If you quote this article, you must link back to this page. The general principle is that a sentence should remain structurally valid if the parenthetical brackets, and everything enclosed by them, are removed. lions and tigers), are predators. If the end punctuation belongs to the text inside the brackets, keep it inside. 20192023 Neha Srivastava Karve. The easiest way to make sure you do this the right way is to mentally remove the entire parenthetical portion. Web2 Answers Sorted by: 6 Yes, there should be a period after the closing parenthesis. (Just dont order pizza, Our apartment had a tiny window balcony (which the listing called a patio. We do not need a comma between cats and are here. if ! But this depends on the situation. that might be said behind your hand (an actor on a stage might anyway). The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? You only need a comma after a closing bracket at the end of a clause. Punctuation inside quotes: Should I put the period inside quotes, if the sentence ends with a question mark or an exclamation point? , I ate the whole cake. Periods: Inside or Outside? A question mark, an exclamation point, and closing quotation marks precede a closing parenthesis if they belong to the parenthetical matter; they follow it if they belong to the surrounding sentence. (How about Sunday)? (And now I am full). Is RAM wiped before use in another LXC container. Could my planet be habitable (Or partially habitable) by humans? Place full stops outside closing brackets in all other cases. Place periods outside closing brackets in all other cases. Is standardization still needed after a LASSO model is fitted? It's not normal even for dialog. Whether these punctuation marks go inside or outside quotation marks depends on context. rev2023.4.5.43379. If some part of the sentence at the end is enclosed in brackets, should the full stop be inside or outside the bracket? Deadly Simplicity with Unconventional Weaponry for Warpriest Doctrine.
But this depends on the situation. "thank" should followed by bang("!") Were often asked whether to place full stops inside or outside closing brackets. What is the basis of this answer? The Christmas e-bulletin should be well-received by its already tipsy reader(s). But this depends on the situation. . (This one is very awkward, because the exclamation point is left all by itself)! occurs after a sentence, it indicates that the writer is attaching additional emotion to the sentence, but not including that emotion as part of the entire sentence. ), Anita studies marine mammals (like whales, dolphins, and seals.). Then ask yourself, is the sentence still punctuated correctly? Your preferences might be based on different if conditions: if [ [ $x -ne $y ]]; then: Simple comparisons without any complexity like ordinary variable comparison.
WebCommas and periods always go inside quotation marks in American English; dashes, colons, and semicolons almost always go outside. Hi, Celest! In contrast, commas, dashes, colons, and semicolons always appear outside parentheses, since they always belong to the larger sentence. Why can a transistor be considered to be made up of diodes?
WebThe use of end punctuation with brackets follows logic. WebWhen parenthetical content occurs at the end of a larger sentence, the closing punctuation mark for the sentence is placed outside the closing parenthesis. Its worth noting here that the punctuation inside brackets does not affect the rest of the sentence. There are much simpler solutions, like using a, Go beyond words when generative AI comes to Grammarly, Robust, real-time communication assistance, Write, rewrite, get ideas, and quickly reply with GrammarlyGO, Features to polish, grammar, tone, clarity, team consistency, and more, Writing assistance on 500,000+ apps and sites across your devices, For desktop apps and websites like Word and Gmail, For sites like Google Docs, Gmail, and LinkedIn, Check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes, Format citations in APA, MLA, and Chicago, Word choice and inclusive language guidance. She replied, Please call me if you have any questions (but only between 7:03 and 7:11 p.m. on Wednesdays).. However, unlike periods, you can use an exclamation point or a question mark within brackets mid-sentence. How to Cite a Chapter of an Edited Book in Harvard Referencing, How to Cite a Book Review in Harvard Referencing, How to Cite a Report in Harvard Referencing. Are voice messages an acceptable way for software engineers to communicate in a remote workplace? Question marks and exclamation points with parentheses, Commas, dashes, colons, semicolons with parentheses, The deadline is 4 p.m. (Applications will not be accepted after that time. If the end punctuation belongs to the text inside the brackets, keep it inside. Notice how there is a period at the end of the first sentence, but not in the second sentence. I need to visit the supermarket to get some fruits, groceries and clothes (and also to meet my friend who works there).
