parenthetical remark

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "parenthetical remark" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to a comment or statement that is added to a sentence as an aside, often enclosed in parentheses. For example, "The meeting was scheduled for Monday (a day I usually reserve for planning) at 10 AM." Alternative expressions include "aside comment" and "supplementary note."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Mr. Coats added in a parenthetical remark that Plan B was his phrase, not General Bolden's.

The New York Times - Science

A speaker sometimes halts an ongoing turn constructional unit (TCU) before its completion, inserts a short parenthetical remark into it, and then returns to the halted TCU.

Journal of Pragmatics

She used no material under copyright, she said, and the dialogue is her own -- thus the parenthetical remark in the play's title.

The New York Times

By the way, and as an extended parenthetical remark not set off in parentheses: It's interesting that Rex's relentless F-bombs have the effect, predictably enough, of disarming the word of its weight and point and insult, so that when he really wanted to burn the asses of his charges, he had to resort to the older, cleaner curse word a plain old-fashioned "goddamn"—to convey his anger.

The New Yorker

Kant's parenthetical remark in the passage above is important.

SEP

(This parenthetical remark was originally where I explained what a GIF is, but if you don't know, then this post probably isn't for you).

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Curses, hypothetical sentences, parenthetical remarks, not just a style that is — deliberately goes contrary to the smooth high — once again high style of Ulysses in the preceding canto.

Yale University

By the late 1950s, as Salinger became more reclusive and involved in religious study, Hamilton notes that his stories became longer, less plot-driven, and increasingly filled with digression and parenthetical remarks.

Wikipedia

In all, the outcomes can be reported in multiple sentences or in a single sentence with numerical values within parenthetical remarks.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

The actual comparison details can be described in parenthetical remarks e.g.: "Patients were randomly allocated to treatment with talinolol (100, 200 or 300 mg once daily) or placebo.. ..... PMID 15726874.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

We remark parenthetically that remoteness of a refuge cannot necessarily substitute for a cage as a means of refuge isolation.

Evolutionary Applications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using a "parenthetical remark", ensure it adds relevant context or clarification without disrupting the flow of the main sentence. Avoid overly long or complex parenthetical remarks that can confuse the reader.

Common error

Avoid stringing together multiple "parenthetical remarks" in a single passage. This can make your writing appear disjointed and difficult to follow. If you find yourself doing this, consider rephrasing the information as separate sentences or incorporating it directly into the main text.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "parenthetical remark" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object in sentences that describe or analyze the use of parenthetical statements. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "parenthetical remark" is a noun phrase used to describe an additional statement or comment inserted into the main discourse, often set off by parentheses. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and frequently encountered in varied writing contexts such as News, Science and Academia. When using "parenthetical remark", you should ensure that it provides relevant context without disrupting the main flow of your writing and consider alternatives like "side comment" or "explanatory aside" to enrich your expression. Avoid overuse to maintain clarity and readability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

parenthetical note

Similar, but using "note" instead of "remark", suggesting a more formal or written context.

side comment

Highlights the comment's placement outside of the main discussion.

incidental comment

Focuses on the unplanned, secondary nature of the comment.

explanatory aside

Emphasizes the clarification or explanation provided as a digression.

supplementary statement

Highlights the additional, supportive quality of the statement.

additional observation

Focuses on the act of noticing or mentioning something extra.

brief digression

Highlights the act of deviating from the main subject briefly.

passing comment

Implies the remark was brief and perhaps not of major importance.

offhand statement

Suggests the statement was made casually and without much thought.

embedded clause

More grammatical term describing the structure rather than the content.

FAQs

How is a "parenthetical remark" different from an aside?

While both add extra information, a "parenthetical remark" is typically integrated into the sentence structure, often using parentheses, whereas an "aside" might be a more distinct break in the flow of thought.

What are some alternatives to using "parenthetical remark" in my writing?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "side comment", "explanatory aside", or "incidental comment" to convey a similar meaning.

Where does a "parenthetical remark" typically appear in a sentence?

A "parenthetical remark" can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, as long as it's clearly marked off using parentheses, em dashes, or commas.

Why use a "parenthetical remark" instead of just including the information directly in the sentence?

A "parenthetical remark" is useful for adding information that's relevant but not essential to the main point, or for providing context without interrupting the sentence's primary focus. It allows you to add details without derailing the main idea.