Fear not, it's not that complicated.

Okay, that's it. I need help. by Anonymouse on 2014-09-01 16:45:00 UTC Reply

I've always been confused on how punctuation works around parentheses and brackets. Which is a problem, because nine times out of ten, I end up using parentheses at the end of a sentence or near a comma.

Possibilities I've thought up:

>Punctuation treats parenthentheticals like quotes, and should stay inside them.

Blah blah blah (blah blah.)

>Punctuation stays inside only when it applies to whatever's inside, and goes outside when it applies to whatever's outside. However, the parentheses stay to the left of outside punctuation. I usually use this one.

Blah blah blah (blah blah.).

>Punctuation does not contain parentheticals.

Blah blah blah. (Blah blah.)

>This situation should just be avoided entirely, even when impractical.

Blah blah blah- blah blah.

Fear not, it's not that complicated. by Neshomeh on 2014-09-01 16:59:00 UTC Reply

There are two basic rules:

1. When the parenthetical aside is part of the sentence (like this), the punctuation goes outside. Punctuate like you would if the parenthetical note weren't there, but after the aside—for instance, in the previous sentence, there would normally be a comma after "sentence," but now it goes after the aside.

2. When the parenthetical aside is its own sentence, the punctuation goes inside. (Like this.)

When deciding whether or not to include a parenthetical aside at all, ask yourself if the information is important. If it IS important, you should probably include it in the text of the piece without making it an aside. If it's NOT important, consider leaving it out entirely. If it's not important, but still serves a purpose such as entertainment value, go ahead and include it.

That's pretty much it. Let me know if there are any specific examples that worry you, and I'll help. {= )

~Neshomeh

But that doesn't cover all the options. by Huinesoron on 2014-09-01 20:20:00 UTC Reply

What about if the parenthetical needs its own punctuation (and can you think of an example?)? That's clearly wrong, or at least strange, but the 'and' makes it part of the sentence. Also, your second example - how, exactly, is that not part of the sentence? Because you've punctuated it differently, yes, but 'the punctuation goes inside, like this' is the correct grammar, not 'the punctuation goes inside. Like this.'

Personally, I try to avoid brackets at the end of sentences (because, frankly, they just make my head hurt!).

hS

Hold on, lemme look it up. by Neshomeh on 2014-09-01 20:55:00 UTC Reply

But first, the second thing: That was just done for the example. Sentence fragments happen. {= P

Now the first thing: The Chicago Manual of Style 15th Edition, page 266, has this to say about parentheses with other punctuation:

6.103 With other punctuation. An opening parenthesis should be preceded by a comma or semicolon only in an enumeration (see 6.126); a closing parenthesis should should never be preceded by a comma or a semicolon. A question mark, an exclamation point, and closing quotation marks precede a closing parenthesis if they belong to the parenthetical matter; they follow it if they belong to the surrounding sentence. A period precedes the closing parenthesis if the entire sentence is in parentheses; otherwise it follows. (A parenthetical enclosure of more than one sentence should not be included within another sentence. If a final period is needed at the end of such an enclosure, rewording may be necessary to keep the enclosure independent of the surrounding text, as is this one.) Parentheses should rarely appear back to back. Different kinds of material may, if necessary, be enclosed in a single set of parentheses, usually separated by a semicolon.
They give the following examples:

Having entered (on tiptoe), we sat down on the nearest seats we could find.

Come on in (quietly, please!) and take a seat.

(see Smith and Hawkins 1990; t-tests are used here)
I guess just try not to write sentences where you need punctuation on both sides of a closing parenthesis? And yeah, I usually try to avoid them at the ends of sentences, too.

~Neshomeh