Parentheses and Dashes Rules

• PARENTHESES:– Rule 1: Use parentheses to enclose informative or

explanatory material of minor importance.• DASHES:– Rule 1: Indicate an abrupt break in thought– Rule 2: To mean namely, in other words, or that is

before an explanation

Parentheses• Use parentheses to enclose informative or explanatory material of minor

importance.– Former Representative Barbara Jordan (Texas) was on that committee.– The length of the Mekong River is 4,186 kilometers (about 2,600 miles).

• A parenthetical sentence that falls within another sentence should not begin with a capital letter unless it begins with a word that should always be capitalized AND should not end with a period but may end with a question mark or exclamation point.– The largest island of the Solomon Islands (see the map on page 453) is

Guadalcanal.– I hope I persuaded Alex (is he a senior?) to help us.

• A parenthetical sentence that stands by itself should begin with a capital letter AND should end with a period, question mark, or exclamation point. – The largest island of the Solomon Islands is Guadalcanal. (See the map on page

453.)– Alex asked me if he could help us. (What do you think I said?)

Dashes

• Use a dash to indicate an abrupt break in thought.– The director of that film – I can’t recall his name – said

there would be a sequel.– The truth is – and you probably already know this – we

can’t finish the project on time.• Use a dash to mean namely, in other words, or that

is before an explanation. – It was a close call – the sudden gust of wind pushed the

helicopter to within inches of the power line. – The early Native American civilizations – the Mayan, the

Incan, and the Aztec – depended mainly on farming for their livelihood.

Parentheses and Dashes Practice Add parentheses or dashes where they are needed.

• 1. Dr. Percy Lavon Julian, who was born in Montgomery, Alabama, is noted for developing helpful drugs from this surprised me, too soybeans and yam roots.

• 2. My cousin Matthew my father’s brother’s son plans to open an aerobics and yoga center on the north side of town.

• 3. For the new course in government and society, students are required to analyze the nonfiction writings of Ayn Rand 1905-1982 and to read her novel Anthem.