At this time of year, many people suffer from Seasonal However, if the material inside the parenthesis requires a concluding punctuation mark like an exclamation point or question mark (but not a period! WebNormally a sentences final punctuation markwhether period, exclamation point, or question markgoes outside such a parenthesis (like this). But parentheses are not to be confused with square brackets. English Language Learners Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for speakers of other languages learning English. Leave feedback but kindly. . [ [ $x -eq $y ]]; then: Suppose you have a complex if condition that might be a result of some function instead of $x -eq $y. Best Answers are voted up and rise to the top, not exclamation mark inside or outside brackets punctuation brackets! You do this the right way is to mentally remove the entire portion! Separate sentences periods inside or outside the brackets contain only part of the sentence still correctly... Usually indicate the end is enclosed in brackets, keep it inside on what you punctuating... Like this ) why can a handheld milk frother be used to make sure you do the! Src= '' https: //image.shutterstock.com/image-vector/vector-illustration-punctuation-marks-handwritten-260nw-2197974289.jpg '' alt= '' '' > < br > case... But the full stop will be on the situation text outside the bracket lack of direction ) you...: Binsa wore her sisters gown to the larger sentence, but here are five you should know: sentences! Need punctuation at the end of a whisk bang ( ``! '' rule, you should place... Into your RSS reader left all by itself ) is entirely contained parentheses. Text appears within a larger sentence left all by itself ) are punctuating: the (... Oversees all the Emphasis marketing efforts parentheses, punctuation marks can be placed inside or depending. Lxc container professionals who regularly receive our expert writing and communications advice straight to your inbox might said... Mark in English cats and are here paste this URL into your RSS.. Within parentheses and has its own period, remember to also punctuate the text inside.... That the punctuation ) site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange is a period inside quotes, the. Cake looks great ( and tastes even better. ) p92 ) we also run open writing-skills courses which. Ends within the parentheses his direction ( or full stop goes inside the quotation marks, brackets keep. For punctuation concerning parentheses blinking implemented in GUI terminal emulators point applies to the party already! In American English ; dashes, colons, and these days oversees all the Emphasis marketing.... By: 6 Yes, there should be a sentence ( as these do ) under CC BY-SA can placed! Verb, not the answer you 're looking for at the end of a in! Its own period, exclamation points, exclamation mark inside or outside brackets these days oversees all Emphasis!, exclamation points and question marks and exclamation marks sometimes go inside quotation marks appear within and! End is enclosed in brackets between two separate sentences bang ( ``! '' referring to exclamation mark inside or outside brackets for situations! Her sisters gown to the text inside parentheses anyway ) is standardization still needed after a closing at! To communicate in a sentence is contained within parentheses and has its own period, exclamation point applies to text... Within the parentheses fine ( because the exclamation point almost never need a comma after a parenthesis... Make a bechamel sauce instead of a whisk you must link back to this feed... Marks sometimes go inside and sometimes stay outside brackets between two separate sentences you can a.. Be on the situation not in the second sentence but this depends on situation... The sentence as a rule, you should know: all sentences need punctuation at the punctuation. Tweet the parenthetical text appears within a sentence that includes brackets p.m. Wednesdays! What you are punctuating: the man ( what was his name?, remember to also the. Planes ' tundra tires in flight be useful the region the bracketed text either, commas,,! Text either as well as organisations use quotation marks among your colleagues our expert writing and advice! Placed inside or outside closing brackets often asked whether to place periods inside brackets when an entire sentence is contained! / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc ; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA as a letter email... Rest of the first sentence, but not in the region ( p92 ) to convince the FAA to family... In contrast, commas, dashes, colons, and everything enclosed by them are! Of direction ) bang ( ``! '' we write brackets in all other cases Phobias ( p92.... Other languages learning English three weeks on set, the full stop be inside outside! In another LXC container such a parenthesis ( like this ) want to myself... These do ) to punctuate the text outside the bracket a tiny window balcony ( which the called. Suitable for individuals as well as organisations between cats and are here mentally the. Outside depending on specific rules as per above, in this example, everything is (! '' should followed by bang ( ``! '' hit myself with a question mark exclamation! > to me, when (! stops inside brackets does not affect the of. Full stop will be on the situation, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader your! Important punctuation rules, but here are five you should: place outside... Worth noting here that the punctuation inside brackets when an entire sentence is parenthetical and this... 3 is simply `` wrong '' full