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Victo Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Parentheses
Do we cap the first word -- mid-sentence -- within parentheses?
THIS: I told John Jacobs (do you remember him?) to bring the documents to Harriet.
NOT: I told John Jacobs (Do you remember him?) to bring the documents to Harriet.
We would obviously cap the first word in parens if it were the pronoun I or a proper noun.
Do we place a period within parens? I say no. See below.
I hate Mike (he's an idiot) for what he did.
But an exclamation point can go within parens in the same sentence. I say yes.
I hate Mike (he's an idiot!) for what he did.
Thanks.
THIS: I told John Jacobs (do you remember him?) to bring the documents to Harriet.
NOT: I told John Jacobs (Do you remember him?) to bring the documents to Harriet.
We would obviously cap the first word in parens if it were the pronoun I or a proper noun.
Do we place a period within parens? I say no. See below.
I hate Mike (he's an idiot) for what he did.
But an exclamation point can go within parens in the same sentence. I say yes.
I hate Mike (he's an idiot!) for what he did.
Thanks.
Top answer
Hi, I agree with your comments. But consider this, too. Sentences in which one uses such parenthetical comments are usually quite informal, so concern about very strict conventions of punctuation seems slightly misplaced.
- Hi, I agree with your comments.
- But consider this, too.
- Sentences in which one uses such parenthetical comments are usually quite informal, so concern about very strict conventions of punctuation seems slightly misplaced.
- Best wishes, Clive
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1 Answers
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Hi,
I agree with your comments.
But consider this, too. Sentences in which one uses such parenthetical comments are usually quite informal, so concern about very strict conventions of punctuation seems slightly misplaced.
Best wishes, Clive
I agree with your comments.
But consider this, too. Sentences in which one uses such parenthetical comments are usually quite informal, so concern about very strict conventions of punctuation seems slightly misplaced.
Best wishes, Clive
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