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After all, he'd only been doing his duty.
Finally the whole party started walking.
c) It may specify that which is said in the sentence or express a comment (according to my taste, in my
opinion, to tell the truth, in other words, as is known, by the way, etc.).
According to your theory, we’re in a mighty soulful era.
To tell you the truth, the total was more than a thousand francs.
As a rule a parenthesis refers to the sentence (or clause) as a whole.
Frankly speaking, he had been amazed at his failure.
This streak of light was, in all likelihood, a gleam from a lantern.
Sometimes, however, a parenthesis refers only to, a secondary part of the sentence.
Miss Barlett might reveal unknown depths of strangeness, though not, perhaps, of meaning.
As to its morphological nature, a parenthesis can be expressed by:
1. A modal word:
perhaps, no doubt, indeed, certainty, in fact, evidently, maybe, etc.
Perhaps they would go soon.
2. An interjection:
oh, ah, eh, dear me, by God, Good heavens, etc.
You like the outfit, eh?
Dear me, I had no idea you were such a determined character.
3. A conjunct (that is, an adverb combining the function of a parenthesis with that of a connector):
finally, anyway, consequently, besides, moreover, otherwise, etc.
But there’s no chance here. Besides, he couldn’t make two ends meet on the job.
4. A prepositional phrase:
in my opinion, in short, by the way, on the other hand, on the contrary, at least, to one's surprise, etc.
In my opinion you are wrong.
You can’t make me! In short, I won’t do it.
5. An infinitive phrase:
to tell the truth, to be sure, to begin with, to do smb justice, etc.
That was, so to speak, another gift for you.
To do that lady justice, Miss Spencer bore the ordeal very well.
6. A participial phrase:
frankly speaking, strictly speaking, generally speaking, etc.
Generally speaking I think you’re right.
7. A clause (see the item on parenthetical clauses).
As it was, Nell departed with surprising docility.