parenthesis
parenthesis — noun
1. one of the two curved punctuation marks ( ), used in pairs to enclose extra info
one of the two curved punctuation marks ( ), used in pairs to enclose extra information, page numbers, or a section inside a maths problem; the British English term is 'round bracket'.
Carlos wrote his phone number in parentheses next to his name on the form.
in parentheses (the marks)
The teacher told the class to solve what is inside the parentheses first.
maths: solve inside parentheses first
Please put the year of birth in parentheses after each author's name.
Lina forgot to close the parenthesis at the end of the sentence.
On the keyboard, the left parenthesis is above the number nine.
- round brackets
British English equivalent
- brackets
British informal; in American English 'brackets' usually means [ ]
文法句型
in parentheses
put something in parentheses
用法筆記
Almost always plural ('parentheses') because the marks come in pairs. Singular 'parenthesis' refers to one mark only — usually 'left parenthesis' or 'right parenthesis'. American writers say 'parentheses'; British writers more often say 'round brackets' or just 'brackets'.
常見錯誤
2. a word, phrase, or short sentence that a writer slips into a longer sentence to
a word, phrase, or short sentence that a writer slips into a longer sentence to add explanation or extra detail, usually marked off with commas, dashes, or round brackets so the reader can see it is a side comment.
Maya marked the date of the wedding, May 4th, as a parenthesis between two commas.
set off by paired commas
The editor told Marcus to drop the long parenthesis about his uncle from the opening paragraph.
drop / cut a parenthesis
When Mei-Ling cited the source, she added a parenthesis with the year right after the author's name.
Lina added a short parenthesis to remind readers that the survey covered only Taipei.
The teacher praised the writer for using a clear parenthesis instead of a clumsy footnote.
- aside
more conversational; often spoken, not written
- interjection
shorter and more emotional; not always grammatical
- insertion
neutral; emphasises the act of adding text
文法句型
a parenthesis (in/within something)
用法筆記
Refers to the inserted text itself, not the brackets around it. Distinguish from sense 1 ('round brackets'): a parenthesis in this sense can be set off by commas or dashes, with no brackets at all.
常見錯誤
3. an extra remark or short story that a speaker slips in while talking, briefly st
an extra remark or short story that a speaker slips in while talking, briefly stepping away from the main topic before returning to it.
Dr. Tanaka allowed himself a brief parenthesis about his student days before returning to the lecture.
allow oneself a brief parenthesis
The mayor added, in parenthesis, that the new bus rule had quietly changed last spring.
phrase: in parenthesis
Sarah's speech was clear, with only one short parenthesis about her grandmother in Hualien.
Marcus paused, made a quick parenthesis about the weather, and then went back to the report.
- digression
more common; emphasises moving away from the topic
- aside
neutral; often whispered or off the record
- tangent
informal; suggests a longer side topic
- main point
what the speaker returns to after the parenthesis
文法句型
in parenthesis
as a parenthesis
用法筆記
Often appears in the fixed phrase 'in parenthesis' meaning 'as a side comment'. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is usually about spoken digressions in a talk or lecture, not written inserts in a sentence.