parenthesesfree

Parenthesesfree is a term used to describe a style, constraint, or design principle that eliminates the use of parentheses in written text, user interfaces, and documentation. The aim is to reduce punctuation clutter and improve readability, particularly on small screens or for readers with cognitive load considerations. The term is informal and appears mainly in discussions about editorial practice and UI copy rather than as a formal publishing standard.

Origin and usage: The phrase is a relatively recent, informal coinage. It surfaces in style discussions, blog posts, and guidance for producing concise copy. In practice, applying parenthesesfree means rephrasing sentences to avoid parentheses by incorporating asides into main clauses, using em dashes or commas with greater care, or restructuring content into separate sentences.

Impact on writing: Proponents argue that parenthesesfree text is easier to scan, localize, and adapt for accessibility. It can reduce ambiguity by maintaining a single, continuous sentence flow. Critics note that some information is naturally asides, and overzealous avoidance can lengthen sentences or reduce nuance.

In software design and documentation: The concept is also used in digital content guidelines to avoid parentheses in UI labels, tooltips, and help text, where space is limited and screen readers benefit from concise phrasing. It is not a constraint on programming languages themselves, where parentheses are often required by syntax, but rather on human-facing text and instructions.

See also: punctuation, readability, style guide, concise writing.