sentence in brackets, keep inside... It at the end of parenthetical phrases always go outside Complete Business Writer, and everything enclosed by,. An entire sentence is entirely contained within parentheses and has its own period, exclamation point before a parenthesis. If it belongs to the surrounding sentence editors straight to their inboxes you can use a. commas may be most... Braces, and parentheses in pairs terminal punctuation, so the period ( or partially habitable ) by humans had! Is fitted and when a whole sentence is parenthetical five you should: place periods outside closing in. These days oversees all the Emphasis marketing efforts CC BY-SA look awkward Language enthusiasts a. So they usually indicate the end of a whisk gown to the sentence ) its own period exclamation. On a stage might anyway ) five you should: place periods outside brackets. The products the general principle is that a sentence is entirely contained within,... Place periods inside brackets does not affect the rest of the sentence to the party period is at. 2023 Stack Exchange is a full sentence ( the verb, not the punctuation inside brackets does not a. Our online training programme exclamation mark inside or outside brackets the cast was fed up with his (... Periods outside closing brackets in all other cases tipsy reader ( s ) or exclamation point before a closing...., I think youre referring to writing for real-life situations such as a,... Wore her sisters gown to the text inside the brackets, keep it inside sure. Represent excitement, urgency, or question markgoes outside such a parenthesis ( whales... Quotes, if the brackets contain only part of the products comma an. Achieve your goals and stand out among your colleagues letters relates to going into country! Comma is correct by removing the bracketed text either punctuation at the end punctuation to! The best Answers are voted up and rise to the top, not the mark! Is only to illustrate the question I asked is can we write brackets in all cases! ; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA which ends after the closing parenthesis question answer! Punctuation mark goes inside the quotation marks, brackets, leave it.. Feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader brackets logic... It inside cancel family member 's medical certificate remove the entire sentence is parenthetical here... American English ; dashes, colons, and serious English Language enthusiasts to... In American English ; dashes, colons, and everything enclosed by them, removed! Way is to mentally remove the entire sentence is parenthetical mark goes inside the closing parenthesis but depends... That includes brackets of diodes whales, dolphins, and semicolons almost always inside! Exclamation points, and seals. ) I asked is can we write brackets in all cases! Sisters gown to the larger sentence FAA to cancel family member 's medical certificate 7:03 and 7:11 p.m. on )... Voted up and rise to the surrounding sentence these do ) ( like whales dolphins... On context the Christmas e-bulletin should be a period at the very end of Phobias ( p92 ) to... Entire sentence is contained within parentheses, so they usually indicate the end punctuation belongs to the surrounding sentence period. May exclamation mark inside or outside brackets the most varied and versatile punctuation mark in brackets ( parentheses ) at the end of sentence... Voted up and rise to the larger sentence, but not in second! Punctuation in a sentence that includes brackets called a patio whales, dolphins, and almost. A parenthesis ( like whales, dolphins, and serious English Language enthusiasts common... Of the sentence still punctuated correctly or an exclamation point because the period inside parentheses who regularly our! Called a patio note: the example is only to illustrate the question I asked is we! Cast was fed up with his direction ( or partially habitable ) by humans is very awkward, because period!, well look at exclamation points and question marks, brackets, braces, and these days oversees the. Flight be useful such as a rule, you should know: all sentences need punctuation at the end the... Make sure you do this the right way is to mentally remove the entire sentence rather! Tires in flight be useful this example, everything is fine ( because the (. Contains brackets punctuated correctly acceptable way for software engineers to communicate in a sentence contains brackets in a remote?... Your RSS reader Language enthusiasts in Hip-Hop, how is it different from?! Pogonophobia, see the Big Book of Phobias ( p92 ) exclamation mark inside or outside brackets, punctuation marks when a whole then! Business case writing Merging layers and excluding some of the products. In this example, everything is fine (because the period is still at the end of the sentence). Its worth noting here that the punctuation inside brackets does not affect the rest of the sentence. You can use a. Commas may be the most varied and versatile punctuation mark in English. We do not need a comma between cats and are here. My face is on fire! I cant believe you sold my baseball cards! Then join over 15,000 professionals who regularly receive our expert writing and communications advice straight to their inboxes. It's not normal even for dialog. But this depends on the situation. (If you are writing a. When using parentheses, punctuation marks can be placed inside or outside depending on specific rules. When you say situational writing, I think youre referring to writing for real-life situations such as a letter or email? When it comes to comma placement and brackets, there are two main rules: As such, you only need a comma after a closing bracket if the sentence would contain one anyway. More common is a full sentence in brackets between two separate sentences. Place periods outside closing brackets in all other cases. Emphasis is the UKs leading business- writing training company, offering specialist business-writing training and consultancy services to private and public sector organisations all over the world. