Parentheses ( )
History of Moderator - Lisboa, Portugal
Parentheses ( ) are graphic symbols that serve to separate expressions in a phrase or sentence. Generally, what is inside the parentheses is accessory and is not essential for understanding the rest of the utterance, but it brings a complement, such as an explanation or comment. For example: Joana was (very) tired of that exercise routine. In this case, the word "very" indicates the intensity of the person's fatigue. Parentheses can also replace commas or dashes, in addition to highlighting accessory elements that should be pronounced in a lower key than the rest of the utterance. Thus, they are used to isolate explanatory or non-explanatory expressions... Did you know?