Which sentence properly uses parentheses to set off nonessential information?

• A. The answer (if you think about it) was obvious.
• B. The answer (think about it) was obvious.
• C. The answer, if you think about it, was obvious.
• D. The answer (if you think about it) was obvious indeed.

Answer: (A)

Nonessential information is extra detail that can be removed without changing the main point of the sentence. When that extra detail is inside parentheses, it should clearly stand as a separate, removable element.

In the sentence The answer (if you think about it) was obvious, the part inside parentheses is a complete clause with its own subject and verb. It adds a conditional aside without altering the main claim, and you can remove it and still have a grammatically correct sentence: The answer was obvious. That clean separation—a full, optional clause tucked inside parentheses—shows proper use of parentheses for nonessential information.

The other options don’t fit as well. One uses a fragment inside the parentheses (think about it) that lacks a subject, which makes it feel incomplete as a standalone thought. Another relies on commas rather than parentheses, which is a valid way to set off nonessential information but doesn’t meet the prompt’s specific requirement. The remaining version places the aside in a less natural position andWord order, making it read more awkwardly.

So the sentence with a complete dependent clause inside parentheses illustrates the intended use most clearly.