Question

Choose the word or phrase that requires a parenthesis ().
The EVP Executive Vice President has been invited to grace the occasion today.
a. EVP
b. Executive Vice President
c. to grace the occasion
d. today

Answer 1

Hint: Parenthesis is a word or phrase inserted as an explanation or afterthought into a sentence usually marked by brackets or dashes.

Complete Solution: Uses of parenthesis –
To include additional information about the subject: Sometimes additional information about a person, place, or thing is mentioned in the text that provides benefits to the reader. Example - Jane Austen (1775-1817) is best known for her novel called ‘Pride and Prejudice’.
Digressions – Digressions provide background to a certain character. Example – She prepared bread, butter and eggs (her usual breakfast) before taking her dog for a walk.
To provide acronym – The abbreviations or the full forms are placed in the brackets providing the information about the same. The parenthesis is placed after the given information. If the abbreviation is before the full form, the full form will be in the brackets and vice versa. Example – The UN (United Nations) has its headquarters In New York City.
Option a ‘EVP’ is the incorrect option as the information about EVP is given after it is mentioned. So, this option is incorrect.

Option b ‘Executive Vice President’ is the correct option. The parenthesis provides information and this option is providing information about the preceding word EVP. So, this option is the correct option.

Option c ‘To grace the occasion’ does not provide additional information about the subject. So, this option is incorrect.
Option d ‘Today’ doesn’t present additional information about the subject. So, this option is an incorrect option.

Note: Do not overuse the parenthesis. It indicates uncertainty. It shows that the writer is not confident about which material belongs to the parenthesis and which doesn’t.