Writing Lessons & Advice: Using Parentheses
Bonus content is an awesome feature of most DVDs and Blu-ray discs! While the movie or show is the main content of the medium, of course, most supplementary material is for fans of the property or of film in general. Good bonus content entails a combination of bloopers, behind-the-scenes footage, deleted scenes, commentary, games, trailers, alternate or extended cuts, and so much more! They ultimately give viewers a deeper connection to the main content itself. You find that a lot goes into the cinematic process!
In similar ways, writers can have a lot in their heads as they pen their work. If determined that a train of thought is a bit like bonus content to the main idea, it may get expressed in parentheses—or round brackets in British writing. (sample) These marks are typically used in pairs as if to enclose a phrase between the two symbols. The adjective form is parenthetical, so the marks and phrases within may also be called parenthetical expressions, statements, etc. The most common use of parentheses often indicates the contents is either extra or a little less important than the main message, like a small tangent or details that clarify or emphasize. Contemporary author Katie Heaney frequently utilizes this technique of expression in her novel, "Dear Emma". Here are a few lines "in action":
I stood looking in the bathroom mirror for a few minutes trying to decide between a shower (the underdog) and dry shampoo (the favorite). (pg. 21)
We argued about pizza (I was pro-deep dish and he, blasphemously, was anti-) and somehow, that turned into a discussion about free will. (Neither of us was sure exactly how much we had, but it was clear Keith had thought about it much more.) (pg. 52-53)
I was self-assured, and strong, and today was the day I'd get the answers (of whatever kind, I'd told myself; I'd be OK with answers of whatever kind) I'd been waiting for. (pg 80)
"Dear Emma" is a character-driven story, so elements of the characters' internal lives play a considerable part in moving the plot. The statements in parentheses do offer glimpses into the characters' psyche, interests, or personal developments in their respective contexts. However, they do not heavily influence any outcomes that follow. But having the snippets in parentheses still keeps them included.
Poet E.E. Cummings also leans heavily into parenthetical expressions:
...your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skilfully,mysteriously)her first rose...
...(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens;only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands
-From [somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond]
The statements in parentheses could be read as tangents that emphasize other ideas in the context. For instance, the speaker closes themself as fingers but the audience opens them with a skillful touch. The idea of mystery is also repeated between the two parenthetical sections. Even the poem title could be interpreted as a reference to something that cannot be identified easily. On one hand, the lines would still be understandable without the parentheses marks and/or tangents themselves, but on the other hand, they add depth and a unique voice to the poetry.
When creative liberties aren’t being taken, here are some rules to note for proper parentheses usage:
If parentheses contain a complete sentence, end punctuation is needed on the inside.
If parentheses content is at the end of the main sentence, the end punctuation is needed on the outside.
Information in parentheses is not considered part of a subject.
Commas often follow parentheses.
Parentheses within parentheses should be avoided--enclose the interior passage in brackets [example] if such utilization is necessary. (British writing terms them as square brackets.)
Bonus content on physical media is a big plus, but “bonus content” in writing is a mixed bag of reception. Barring a few exceptions, they can come off as casual or informal. Too many of them can dilute clarity and readability. They need to be used sparingly and with care to limit the risk of weakened writing. More often than not, parentheses marks could be interchanged with other sentence structure punctuation and the selection would still make reasonable, if not better, sense. Alternately, the selection needs to make enough sense without the parentheses content or needs reworked to include the most pertinent details.
Essays and certain professional work have instances where parentheses are acceptable, or at least necessary. Certain styles incorporate parenthetical citations--a crucial element for avoiding plagiarism, BTW. Example: “Direct quote from source (Smith, 123)”.
More still, if a written discussion references graphics or data of some sort, it may be presented to the effect of: ..a downward trend is represented in (figure 4). Also, the definitions for acronyms or certain terms may be set apart in parentheses the first time they are used in the work, like: DHHR (Department of Health and Human Resources) or National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The various style guides may have their other rules and recommendations of their own to mind as well.
A few other tolerable cases are if a word can be read as either singular or plural, it will be indicated as -(s), like: game(s). Also, either one or both parentheses marks can be used when writing numbered/lettered lists or outlines.
Bonus content on DVDs or Blu-rays certainly didn’t hurt the viewing and ownership experience. They were part of the sales hook in some cases, but ultimately, bonus content is not the feature presentation. Rather, it provides small doses of additional connection or entertainment for the viewer. “Bonus content” in writing should be considered in the same way. Hope you’re more informed or enlightened on how to use this punctuation! The source material offers plenty of other guiding thoughts, rules, and tips for using parentheses. Don’t forget to proofread with consideration for how you incorporate them!
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