How to see it
Extra information dropped into a sentence is called parenthesis. It comes in a pair of marks: brackets, commas, or a pair of dashes. One mark opens it and one closes it. Then the test: take the extra part out, and the sentence still works. Open it, close it, check it.
A worked example
Find the extra part: a retired pilot. Cover it up. Our neighbour keeps bees in his garden. Still a sentence, so a retired pilot is the parenthesis. One bracket opens it and one closes it. Commas or dashes work the same way, as a pair.
The common mistake: opening a pair and never closing it
The trap is opening the pair and never closing it. Our neighbour, a retired pilot keeps bees. Read it as it stands: a retired pilot keeps bees, and our neighbour is left on its own. Every mark that opens needs one that closes.
Try one
Which sentence uses brackets correctly?
- AThe museum (which opens at ten is free on Sundays.
- BThe museum which (opens at ten) is free on Sundays.
- CThe museum (which opens at ten) is free on Sundays.
- DThe museum (which opens at ten is free) on Sundays.
- E(The museum) which opens at ten is free on Sundays.
Show the answerHide the answer
Right: C, The museum (which opens at ten) is free on Sundays.
Take out the brackets and the words inside, and the museum is free on Sundays is still a sentence. A opens a pair and never closes it.