Do Periods go Inside or Outside of Brackets?

First published on January 3, 2025 by Dalia Y.|Last revised on August 6, 2025

Punctuation usually stays next to the sentence or words it punctuates. Keep periods and other punctuation within brackets when it encloses a full sentence.

Punctuation

Do Periods go Inside or Outside of Brackets?

How do you use punctuation with brackets?

The question of how to punctuate brackets or parenthesis has been a topic of contention amongst grammarians for decades.

What appears straightfoward in English grammar oftentimes is bogged down by linguistic hiddeldy-piggeldy.

Let's get to the bottom of the perplexing puncutation and question, is there a proper way to punctuate parentheses? Read on.

Punctuation with parentheses (or brackets)

As a broad rule, punctuation should stay next to the sentence or words it punctuates in writing.

Punctuation stays within the parentheses when they enclose complete, standalone sentences.

Add the sage last to preserve the flavour. (Fresh sage is best but dried will do fine.)

I arrived at work at 9.30am. (That's earlier than usual.)

Often, brackets appear in the middle of a sentence to include nonessential or ‘parenthetical’ information. Generally,we do not punctuate brackets with nonessential/parenthetical information.

The general rule is to keep punctuation with the sentence it belongs to. If a period belongs to the broader sentence (and not just what’s within the parentheses), place the period at the end of the sentence.

💡Study Tip

For periods with brackets, remember: if the text inside is a complete sentence, the period goes inside.

Sentences with punctuation inside the brackets

If an entire sentence is within the brackets, include punctuation in the sentence: (Several other courses were offered, but they were not as popular.)

If what’s inside the brackets is a complete sentence, include punctuation: I arrived at work at 9.30 am. (That’s earlier than usual.)

Sentences with punctuation outside the brackets

We leave punctuation outside of the brackets when the information provided is additional or nonessential:

Students completed several psychology courses (social, personality, and clinical).

The cake looks great (and tastes even better).

I arrived at work at 9.30 am (which is earlier than usual).

Worksheet

Question 1 of 10

According to the blog post, when should the period for a sentence within brackets go inside the brackets?

When the main sentence is very short.
When the text inside the brackets is a complete, standalone sentence.
When the brackets appear in the middle of the main sentence.

If the text inside brackets is an incomplete phrase (not a full sentence), where does the period for the main sentence generally go?

Inside the brackets.
Outside the brackets.
It can go either inside or outside.

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly based on the rules for incomplete phrases in brackets provided in the post?

The cake looks great (and tastes even better.)
The cake looks great (and tastes even better).
The cake looks great (and tastes even better) .

Which of the following sentences correctly demonstrates a complete sentence within brackets, according to the post’s examples?

She brought her favorite book (It was a classic).
She brought her favorite book. (It was a classic.)
She brought her favorite book. (It was a classic).

The blog post identifies placing a period inside brackets as incorrect in which specific situation?

When the bracketed text is very short.
When the bracketed text is not a complete sentence.
When the bracketed text is a question.

Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence using brackets for an incomplete phrase, based on the post’s rule: The meeting was held on Tuesday.

(a very productive day.)
(a very productive day).
(a very productive day)

Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence using brackets for a complete standalone sentence, based on the post’s example: I arrived at work at 9.30 am

. (That’s earlier than usual).
. (That’s earlier than usual.)
(That’s earlier than usual).

Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence using brackets for an incomplete phrase and handling external punctuation, based on the post’s example: He arrived late.

(which is typical).
, (which is typical).
(which is typical),.

Choose the option that correctly demonstrates an incorrect use of punctuation with brackets, as shown in the post’s examples for incomplete phrases: The project was delayed.

(due to unforeseen circumstances).
(due to unforeseen circumstances.)
(due to unforeseen circumstances)

According to the post, if an entire sentence is within the brackets, include punctuation:

(Several other courses were offered, but they were not as popular).
(Several other courses were offered, but they were not as popular.)
(Several other courses were offered, but they were not as popular)

FAQs

Period inside or outside brackets?

The period goes inside the brackets if the writing within is a complete, standalone sentence. Otherwise, place the period outside the brackets, belonging to the main sentence.

Punctuation for non-sentences?

When text inside brackets is not a complete sentence (nonessential info), punctuation like periods goes outside with the main sentence. Example: The cake looks great (and tastes even better).

Punctuation for full sentences?

If text inside brackets is a complete sentence, punctuation like periods or exclamation marks stays inside the brackets. Example: She brought her favorite book. (It was a classic.)

What is a common error?

A frequent error is putting the period inside brackets when the text inside is not a complete sentence. The period should belong to the main sentence instead.

Does this apply to commas?

Yes, the principle generally applies to other punctuation too. If the bracketed content is not a complete sentence, punctuation usually stays outside the brackets.