Revised as of
26 Mar 2023
An interrupter is one example of a parenthetical element, and it breaks up a thought, switches emotions, changes the tone, or adds emphasis in your story using words, commas, em dashes or parentheses, or the vocative case.
If you’re not sure, read the sentence or paragraph out loud. You will naturally pause where commas (em dashes or parentheses) should be placed.
And, yes, there are “rules” about the em dash and parentheses, primarily that of the depth and type of emphasis you want. You may want to explore this in more depth in the posts on “Em, 2-Em, & 3-Em Dashes“, Commas, or Eats Shoots and Leaves“, “Brackets“, and “Parentheses“. “The Mystery of the Comma and the Vocative Case” has its own rules.
The Properly Punctuated explores . . .
. . . the proper use of quotation marks, commas, semicolons, colons, ellipsis, etc., including how to properly mark dialog, ahem. As Properly Punctuated is in no way complete, I would appreciate suggestions and comments from anyone on punctuation with which you struggle or on which you can contribute more understanding.
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| Interrupter | |||
| Definition: A word, phrase, or clause that significantly breaks the flow of a thought, emotion, tone, or an added emphasis which requires a pause for your reader.
Sometimes confused with conjunctive adverbs. A.k.a. insertions, interrupting phrases, parenthetical, parenthetical expressions |
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| Partial List of Interrupter Words | |||
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| Traditional Rule: Commas are placed before and after an interrupter when used in the middle of a sentence. | |||
| Queen Victoria was, as they say, a formidable woman.
Having demonstrated a decided lack of ethics, the CEO was, needless to say, dismissed from the company. My essay, to be perfectly honest, flew out of the bus window while I was riding to school. What you just ate, if you must know, was squid eyeball stew. Legend:
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| Rule: When part of an introductory phrase, the comma is placed after the parenthesis. | |||
| When he got home (it was already dark outside), he fixed dinner.
After dinner (it was 10pm after all), he went to bed. When she’d finished reading All Quiet on the Western Front (at last), she picked up a cozy romance. |
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| Rule: While most initial words of an interrupter are not capitalized, a full sentence within an interrupter always begins with a capitalized letter. | |||
| I’ll introduce you to our newest employee—Lanie is her name.
I’ll introduce you to our newest employee—her name is Lanie. |
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| Formal Rule: In formal writing, brackets are often used to maintain the integrity of both a quotation and the sentences others use it in.
Brackets may also be used to translate. |
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| “‘[T]he better angels of our nature’ gave a powerful ending to Lincoln’s first inaugural address” (Parentheses).
On section 3.1 of his employment contract it said that “[a]ll hours above 40 hours a week are considered overtime.” Bonjour, je m’appelle Maude [Hello, my name is Maude]. Credit to: When |
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| Error/Notes Rule: When indicating that a word or phrase is not part of the original, insert sic (always italicized) within brackets right after the error. | |||
| They made there [sic] beds.
The correct sentence should have been, “They made their beds.” “He admits that he is afraid of losing [and] [sic] all he can do is scare with tactics,” Podolyak write[s] [sic]. “He admits that he is afraid of losing & all he can do is scare with tactics,” Podolyak write.” “Sometimes we try not [to] [sic] have any activities, then sometimes we’ve tried to program it more” “Sometimes we try not have any activities, then sometimes we’ve tried to program it more” (Luscombe). |
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| Contemporary Rule: A more modern interpretation of this is the use of em dashes, parentheses, or brackets placed before and after an interrupter when used in the middle of a sentence | |||
| Queen Victoria was—as they say— a formidable woman.
Having demonstrated a decided lack of ethics, the CEO was (needless to say) dismissed from the company. So let’s beat back this unnecessary, unfair, and—let’s not mince words—cruel attack on working Americans (Nordquist). |
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| Queen Victoria was (as they say) a formidable woman.
So let’s beat back this unnecessary, unfair, and (let’s not mince words) cruel attack on working Americans. |
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| Four score and seven [today we’d say eighty-seven] years ago . . .
Bill shook hands with [his son] Al. |
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| Punctuating with Parentheses | |||
Using Interrupters: In general, use two of the same punctuation marks, adding them at a logical break in the sentence.
* Use em dashes rather than commas when the interrupter or aside or comment already contains commas. Credit to: Hill |
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| Teddy—lost in the woods—grew sleepy and hungry.
