• Key Stage 2 • Grammar
Parenthesis is extra information added to a sentence, marked off with brackets, dashes or commas. The sentence still makes sense without it. Pupils learn parenthesis in Year 5. This guide explains how it works, with examples of each type of punctuation.
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The Quick Answer
- Parenthesis is a word, phrase or clause added to a sentence as extra information.
- It is marked with a pair of brackets, dashes or commas.
- If you remove the parenthesis, the sentence still makes sense.
- Parenthesis is part of the Year 5 national curriculum, along with the terms bracket and dash.
What Is Parenthesis?
Parenthesis is extra information inserted into a sentence. It might explain, add detail or give an aside. The Year 5 national curriculum teaches pupils to use brackets, dashes or commas to indicate parenthesis.
Tip: to check parenthesis, cover it up and read the sentence. If the sentence still makes sense, the punctuation is in the right place.
Brackets, Dashes and Commas
| Punctuation | Example | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Brackets | My aunt (who lives in York) is visiting next week. | For extra information that is clearly separate |
| Dashes | The storm – the worst for years – flooded the village. | For information you want to stand out |
| Commas | Our teacher, Mrs Patel, loves poetry. | For extra information that flows with the sentence |
All three work in pairs around the parenthesis. If the parenthesis comes at the end of a sentence, only the opening mark is needed before it.
More Examples
- The Eiffel Tower (built in 1889) is in Paris.
- My brother, who is twelve, plays the trumpet.
- The answer – as you probably guessed – was seven.
- Sam (my best friend) is coming to the party.
- The museum, which opens at ten, is free.
Common Mistakes
- Using only one comma: “My brother, who is twelve plays the trumpet” needs a second comma after twelve.
- Mixing punctuation: don’t open with a bracket and close with a comma. Use a matching pair.
- Hyphens instead of dashes: a dash for parenthesis has a space either side. A hyphen joins words, such as “man-eating”.
- Putting essential information in parenthesis: if the sentence does not make sense without it, it is not parenthesis.
Parenthesis in KS2
Parenthesis, bracket and dash are Year 5 terms in the national curriculum. In Year 6, pupils go on to use semi-colons, colons and dashes between independent clauses and hyphens to avoid ambiguity. Parenthesis questions can appear in the KS2 grammar, punctuation and spelling test. See our guides to relative clauses and KS2 grammar terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is parenthesis in KS2?
Extra information added to a sentence and marked with brackets, dashes or commas. The sentence still makes sense without it.
What are the three ways to show parenthesis?
Brackets, dashes or commas, used in pairs around the extra information.
What year is parenthesis taught?
Parenthesis is part of the Year 5 national curriculum.
Is a relative clause parenthesis?
A relative clause that adds extra information, marked off with commas, is a common way to write parenthesis.
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Sources: Department for Education, National curriculum in England: English programmes of study, including English Appendix 2: vocabulary, grammar and punctuation.
