parenthesis Definition
a word, phrase, or sentence that is added to a sentence to give extra information or to make it clearer, and which is usually separated from the main part of the sentence by commas, brackets, or dashes.
Using parenthesis: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "parenthesis" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The sentence 'I have two sisters, Jane and Mary, who live in Paris' contains two parentheses.
Example
In the sentence 'She was born on July 4, 1990 (which was a Tuesday)', the parenthesis provides additional information about the date.
Example
Parentheses are often used in academic writing to provide citations or references.
Example
The use of parentheses can change the meaning of a sentence, as in 'I saw her duck (the bird)' versus 'I saw her duck (the action)'.
parenthesis Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for parenthesis
- parentheses
- bracket
- braces
- square brackets
- angle brackets
Phrases with parenthesis
as an aside or afterthought, often used to indicate a less important or tangential point
Example
In parenthesis, I should mention that I won't be able to attend the meeting next week.
without additional information or explanation
Example
The sentence 'He was born in 1980' is clear without parenthesis.
open/closed parenthesis
the opening and closing marks used to indicate a parenthesis
Example
The sentence 'The cat (which was black) sat on the mat' contains an open and closed parenthesis.
Origins of parenthesis
from Greek 'parenthesis', meaning 'to place beside'
Summary: parenthesis in Brief
A 'parenthesis' [pəˈrenθəsɪs] is a word, phrase, or sentence that provides additional information or clarification to a sentence. It is often set off by commas, brackets, or dashes, and can change the meaning of a sentence. 'Parenthesis' is commonly used in academic writing for citations and references. The phrase 'in parenthesis' is used to indicate an aside or afterthought.
