Do sections in parhenthesis modify a/an?

The Lonely One · Aug 27, 2009

An example:

I am in a (obviously this is not literal) pickle.

Would obviously change a to "an"? Or is a/an completely dependent on the word pickle? Is there some grammar rule advising against constructing sentences this way in the first place? Thanks.

Maryn · Aug 27, 2009

The parenthetical comment is misplaced, IMO, which is why the question has arisen. You've got the explanation before the thing which merits explaining.

Consider I am in a pickle. (Obviously, this is not literal.) or I am in a pickle (Not a literal pickle, obviously.) or some other variation.

Maryn, rarely in pickles but often in a bind

Chase · Aug 27, 2009

I am in a (obviously this is not literal) pickle.

I can't find a grammar book addressing the issue. That doesn't mean one doesn't exist.

1. My take is the vowel sound in "obviously" doesn't apply due to the intervening parenthasis. The vowel sound in "pickle" should apply. I'm sure others will want to follow an opposite logic.

2. Another of my completely useless takes is that the entire issue is made moot, because the parenthetical element should come after "pickle." Thus, we are spared twisting two wrongs to make a right.

Chase · Aug 27, 2009

While I was looking and writing, Maryn gave the best response.

blacbird · Aug 27, 2009

Maryn said:
The parenthetical comment is misplaced, IMO, which is why the question has arisen. You've got the explanation before the thing which merits explaining.

Yep. Exactly correct. This violates one of my rough "rules o' thumb", which is, if something is bugging you in a sentence, it probably means the sentence needs to be rewritten in some other way.

Another of those personal "rules" applies to the "a/an" thing: Read it aloud, and you'll know which is needed. The use of those alternate articles arose from oral communication and ease of pronunciation.

caw

The Lonely One · Aug 27, 2009

Thanks. Bad example, but perhaps some of the suggestions you all have given can apply to sentences that have the same issue without the mistake

Dawnstorm · Aug 27, 2009

I'm in an (obviously metaphorical) pickle.

I'd use "an". I just can't read the sentence out loud, otherwise. I'd change intonation - go softer and quicker, perhaps - for the bracketed comment, but I'd still use "an".

I doubt there's a binding rule for that. But then I'm not exactly quick to accept a rule as binding... *whistles while he slinks into the shadows*

The Lonely One · Aug 27, 2009

Dawnstorm said:
I'm in an (obviously metaphorical) pickle.

I'd use "an". I just can't read the sentence out loud, otherwise. I'd change intonation - go softer and quicker, perhaps - for the bracketed comment, but I'd still use "an".

I doubt there's a binding rule for that. But then I'm not exactly quick to accept a rule as binding... *whistles while he slinks into the shadows*

Yes. Much less jolting, more slippery, quieter. I like your example. Good stuff.

benbradley · Aug 27, 2009

Is it better to avoid parentheses, or reduce one's use of parentheses? I've found myself wanting to avoid parentheses and the statements within them, and it may be partly because of examples like this.

I'm in a pickle. This is an example of both a metaphor and a cliche in one short sentence.

:wag:

I say cliche because I googled "in a pickle" and found it in this interesting book (on Google Books), "The dimwit's dictionary: 5,000 overused words and phrases and alternatives to them:"
http://preview.tinyurl.com/lpztyd
Looking through that book, its name is a bit of a - what would you call it? Perhaps like the "... For Dummies" books, it looks useful for any intelligent writer who wants to learn more.

The Lonely One · Aug 27, 2009

benbradley said:
Is it better to avoid parentheses, or reduce one's use of parentheses? I've found myself wanting to avoid parentheses and the statements within them, and it may be partly because of examples like this.

Can't help you on this question. I love parenthesis. As you can see I have the occasion to misuse them, but I do love them nonetheless. (What was I going to say here? I can't remember. Damn it.) Anyways, there's always the beloved dash. I like my friend the dash when I'm feeling bolder. Though I never bold, and I hardly use italics. Sometimes I'll forgo quote marks. Depends on the weather, the Tarot cards, and some other story related things.

It's complicated. Hmm, maybe that's my problem...

Maryn · Aug 28, 2009

To me, whether I use a lot of parentheticals depends entirely on my narrator's tone and personality. The flighty or exciteable ones writing very much like they talk tend to self-interrupt a lot, the more thoughtful ones, much less.

Maryn, able to channel ditzes

ideagirl · Aug 28, 2009

Maryn said:
The parenthetical comment is misplaced, IMO, which is why the question has arisen. You've got the explanation before the thing which merits explaining.

Consider I am in a pickle. (Obviously, this is not literal.) or I am in a pickle (Not a literal pickle, obviously.) or some other variation.

Maryn, rarely in pickles but often in a bind

Or, to keep it as close as possible to the original, "I am (obviously not literally) in a pickle."

Do sections in parhenthesis modify a/an?

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punny user title, here

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ideagirl