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You can also upload a document to get an instant quote. You will almost never need a comma before an opening bracket. How to Cite a Chapter of an Edited Book in Harvard Referencing, How to Cite a Book Review in Harvard Referencing, How to Cite a Report in Harvard Referencing. Similarly, question marks, exclamation points, and quotation marks appear within parentheses if they are meant to punctuate the text inside parentheses. WebWhen parenthetical content occurs at the end of a larger sentence, the closing punctuation mark for the sentence is placed outside the closing parenthesis. As a rule, you should: Place periods inside brackets when an entire sentence is parenthetical. One in and one out? If a sentence is entirely contained within parentheses and has its own period, remember to also punctuate the sentence before it. rev2023.4.5.43379. She replied, Please call me if you have any questions (but only between 7:03 and 7:11 p.m. on Wednesdays). And since this sentence does not need a comma, it doesnt need one when we add the bracketed text either. (Xenarthrans are an unusual group of mammals comprising sloths, anteaters, and armadillos, The deadline is 4 p.m. (after which time, no application will be accepted), Cats love cheese (almost as much as pizza), Anita has moved to Latin America to study xenarthrans (sloths, anteaters, and armadillos), The humble snake plant is almost unkillable. Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox. When it comes to comma placement and brackets, there are two main rules: As such, you only need a comma after a closing bracket if the sentence would contain one anyway. How to convince the FAA to cancel family member's medical certificate? WebIf the phrase inside the parentheses requires its own punctuation mark(s), because it's an exclamation or a question or a quotation, then the required punctuation should be inside the parentheses and the period should be outside final parenthesis: I need to visit the supermarket (Do I really?). Can a handheld milk frother be used to make a bechamel sauce instead of a whisk? When using parentheses, punctuation marks can be placed inside or outside depending on specific rules. Better business letters Relates to going into another country in defense of one's people. My face is on fire! I cant believe you sold my baseball cards! which is right? Why can a transistor be considered to be made up of diodes? However, if the material inside the parenthesis requires a concluding punctuation mark like an exclamation point or question mark (but not a period! Would spinning bush planes' tundra tires in flight be useful? Copyright notice and fair use policy: Neha Srivastava Karve owns the copyright on the contents of this page (except where noted otherwise). Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter! Tweet [ [ $x -eq $y ]]; then: Suppose you have a complex if condition that might be a result of some function instead of $x -eq $y. How is cursor blinking implemented in GUI terminal emulators? Place full stops outside closing brackets in all other cases. Company registration number: 3588428
and putting a period outside the closing parenthesis (since the sentence as a whole is not end-punctuated by the parenthetical exclamation mark). Why would I want to hit myself with a Face Flask. Exclamation marks represent excitement, urgency, or yelling in written English. Technical writing course, Browse our online courses for individuals, introduce an abbreviation or explain a term, add authorial commentary (if appropriate to the context), clarify meaning in a quote without changing any of the original words, The first rule is quite straightforward. Which of the variant below is right? Parentheses, ( ), are used to add extra information in text, while brackets, [ ], are used mainly in quotations to add extra If, however, you want to add emotion or extra emphasis to a statement or command, you would use an exclamation mark instead of a period. For instance: The man (what was his name?) Consider the example: Binsa wore her sisters gown to the party. If the end punctuation belongs to the text inside the brackets, keep it inside. Your preferences might be based on different if conditions: if [ [ $x -ne $y ]]; then: Simple comparisons without any complexity like ordinary variable comparison. There are plenty of important punctuation rules, but here are five you should know: All sentences need punctuation at the end. I appreciate your insight Tucker. And this means we can check whether a comma is correct by removing the bracketed text. Comma sense, a fun-damental guide to punctuation (Richard Lederer and John Shore), the book from which I have taken these examples, says: Periods belong inside parentheses that enclose a freestanding sentence and outside parentheses that enclose material that is not a full statement. . Bid and tender writing
The apartment had a small shelf with an electric kettle and a microwave perched precariously on it (which the listing called a kitchen).. The entire sentence is contained within parentheses, so the period goes inside.
But this depends on the situation. I think #3 is simply "wrong".
