How to Fix: SyntaxError: closing parenthesis ‘)’ does not match…

This is a SyntaxError that means you have mismatched your “brackets.” Python uses three pairs of brackets, and they must be closed by their matching partner. The common SyntaxError closing parenthesis issue can occur when you forget to close a bracket properly.

• ( must be closed by )
• [ must be closed by ]
• { must be closed by }

The Cause

This is almost always a simple typo, especially in complex, nested structures.

Problem Code:

# A list of dictionaries
my_data = [
    {"name": "Alice", "age": 30},
    {"name": "Bob", "age": 40}
) # <-- CRASH!

# I opened a LIST with '['
# I tried to close it with ')'

Error: SyntaxError: closing parenthesis ')' does not match opening parenthesis '[' on line 2

Python is very helpful here. It tells you exactly what it saw (')') and what it expected ('[').

# WRONG — opened with [, closed with ) — bracket types don't match
my_data = [
    {"name": "Alice", "age": 30},
    {"name": "Bob",   "age": 40}
)   # SyntaxError: closing parenthesis ')' does not match opening parenthesis '['

# WRONG — function call opened with (, list closed with ]
result = some_function(
    arg_one,
    arg_two
]   # SyntaxError: closing parenthesis ']' does not match opening parenthesis '('

# RIGHT — every opener closes with its exact partner
my_data = [           # [ opens
    {"name": "Alice", "age": 30},
    {"name": "Bob",   "age": 40}
]                     # ] closes — bracket types match

result = some_function(   # ( opens
    arg_one,
    arg_two
)                         # ) closes — bracket types match

The Fix

Carefully read the error message.

1. Look at the line number it points to.
2. Find the “closing” bracket (like )) on that line.
3. Look backwards in your code to find its “opening” partner.
4. You will see it’s the wrong type (like [).
5. Change the closing bracket to match the opening one.

Correct Code:

my_data = [
    {"name": "Alice", "age": 30},
    {"name": "Bob", "age": 40}
] # <-- Correct!

SyntaxError: closing parenthesis ‘)’ does not match — The Bracket Pair Rule and the Editor Setting That Prevents Every Mismatch

SyntaxError: closing parenthesis ‘)’ does not match opening parenthesis ‘[‘ is the most informative SyntaxError Python produces. The error message names the mismatched character, names the expected character, and gives you the line number of the opening bracket. Every piece of information you need to fix it arrives in one line.

Python uses three bracket pairs. Each opener has exactly one valid closer.

( opens → ) closes — function calls, tuples, expressions
[ opens → ] closes — lists, index access, slices
{ opens → } closes — dictionaries, sets, f-string expressions

A closing bracket of the wrong type fires this error immediately. ) cannot close a [. ] cannot close a (. } cannot close a [. The fix is always one character — swap the wrong closer for the right one.

Nested structures multiply the risk. A list of dictionaries inside a function call carries (, [, and { simultaneously. Close them in reverse order of how you opened them — the last opener always closes first.

result = some_function([ # ( opens, then [
{“key”: “value”}, # { opens and } closes
{“key”: “value2”} # { opens and } closes
]) # ] closes the [, then ) closes the (

Enable bracket pair colorization in VS Code: Settings → search “bracket pair” → turn on “Editor: Bracket Pair Colorization”. Each nested bracket level gets its own colour. A mismatched closer shows in a different colour than its opener — you see the mistake before you run anything.

Install the “Bracket Pair Colorizer” or use PyCharm’s built-in bracket matching — both highlight the opening bracket when your cursor sits on the closing bracket. One click, wrong type exposed, one character changed, error gone.