When do you put parentheses ( ) around a number?

Definition of Amounts in Parentheses

Parentheses around a number could have a variety of meanings. For example, parentheses could indicate any of the following:

  • A negative amount, such as a negative balance in your check register
  • A credit balance in an account that normally has a debit balance, or a debit balance in an account that normally has a credit balance
  • A credit entry, when a debit entry will not have parentheses
  • An unfavorable variance in standard costing, as opposed to a favorable variance which will not have parentheses
  • An unfavorable budget variance (e.g. an actual expense is more than the budgeted amount, or actual revenues are less than the budgeted amount)
  • An amount that is being subtracted
  • The meaning of a negative amount in a series of amounts, such as the bottom line of a comparative income statement that states "Net income (loss)"

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