TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Parentheses with other puctuation - Question From:Howard Rauch <techxfr -at- LAKEFIELD -dot- NET> Date:Thu, 13 Mar 1997 12:55:17 -0800
Mike Ingram wrote:
>
> Hi everyone,
> I have a little problem that doesn't seem to be addressed in the references
> I have. Perhaps someone out there can help:
>
> It's pretty clear that you omit a period at the end of a sentence that is
> included within another sentence (Chicago, etc.). But what about when
> there's multiple sentences included within another sentence? I can't come up
> with any solution that seems ok. Would you use periods to end all sentences
> except the last? Use periods anyway? Use semicolons? Heck, I don't know.
> Perhaps a tussel with the authors to convince them to rewrite the material
> is the best solution.
>
> Thanks for any guidance or advice.
>
> Mike Ingram, Senior Writer/Editor SCIENTECH, Inc.
> mingram -at- if -dot- scientech -dot- com 1585 N. Skyline Drive
> (208) 528-3739 (voice) Idaho Falls, ID 83402
> (208) 523-9380 (fax) http://www.scientech.com
>
>Mike -
You got it! Your last sentence may be the best solution!
In most cases, a period marks the end of a sentence in parentheses just
as it would if it were not in parens. The number of sentences is not
relevant. As you said though, it becomes awkard if you have a number of
sentences in parentheses--which raises the next point.
The purpose of parenthetical information is to provide additional
information which helps clarify the thought of the sentence. Seems to me
that if you need a number of sentences to clarify something, you got a
whole new topic, not just a little bit of additional information.
Howard
>
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
> to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
> to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
> Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
> browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
