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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Proper grammar of parentheses?
We are having a grammar disagreement at work and I've tried to find the answer online to no avail.
When using parentheses to specify which type of general thing you're talking about, would you use the singular or plural form of the noun? I can't think of any other example so I'm just going to use the subjects we use:
All pools (serum and ear stick) tested PCR negative.
The question is the proper form of ear stick. Some in our lab say it should read as above. Some say it should read "ear sticks" or "ear stick samples." I think of it like the distributive property; for example, you wouldn't write "All serum and ear stick samples pools" so why would you put that in the parentheses?
Anyone know which grammar rule(s) apply here?
Thanks a bunch!
When using parentheses to specify which type of general thing you're talking about, would you use the singular or plural form of the noun? I can't think of any other example so I'm just going to use the subjects we use:
All pools (serum and ear stick) tested PCR negative.
The question is the proper form of ear stick. Some in our lab say it should read as above. Some say it should read "ear sticks" or "ear stick samples." I think of it like the distributive property; for example, you wouldn't write "All serum and ear stick samples pools" so why would you put that in the parentheses?
Anyone know which grammar rule(s) apply here?
Thanks a bunch!
Top answer
If you are referring to nouns and have already started the sentence with a plural construction, why would you use the singular form in your parentheses? I don't know what ear sticks are, so let me use a more understandable (for me) example. All professionals entering the court (lawyers and prosecutors) should ensure that they are dressed appropriately .
- If you are referring to nouns and have already started the sentence with a plural construction, why would you use the singular form in your parentheses?
- I don't know what ear sticks are, so let me use a more understandable (for me) example.
- All professionals entering the court (lawyers and prosecutors) should ensure that they are dressed appropriately .
- (lawyer and prosecutor)…" in the above sentence.
- But: Any professional entering the court (whether a lawyer or a prosecutor) should ensure that he/she is dressed appropriately.
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5 Answers
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If you are referring to nouns and have already started the sentence with a plural construction, why would you use the singular form in your parentheses?
I don't know what ear sticks are, so let me use a more understandable (for me) example.
All professionals entering the court (lawyers and prosecutors) should ensure that they are dressed appropriately.
It would not occ
I don't know what ear sticks are, so let me use a more understandable (for me) example.
All professionals entering the court (lawyers and prosecutors) should ensure that they are dressed appropriately.
It would not occ
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AnonymousAll pools (serum and ear stick) tested PCR negative.Correct as you have it above IF you would normally use the nouns 'serum' and 'ear stick' with 'pool', thus, if you wrote it all out:
All serum pools and all ear stick pools tested PCR negative.
Technically, in that type of usage it should be 'ear-stick': "ear-stick pools".
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Thanks for your response!
I thought of another example. Maybe something like:
All the baskets (fruit and muffin) in the kitchen are moldy.
Granted, it is a strange way to phrase it, but that is essentially what we're writing with ear sticks and serum, I think. I think of muffin baskets but not muffins baskets.
Maybe?
I thought of another example. Maybe something like:
All the baskets (fruit and muffin) in the kitchen are moldy.
Granted, it is a strange way to phrase it, but that is essentially what we're writing with ear sticks and serum, I think. I think of muffin baskets but not muffins baskets.
Maybe?
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AnonymousGranted, it is a strange way to phrase it, but that is essentially what we're writing with ear sticks and serum, I think.Yes, the grammatical structure is essentially the same.
Nouns that occur before other nouns in order to modify them are virtually always in the singular.
brick wall / not bricks wall
kitchen sinks /
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