Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Word in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Adding Parentheses.

Adding Parentheses

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated August 16, 2025)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Word in Microsoft 365

Normally, you add parentheses around your parenthetical remarks as you type your text. There may be times, however, when you want to add the parentheses at a later time. For instance, while editing your document you may select some text and then want parentheses added around the selected text. The following macro, AddParens, can be used to add the desired parentheses:

Sub AddParens()
    Dim sTemp As String

    sTemp = Right(Selection.Range.Text, 1)
    If sTemp = Chr(13) Or sTemp = " " Then
        Selection.MoveEnd Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=-1
    End If

    If Len(Selection.Range) > 0 Then
        Selection.InsertBefore "("
        Selection.InsertAfter ")"
    Else
        MsgBox "No text was selected!"
    End If
End Sub

The macro first checks to see if the selected text ends in a space or a hard return. If that is the case, then the selection is modified so those characters aren't included. It then uses the InsertBefore and InsertAfter methods to add the appropriate parenthesis before and after the selected text.

To use the macro, assign it to a shortcut key or to a toolbar button. You then select the target text and invoke the macro. The desired parentheses are added to the text. (If you don't select any text before invoking the macro, you'll see a message box to that effect.)

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the WordTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (11920) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Adding Parentheses.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

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