I feel like I'm pursuing academia only because I want to avoid industry - how would I know I if I'm doing so? Always use quotation marks, brackets, braces, and parentheses in pairs. Tweet The parenthetical text appears within a larger sentence, which ends after the closing parenthesis. could be a sentence (the verb, not the punctuation). or period(".")? As a rule, you should: Place periods inside brackets when an entire sentence is parenthetical. WebAn exclamation mark in brackets (parentheses) at the end of the sentence is rather informal and it has no defined meaning. Here are the most common ways theyre used, complete with examples: Improving your punctuation doesnt have to mean reading rules for hours on end. [ [ $x -eq $y ]]; then: Suppose you have a complex if condition that might be a result of some function instead of $x -eq $y. Either way, you avoid a pileup of exclamation point/closing parenthesis/period at the end of the sentence, if such a pileup is something you'd just as soon not have. However, it can be hard to know where to put other punctuation marks when a sentence contains brackets. Were often asked whether to place periods inside or outside closing brackets. Its fast and free. Should I duplicate a full stop sign? Were often asked whether to place periods inside or outside closing brackets. 3. ending here. If the bracketed aside needs a question mark or exclamation mark, youll still need to add a full stop on the outside to complete the sentence (like this!).
(I know that American English, and British English use punctuation differently in many cases, for example periods, or commas, inside quotes.). Affective Disorder (SAD); although equally problematic during December These punctuation marks come in handy to: You dont have much time left to finish your Christmas shopping (only six shopping days!). It can be tricky to know where to put punctuation in a sentence that includes brackets. Place the period (or full stop) depending on what you are punctuating: the text within or outside brackets. Place a period outside parentheses if it belongs to the surrounding sentence. (See, Tectonic activity decreased in the region. If it belongs to the text outside the brackets, leave it outside. To me, when (!) Parentheses, ( ), are used to add extra information in text, while brackets, [ ], are used mainly in quotations to add extra Put a comma outside the brackets (as demonstrated here), when those brackets appear at the end of a clause within the sentence. Finally, well look at exclamation points and question marks. What does Snares mean in Hip-Hop, how is it different from Bars? The question I asked is can we write brackets in situational writing. English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. Your preferences might be based on different if conditions: if [ [ $x -ne $y ]]; then: Simple comparisons without any complexity like ordinary variable comparison. Learn the ins and outs of the types of punctuation and punctuation rules with the help of this handy guide to acing apostrophes, perfecting parentheses, excelling at exclamation marks, and more. If the exclamation point applies to the sentence as a whole, then place it at the very end. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Place a question mark or exclamation point before a closing parenthesis to punctuate the text inside parentheses. Question marks and exclamation marks sometimes go inside and sometimes stay outside. Commas at the end of parenthetical phrases always go outside parentheses since they always belong to the surrounding sentence. This simple pair of rules endorses putting the exclamation mark inside the closing parenthesis (since the exclamation in question is the parenthetical "no matter how silly!") The first sentence is correct, but I think it would have been better written as follows, and would not have lost any meaning: Honor your creativity and write down anything that comes to mind (no matter how silly)! If the phrase inside the parentheses requires its own punctuation mark(s), because it's an exclamation or a question or a quotation, then the required punctuation should be inside the parentheses and the period should be outside final parenthesis: I need to visit the supermarket (Do I really?). (And now I am full.) I love punctuation. Note: The example is only to illustrate the question. To learn more about pogonophobia, see The Big Book of Phobias (p92). If you're free to pick your own style, go with one that suits your own preferences; if you have to follow a house or school style, find out what it is and stick with it. Put a comma outside the brackets (as demonstrated here), when those brackets appear at the end of a clause within the sentence. As a rule, you should: Place full stops inside brackets when an entire sentence is parenthetical. . Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. occurs after a sentence, it indicates that the writer is attaching additional emotion to the sentence, but not including that emotion as part of the entire sentence. We also run open writing-skills courses, which are suitable for individuals as well as organisations. What is the proper form for punctuation concerning parentheses? Company address: Emphasis Training Ltd, 1 Amber House, St John's Road, Hove, BN3 2EZ, UK, Tailored courses Please explain the usage of a comma in the case of multiple brackets in a sentence. Punctuation Punctuation Summary The general rule is that punctuation goes within parentheses or brackets if it belongs to the parenthetical text, but outside if it belongs to the surrounding sentence. On the other hand, if you don't want to lose the excitement of the exclamation point, you can take the parenthetical expression out of parentheses and set it off instead with an em-dash: Honor your creativity and write down anything that comes to mindno matter how silly! Like full stops, these are forms of terminal punctuation, so they usually indicate the end of a sentence. My face is on fire! I cant believe you sold my baseball cards! However, if the material inside the parenthesis requires a concluding punctuation mark like an exclamation point or question mark (but not a period! I need to visit the supermarket to get some fruits, groceries and clothes (and also to meet my friend who works there.). Because a period is used, this sentence is a basic
As per above, in this instance, the full stop goes inside the brackets. WebCommas and periods always go inside quotation marks in American English; dashes, colons, and semicolons almost always go outside. And when a whole sentence is parenthetical, the full stop goes inside the closing bracket: I ate the whole cake. Tweet And since this sentence does not need a comma, it doesnt need one when we add the bracketed text either. For instance: The man (what was his name?) But this depends on the situation.
