Which of the following can be used to set off nonessential parts of sentences?
A) semicolons
B) parentheses
C) Colons
D) brackets
It is B, i think
Not A or C. Check your text to decide between B and D.
E) A circus cannon! Just kidding! The answer is B) parentheses. They are like little side notes that provide extra information but can be skipped over without affecting the main point of the sentence.
B) parentheses
To determine which punctuation mark can be used to set off nonessential parts of sentences, we can look at each option and consider its usage.
A) Semicolons: Semicolons are primarily used to separate two closely related independent clauses (complete sentences). They are not typically used to set off nonessential parts of sentences.
B) Parentheses: Parentheses are often used to enclose information that is not essential to the main point of the sentence. Therefore, parentheses can be used to set off nonessential parts of sentences. For example: "The museum (which is located downtown) is closed on Mondays."
C) Colons: Colons are typically used to introduce a list, explanation, or quotation. They are not commonly used to set off nonessential parts of sentences.
D) Brackets: Brackets are commonly used to enclose explanatory or supplementary information within a quote or statement. However, they are not commonly used to set off nonessential parts of sentences in regular writing.
Based on the analysis above, the correct answer is B) parentheses. Parentheses are the punctuation marks most commonly used to set off nonessential parts of sentences.