Rule 8.5: Text in parentheses counts as one word

What a checker looks for

Guidance rather than a pass-or-fail test.

• When computing a sentence's word count for length-limit checks, count its entire parenthetical remark as one word, not as the number of words it contains.
• Separately, count the words inside the parentheses as an independent sentence and check that sub-count against the applicable procedural/descriptive word-count limit.
• Count a parenthetical numeric, letter, or alphanumeric identifier (e.g. '(10)', '(B/C)') as one word of the surrounding sentence.

What this rule does not cover

• This rule only affects how words are counted; it does not restrict what content may appear inside parentheses (see rule 8.3).

How to fix it

When determining whether a sentence exceeds its word-count limit, recompute the total by treating the whole parenthetical as one word before deciding the sentence needs shortening.

Constraints on the fix

• Do not delete or shorten parenthetical content merely because of a miscounted word total.