Where does the period go

[eflat]

Option A: (We don't sell any computers with less than 512MB of memory).

Option B: (We don't sell any computers with less than 512MB of memory.)

I think A looks right.. Is that right?

 

[RadioHead84]

Originally posted by: CitizenDoug
Option A: (We don't sell any computers with less than 512MB of memory).

Option B: (We don't sell any computers with less than 512MB of memory.)

I think A looks right.. Is that right?

I beleive it is A..but i suck at english.

 

[dafatha00]

A is correct. The statement within the parenthesis is a clause, not a sentence.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: dafatha00
A is correct. The statement within the parenthesis is a clause, not a sentence.

Looks like a sentence to me... but I'm tired so maybe I'm wrong.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Well, assuming the parenthesis are within a sentence, then it goes after. Otherwise you shouldn't be using parenthesis.

 

[Whitecloak]

A

 

[compuwiz1]

A is correct. Whaaa the hell do I know, I dropped out of high school.

 

[Injury]

B.

Think of it this way: things in parenthesis are items that could be removed and things would still make sense.

SO:

Option A: .
Option B:

The sentence is within the parenthesis, therefore, so should the period.

HOWEVER, the context of this can change where it should go.

If you said "I don't believe you paid for a computer with 512MB of memory" with the sentence you gave following it, then you would either use the first option, or make a new sentence with no parenthesis... which is what you should do to begin with, since the sentence represents its own complete thought. However, if you were using it as a standalone idea, not to be part of another sentence, option B is correct. I can only assume, since you gave no context for the usage, that option B is correct for now.

 

[conjur]

Remove the parentheses. Problem solved.

And, pick up a copy of Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation.

 

[Hacp]

I thought it was b, but apparently i'm wrong.. I hate english!

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: Hacp
I thought it was b, but apparently i'm wrong.. I hate english!

You weren't wrong.

"A terminating mark should go inside the closing parenthetical mark if the content of the parentheses is a complete sentence unto itself."

 

[sniperruff]

it is A. the period goes outside of any ()'s and ""'s

 

[etalns]

I thought if you ever have a complete sentence in parenthesis that you would put the period inside the parentheses, however, if the statement inside the parenthesis was not a complete sentence it would go outside.

So I would vote B! Apparently it's not the popular decision, but you guys are retarded.

 

[etalns]

Originally posted by: allisolm

Originally posted by: Hacp
I thought it was b, but apparently i'm wrong.. I hate english!

You weren't wrong.

"A terminating mark should go inside the closing parenthetical mark if the content of the parentheses is a complete sentence unto itself."

What she said!

 

[imported_Reck]

noob

 

[puffff]

Originally posted by: Qosis

Originally posted by: allisolm

Originally posted by: Hacp
I thought it was b, but apparently i'm wrong.. I hate english!

You weren't wrong.

"A terminating mark should go inside the closing parenthetical mark if the content of the parentheses is a complete sentence unto itself."

What she said!

another vote for B here.

 

[smack Down]

Originally posted by: sniperruff
it is A. the period goes outside of any ()'s and ""'s

The period always goes inside quotes.

 

[imported_Reck]

you'd have to know the context in which it was being used really.

 

[remagavon]

Interestingly, if you are quoting a line, but not a complete one, you have to do this:

"...the manner in which he spoke was grand" (Reference). <- there it goes.

Nuances

 

[DanTMWTMP]

rofl gah! so is it A or B?!

this thread is actually very informative hahaha

 

[rh71]

if what's in the parenthesis is just a clause - and the period belongs at the end of all of it, we are assuming it's part of an existing sentence. So why are you capitalizing the W ?

If it doesn't belong to part of an existing sentence, I'd say option B. But I wouldn't use parenthesis at all if this verbiage is for anything formal (for customers, etc.)

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
rofl gah! so is it A or B?!

this thread is actually very informative hahaha

B.

Periods go inside parentheses only if an entire sentence is inside the parentheses.

Note that sentence-ending periods should go outside the parentheses if the parenthetical remark is part of a larger sentence, but inside the parentheses if it's not embedded in a larger sentence. This is an example of the first (notice the punctuation goes outside, because we're still part of that outer sentence). (This is an example of the second, because we're no longer inside any other sentence; the parenthesis is its own sentence.)

a full sentence within parentheses but not within another sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a period or other terminal mark, all placed within the parentheses

 

[Ornery]

Originally posted by: rh71
if what's in the parenthesis is just a clause - and the period belongs at the end of all of it, we are assuming it's part of an existing sentence. So why are you capitalizing the W ?

If it doesn't belong to part of an existing sentence, I'd say option B. But I wouldn't use parenthesis at all if this verbiage is for anything formal (for customers, etc.)

WTF?

First you say (without capitalizing the first letter), "if what's in the parenthesis is just a clause - and the period belongs at the end of all of it...", then proceed to ignore your own advice by leaving no punctuation at the end of your last sentence!

I honestly don't know what's right either way, but to this example I have to say, WTF?

 

[SVT Cobra]

depends...is it part of another sentence?

 

[yourdeardaniel]

A FTW