Punctuation and Parenthesis

Meira · Apr 16, 2008

Forgive me if this has been done before. I couldn't find it. I thought I had this rule down, but I am now running into contradictory information.

Doesn't punctuation always go inside parenthesis?

My example sentence:

She needed twelve pencils (sharpened,) a ruler, and three notebooks.

Thanks for your help.

CaroGirl · Apr 16, 2008

In your example you don't the comma at all. The parenthetical stands alone without need of other punctuation.

If you have a standalone parenthetical that's a complete sentence, the period (full-stop) must be inside. For example, "I knew her well. (She was my aunt, after all.)"

Maryn · Apr 16, 2008

I disagree about whether the comma is needed. You've got three objects, one with a parenthetical, and you must separate at least the first two with commas. Whether items two and three should also be separated with commas is undergoing very gradual change, so for now I stick with the Olde Ways and put it in.

Say it read: She needed twelve pencils, a ruler, and three notebooks. The comma after pencils has to be there. It still does when you further define or describe the pencils parenthetically: She needed twelve pencils (sharpened), a ruler, and three notebooks.

Maryn, usually more agreeable

Meira · Apr 16, 2008

CaroGirl said:
In your example you don't the comma at all.

But it is a list of items. I need a comma between items, correct?

She needed twelve pencils, a ruler, and three notebooks.

CaroGirl · Apr 16, 2008

Maryn said:
I disagree about whether the comma is needed. You've got three objects, one with a parenthetical, and you must separate at least the first two with commas. Whether items two and three should also be separated with commas is undergoing very gradual change, so for now I stick with the Olde Ways and put it in.

Say it read: She needed twelve pencils, a ruler, and three notebooks. The comma after pencils has to be there. It still does when you further define or describe the pencils parenthetically: She needed twelve pencils (sharpened), a ruler, and three notebooks.

Maryn, usually more agreeable

Yes, yes. Sorry. What Maryn said. I'm distracted aujourd'hui.

Meira · Apr 16, 2008

Maryn said:
I disagree about whether the comma is needed.

Say it read: She needed twelve pencils, a ruler, and three notebooks. The comma after pencils has to be there. It still does when you further define or describe the pencils parenthetically: She needed twelve pencils (sharpened), a ruler, and three notebooks.

Somehow I missed this post. I must have been typing.

Thank you. This makes sense now.

Maryn said:
Whether items two and three should also be separated with commas is undergoing very gradual change, so for now I stick with the Olde Ways and put it in.

I like the "olde way" on this rule as well. Feels more complete.

Thanks guys!

Maryn · Apr 16, 2008

Glad to have helped. (It's so rare I know the answer and arrive in time!)

Maryn, further distracting Caro by making funny faces

Jersey Chick · Apr 16, 2008

Would it help if you just said twelve sharpened pencils?

Ziljon · Apr 16, 2008

Meira said:
Doesn't punctuation always go inside parenthesis?

My example sentence:

She needed twelve pencils (sharpened,) a ruler, and three notebooks.

Thanks for your help.

No. As far as I know, punctuation goes outside the parentheses unless the parenthetical expression is a stand alone sentence. (So, in your example, the comma goes outside.)

Matera the Mad · Apr 16, 2008

Yep, as Maryn et al said, the punctuation goes outside (like this), unless it stands alone. (See what we mean?)

Punctuation and Parenthesis

Meira

Informant X03981

CaroGirl

Living the dream

Maryn

I Tried

Meira

Informant X03981

CaroGirl

Living the dream

Meira

Informant X03981

Maryn

I Tried

Jersey Chick

Up all night to get Loki

Ziljon

Tortilla di Patate

Matera the Mad

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint