parenthesis

American  

[puh-ren-thuh-sis] / pəˈrɛn θə sɪs /

noun

plural

parentheses

1. either or both of a pair of signs ( ) used in writing to mark off an interjected explanatory or qualifying remark, to indicate separate groupings of symbols in mathematics and symbolic logic, etc.

2. Usually parentheses. the material contained within these marks.

3. Grammar. a qualifying, explanatory, or appositive word, phrase, clause, or sentence that interrupts a syntactic construction without otherwise affecting it, having often a characteristic intonation and indicated in writing by commas, parentheses, or dashes, as in William Smith—you must know him—is coming tonight.

4. an interval.

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parenthesis British  

/ ˌpærənˈθɛtɪk, pəˈrɛnθɪsɪs /

noun

1. a phrase, often explanatory or qualifying, inserted into a passage with which it is not grammatically connected, and marked off by brackets, dashes, etc

2. Also called: bracket.  either of a pair of characters, (), used to enclose such a phrase or as a sign of aggregation in mathematical or logical expressions

3. an intervening occurrence; interlude; interval

4. inserted as a parenthesis

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Other Word Forms

• parenthetic
  adjective
• parenthetically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of parenthesis

1560–70; < Late Latin < Greek parénthesis a putting in beside. See par-, en- ², thesis

Explanation

A parenthesis is a tall, curvy punctuation mark used to set off material that isn’t fundamental to the main topic, like an afterthought or an aside (or a funny joke). Parenthesis marks come in pairs: the plural is spelled “parentheses.” Parentheses look like this: ( ). When you use parentheses to set off material in a sentence, you say that the material is “in parenthesis.” Put something in parentheses if it's a comment, an afterthought, or additional information that is possibly interesting but not essential to the subject. You can also describe something as a parenthesis, like a digressive story about horses in the middle of a political speech.

Example Sentences

“There’s an inevitability to what is happening,” Jarvis, author of “The Gutenberg Parenthesis: The Age of Print and its Lessons for the Age of the Internet,” said in an interview.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 1, 2024

Ascanio called the gap between the two the Parenthesis.

From New York Times • Jan. 2, 2023

In Parenthesis is British composer Iain Bell's adaptation of the epic poem by David Jones, who fought in the Battle of Mametz Wood.

From BBC • May 13, 2016

The perspective shifts between first, second and third person throughout In Parenthesis, and its language is similarly fluid in register.

From The Guardian • Feb. 4, 2011

Rules for the Use of the Parenthesis 1.

From Punctuation A Primer of Information about the Marks of Punctuation and their Use Both Grammatically and Typographically by Hamilton, Frederick W. (Frederick William)