Parenthetic

Parenthetic is an adjective describing material inserted into a sentence as an aside or nonessential remark, typically set off by parentheses. A parenthetic element can be a single word, a phrase, a clause, or an entire sentence that adds information or a caveat but is not required for the main argument to be understood.

Origin: The term comes from the Greek parenthesis meaning “placing beside,” via Latin and French into English. In modern usage, parenthetic is often treated as synonymous with parenthetical, though some style guides prefer parenthetical for the form and function.

Usage and examples: In prose, parenthetic material clarifies or adds color without forcing the reader to accept it as essential. Examples: The committee approved the plan (after a lengthy debate). The city, despite budget constraints, continued to invest (a controversial decision, in many quarters). Another example: She wore her grandmother’s shawl (a gift from the 1960s) to the ceremony.

Stylistic notes: The term parenthetic is somewhat formal; many editors and guides favor the noun-adjective pair “parenthetical remark” or simply “parenthetical.” The punctuation mark used to enclose such material is the parenthesis; in some styles, em dashes may be used to create a similar effect, though they are not strictly parenthetic. In brief, parenthetic describes any nonessential commentary inserted into a sentence, distinguished by its enclosure in parentheses in traditional writing.