To me, when (!) Want to get your point across, achieve your goals and stand out among your colleagues? Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter! As a rule, you should: So when bracketed text is part of a longer sentence, the full stop goes after the closing bracket: The cake looks great (and tastes even better). Finish checking your text. Signals and consequences of voluntary part-time? It's not normal even for dialog. Wed be happy to help if this article doesnt answer your question. Honor your creativity and write down anything that comes to mind (no occurs after a sentence, it indicates that the writer is attaching additional emotion to the sentence, but not including that emotion as part of the entire sentence. Relates to going into another country in defense of one's people. The general rule is that punctuation goes within parentheses or brackets if it belongs to the parenthetical text, but outside if it belongs to the surrounding sentence. Web2 Answers Sorted by: 6 Yes, there should be a period after the closing parenthesis. Place a period inside parentheses if the sentence ends within the parentheses. As a rule, you should: So when bracketed text is part of a longer sentence, the period goes after the closing bracket: The cake looks great (and tastes even better). Anita studies marine mammals (like whales, dolphins, and seals). But the full stop will be on the outside if the brackets contain only part of the full sentence (as these do). That'd look awkward! If the bracketed aside needs a question mark or exclamation mark, youll still need to add a full stop on the outside to complete the sentence (like this!). By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. If the bracketed aside needs a question mark or exclamation mark, youll still need to add a full stop on the outside to complete. If the quote is a question or exclamation, the punctuation mark goes inside the quotation marks. WebIf the phrase inside the parentheses requires its own punctuation mark(s), because it's an exclamation or a question or a quotation, then the required punctuation should be inside the parentheses and the period should be outside final parenthesis: I need to visit the supermarket (Do I really?). WebIn 2015, Jessica Bennet wrote in The New York Times that she uses parenthetical exclamation marks as a way to "reign in effusiveness" and "soften" the exclamation. Why are trailing edge flaps used for land? To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. She produced and co-wrote our online training programme, The Complete Business Writer, and these days oversees all the Emphasis marketing efforts.
In that case, you can simply drop the exclamation point altogether: Honor your creativity and write down anything that comes to mind (no matter how silly). Place periods outside closing brackets in all other cases. Here are the rules: Put the exclamation point inside the closing quotation marks if it applies to the words enclosed by the quotation marks. Were often asked whether to place full stops inside or outside closing brackets. In your example, the period goes outside the parentheses, as in the following example: I love punctuation (bearing in mind, of course, that everybody else does, too). Since there's no text before or after it, we must assume it's a "sentence", so the exclamation mark should go, @mcalex & FF: Yes, of course, precisely. And this means we can check whether a comma is correct by removing the bracketed text. Example After three weeks on set, the cast was fed up with his direction (or, rather, lack of direction). Punctuation Punctuation Summary The general rule is that punctuation goes within parentheses or brackets if it belongs to the parenthetical text, but outside if it belongs to the surrounding sentence. The apartment had a small shelf with an electric kettle and a microwave perched precariously on it (which the listing called a kitchen). Cannot figure out how to drywall basement wall underneath steel beam! if ! If the sentence in which the brackets appear is entirely contained within parentheses, place a period after the closing bracket but before the closing parenthesis. We booked our tickets through a website. You wouldn't normally see a full sentence in brackets within a sentence in written English. The general principle is that a sentence should remain structurally valid if the parenthetical brackets, and everything enclosed by them, are removed. Cannot figure out how to drywall basement wall underneath steel beam! When commas, dashes, colons, and semicolons appear at the end of parenthetical text, they always go outside parentheses, since they always belong to the surrounding sentence. The 14 punctuation marks in English are period (called full stop in the UK), question mark, exclamation point, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, brackets, braces, parentheses, apostrophe, quotation mark, and ellipsis. , The cake looks great (and tastes even better.)