Parentheses

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General dos and don’ts for parentheses

When referring to a sign or symbol, introduce its spelled out version and then the sign or symbol in parentheses.
Examples

Recommended: Use an em dash (—) also known as a long dash, to set off a break in the flow of a sentence.

Recommended: End the tag with a greater than (>) symbol.

If parentheses are introduced inside a sentence, then don’t capitalize the first word even if the enclosed sentence is a complete sentence. Capitalize the first word of the sentence enclosed in parentheses if it is a proper noun.
Examples

Not recommended: Emphasize on the task to be accomplished (The task that you’re writing about), rather than how the user should interact with the UIUI UI is an acronym for User Interface - the layout of the page the user interacts with. Think ‘how are they doing that’ and less about what they are doing. element.

Recommended: Emphasize on the task to be accomplished (the task that you’re writing about), rather than how the user should interact with the UIUI UI is an acronym for User Interface - the layout of the page the user interacts with. Think ‘how are they doing that’ and less about what they are doing. element.

Don’t use parentheses within parentheses for text. Rephrase the sentence if necessary.

Use brackets to set off information already within parentheses.

If a complete, independent sentence is enclosed within parentheses, include the period or comma inside the parentheses.

Place colons and semicolons outside parentheses.

Place question marks and exclamation points inside the parentheses only when they’re part of the parenthetical phrase.

Be watchful of misplaced, unopened, or unclosed parentheses.

Last updated: June 8, 2021