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Goronsky Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
More than 1 Sentence in Parentheses – Punctuation Conundrum
Instead of using a semicolon between the sentences in the parentheses below, which option would you go with – (1) or (2)?
(1) He wanted to smoke his pipe (Good tobacco was scarce. He had the war to thank for that) with a glass of brandy in his hand.
(Period or no period after 'that'?)
(2) He wanted to smoke his pipe (Good tobacco was scarce. He had the war to thank for that.) with a glass of brandy in his hand.
(Period after 'that', or no?)
(3) He wanted to smoke his pipe—Good tobacco was scarce. He had the war to thank for that—with a glass of brandy in his hand.
(Okay with punctuation? Would you lowercase the word 'good'?)
(1) He wanted to smoke his pipe (Good tobacco was scarce. He had the war to thank for that) with a glass of brandy in his hand.
(Period or no period after 'that'?)
(2) He wanted to smoke his pipe (Good tobacco was scarce. He had the war to thank for that.) with a glass of brandy in his hand.
(Period after 'that', or no?)
(3) He wanted to smoke his pipe—Good tobacco was scarce. He had the war to thank for that—with a glass of brandy in his hand.
(Okay with punctuation? Would you lowercase the word 'good'?)
Top answer
No period after 'that'. I'd use a semicolon between the clauses in parentheses. Capitalising 'good' is incorrect.
- No period after 'that'.
- I'd use a semicolon between the clauses in parentheses.
- Capitalising 'good' is incorrect.
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5 Answers
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No period after 'that'.
I'd use a semicolon between the clauses in parentheses.
Capitalising 'good' is incorrect.
I'd use a semicolon between the clauses in parentheses.
Capitalising 'good' is incorrect.
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Alternatively, I think an em dash could work in parentheses as well. Do you agree?
He wanted to smoke his pipe (good tobacco was scarce – he had the war to thank for that) with a glass of brandy in his hand.
He wanted to smoke his pipe (good tobacco was scarce – he had the war to thank for that) with a glass of brandy in his hand.
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