I need my medicine—my migraines can be horrible—my credit cards, and of course my passport. The steak (rare) was ready, the corn (raw) was overbuttered, and the French fries (the cheapest brand available) were still frozen. The littlest child—cuddly, cute, and sweet, sweet, sweet—was passed from adult to adult over the course of the hike. My dog came running when I called—and I had to chase her down when she raced straight through the house and out the front door. |
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| Rule: At the end of the sentence, the period (or question/exclamation mark) is outside the ending parenthesis when it is part of the sentence. | |||
| Derek asked me out (but he’s such a jerk).
Please read the analysis (you’ll be amazed). He gave me a nice bonus ($500). |
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| Rule: When enclosing a complete sentence, the ending punctuation is inside the ending parenthesis. | |||
| Derek asked me out. (He is such a jerk.)
Please read the analysis. (You’ll be amazed.) He gave me a nice bonus. (It was $500!) |
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| Rule: In a series, the comma is after the ending parenthesis. | |||
| I picked up a Bernard Cornwell, the latest David Weber (it’s an Honor Harrington!), and a Laurell K. Hamilton.
“I love my pets (parrots, cats, and fish), but I’m not allowed to keep them in my new apartment” (Ferguson). |
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| Rule: Within a sentence AND when the enclosed parenthetical text is more than one sentence, punctuate everything but the last sentence. | |||
| The instructions (Place tab A in the slot. Leave tab B alone) were confusing (Lakin). | |||
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| Vocative Case: When someone is being directly addressed — the person’s name, title, epithet, endearment, or some other form of address — use a comma to set that direct address off from the rest of the sentence. | |||
| Please take those smelly socks to the garage, Kris, and put them in the washing machine.
What, Susan, do you think? Now, darling, where do you suppose you put your housekeys? Hey, baby, bring me a beer. |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
Satisfy your curiosity about other Properly Punctuated posts on its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, Word Confusions, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.
Resources for Interrupter
“Comma Before or After Parenthesis — The Ultimate Guide.” Linguaholic. Last updated 23 Mar 2023. Web. 26 Mar 2023. <https://linguaholic.com/linguablog/comma-before-or-after-parentesis/>.
Ellis, Matt. “Concrete Nouns vs. Abstract Nouns.” Grammarly.com. Updated 19 Dec 2022. Web. n.d. <https://www.grammarly.com/blog/concrete-vs-abstract-nouns/>.
Ferguson, Ashleigh. “Comma Before or After Parenthesis: Correct Usage Explained.” Grammar Rules. ProWritingAid. 9 Sept 2022. Web. 26 Mar 2023. <https://prowritingaid.com/comma-before-or-after-parenthesis>.
Hill, Beth. “Dealing With Interruptions.” The Editors Blog.net. Last updated 15 Sept 2015. Web. 26 Mar 2023. <https://theeditorsblog.net/2015/09/02/dealing-with-interruptions/>.
Lakin, C.S. “Interrupters.” Live Write Thrive. n.d. Web. n.d. <http://www.livewritethrive.com/>.
Luscombe, Richard. “‘Toxic Mix’: Miami Beach mayor mulls ending spring break after violence.” US News. The Guardian. 26 Mar 2023. Web. 26 Mar 2023. <https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/26/miami-beach-spring-break-shooting-cancel>.
Nordquist, Richard. “What Are Interrupters (You Know, Like This One) Doing in Our Prose?” ThoughtCo. Updated 21 Jan 2020. Web. n.d. <http://grammar.about.com/od/rhetoricstyle/a/What-Are-Interrupters-Doing-In-Our-Prose.htm>.
“Parentheses and Brackets.” GrammarBook.com. n.d. Web. 26 Mar 2023. <https://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/parens.asp>.
Peleschuk, Dan. “NATO Criticises Putin for ‘Dangerous and Irresponsible’ Nuclear Rhetoric.” Reuters. 26 Mar 2023. Web. 26 Mar 2023. <https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-security-chief-says-basing-russian-nuclear-weapons-belarus-will-2023-03-26/>.
Simmons, Robin L. “The Interrupter: Recognize an interrupter when you find one.” ChompChomp. n.d. Web. n.d. <https://chompchomp.com/terms/interrupter.htm>.
“When to Use Brackets in Quotes.” Your Punctuation Guide. University of the People. n.d. Web. 26 Mar 2023. <https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/when-to-use-brackets-in-quotes/>.
Pinterest Photo Credits
USCGC Polar Sea by Jcmurphy (originally copied on en.wikipedia) is in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
