Right Parenthesis

Right Parenthesis at U+0029 is the Basic Latin punctuation mark that closes a parenthetical phrase, citation, aside, or grouped expression. It normally pairs with a left parenthesis, creating a visual boundary around text that is secondary, clarifying, or structurally separate from the main line. In ordinary writing, it ends inserted material such as dates, explanations, and source notes: “the first edition (1998)” or “see chapter 4).” Academic and business writing use it heavily in citations, numbered references, and compact labels, including forms like “Smith 2020)” when the opening mark appears earlier in the sentence. Mathematics, science, and computing rely on the same closing role for grouping. It finishes function arguments in notation such as f(x), closes coordinate pairs like (3, 7), and sets order of operations in expressions such as (a + b) × c. In many programming languages, it closes parameter lists, conditional tests, method calls, and grouped subexpressions, so a missing or extra right parenthesis is a common syntax error. It also appears in outlines and messaging conventions, especially after list markers such as “a)” or “1).” In informal text, a lone right parenthesis can act as a simplified smile, as in “thanks)” in some online communities, though that use is stylistic rather than standard punctuation.