Question

Complete this statement:

A parenthetical element is a

part of a sentence that can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence.

group of words that connects other words, phrases, dependent clauses, and sentences.

phrase or clause containing three or more words at the beginning or end of a sentence.

portion of a sentence that is put into parentheses to show its importance in the sentence.

Answer 1

A parenthetical element is a part of a sentence that can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence.

Answer 2

It's:
Expressions that are not really part of the main idea of the sentence, or that interrupt the main sentence, are known as parenthetical.
By the way; as a matter of fact; after all; well
When spoken, such expressions are indicated by a pause before and after the expression. In writing, these pauses are indicated with commas.
i.e.
Well, I guess that's the end of the story.
This rule is, in fact, extremely important.
We should investigate, I guess.

Parenthetical expressions must be completely separated from the main sentence by commas.

People's names are set off by commas if they are being addressed directly.
i.e.
The aim, ladies and gentleman, is to come to an agreement.
Would you like a coffee, Hamish?
Appositives (explanatory phrases used to accompany a noun whose meaning may not be as clear to the reader as it is to the writer) are considered parenthetical because they add information additional to the specific identity of the noun. Appositives are thus set off from the sentence with commas.

Shakespeare, the Renaissance playwright, also wrote poetry.
If a phrase is necessary to establish the specific identity of a noun (a restrictive phrase), it is not set off by commas.

The novel Jude the Obscure is generally considered Hardy's darkest tragedy. [No commas necessary]
Hardy's final novel, Jude the Obscure, is generally considered his darkest tragedy. [Commas are used because the novel has already been specified as Hardy's final novel]
The same rule applies to clauses.

Clauses that add information but do not serve to identity or define the antecedent noun are referred to as non-restrictive clauses and are punctuated with parenthetical commas.

Restrictive clauses--those that are necessary to define the noun--do not require commas.

A play which was written in England during the Renaissance is now performed throughout the world. [Restrictive ? the clause restricts the general word play to a particular play.]
Hamlet, which was written in England during the Renaissance, is now performed throughout the world. [Non-restrictive ? the play has already been specifically identified as Hamlet.]