commas |
![]() ![]() |
![]() brackets |
![]() ![]() |
![]() dashes |
![]() ![]() |
Other Punctuation Marks
Here is a slider with lessons to the other punctuation marks:- Control the starkness of your parenthesis (Does it stand out? Is it unobtrusiveness?)
- Reduce the risk that commas will be confused with other commas in the sentence.
- Avoid parentheses (i.e., round brackets), which can look informal.
- Learn the different types of parenthetical punctuation to take control of the look and feel of your sentences .
Help Us Improve Grammar Monster
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?
Find Us Quicker!
- When using a search engine (e.g., Google, Bing), you will find Grammar Monster quicker if you add #gm to your search term.