comma after parenthesis: if difficult to read (because they...), then

[MasterBlaster]

Parenthesis? Or commas?

Consider the following sentence;

If your posts are difficult to read (because they lack punctuation), then most people will just pass over them.

Am I using the parenthesis correctly and if so, is the comma placed correctly?

 

[silver frog]

I think your use of parentheses and comma is correct.

Of course, you could also omit the parentheses and write:

If your posts are difficult to read because they lack punctuation, then most people will just pass over them.

which would be correct too, but the parentheses can be useful in this sentence because that part between them could be easily be omitted from the sentence and the sentence would still make sense.

Parentheses are useful when you want to include extra information in a sentence that a reader may choose to skip without any significant loss.

The argument against parentheses is typically that one should usually avoid adding too much extra information in a sentence because it slows down the rhythm and makes the communication less efficient. In certain circumstances however, their use is justified, not to say necessary.

 

[MasterBlaster]

So, the comma's placed after the ()? Excellent, and thank you.

 

[LucianU]

I agree with the placement of the comma, but I would use em dashes instead of parentheses or not use anything, as silver frog suggested.

"Parentheses usually set off material that is less closely related to the rest of the sentence than that enclosed in em dashes or commas." - The Chicago Manual of Style

 

[panjandrum]

How important is the clause "because they lack punctuation"?
If it is essential to the sentence then it should not be separated by punctuation.
If your posts are difficult to read because they lack punctuation then most people will just pass over them.
If your posts are difficult to read because they lack punctuation, most people will just pass over them.

If this is an aside or a reminder, then it can be separated by commas, dashes or parentheses.
If your posts are difficult to read (because they lack punctuation) then most people will just pass over them.

This follows the principles set out HERE (I think).