diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 7398ee6..9bc2617 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+# errors 0.4.3
+
+- add option to print uncertainty with decimal point when appropriate
+  in the `parenthesis` notation
+
 # errors 0.4.2
 
 - Add support for PDG rounding rules (@davidchall #59 addressing #45).
diff --git a/R/print.R b/R/print.R
index e376c1b..a91fe0e 100644
--- a/R/print.R
+++ b/R/print.R
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@
 #' encoded in scientific format.
 #' @param notation error notation; \code{"parenthesis"} and \code{"plus-minus"}
 #' are supported through the \code{"errors.notation"} option.
+#' When using the "parenthesis" error notation, by default the uncertainty
+#' is formatted without any decimal point, unless the option
+#' \code{"errors.parenthesis.unc.dec.point"} is set to TRUE.
 #' @param ... ignored.
 #'
 #' @references
@@ -45,8 +48,9 @@ format.errors = function(x,
 
   e <- signif(.e(x), digits)
   nulle <- e == 0 & !is.na(e)
-  xexp <- ifelse(.v(x) == 0, get_exponent(e) + 1, get_exponent(x))
-  value_digits <- ifelse(e, digits - get_exponent(e), digits)
+  eexp <- get_exponent(e)
+  xexp <- ifelse(.v(x)== 0, eexp+1, get_exponent(x))
+  value_digits <- ifelse(e, digits - eexp, digits)
   value <- ifelse(e, signif(.v(x), xexp + value_digits), .v(x))
   value <- ifelse(is.finite(value), value, .v(x))
 
@@ -60,7 +64,14 @@ format.errors = function(x,
   if (notation == "parenthesis") {
     sep <- "("
     append[] <- ")"
-    e[is.finite(e)] <- (e * 10^(pmax(0, value_digits-1)))[is.finite(e)]
+    if (!getOption("errors.parenthesis.unc.dec.point", FALSE)) {
+      ## remove decimal point from uncertainty by scaling it appropriately
+      e[is.finite(e)] <- (e * 10^(pmax(0, value_digits-1)))[is.finite(e)]
+    } else {
+      ## convert uncertainty for printing, keeping decimal point in line with value
+      e_scale_flag = (cond & eexp < xexp) | (!cond & is.finite(e) & eexp<0)
+      e[e_scale_flag] <- (e * 10^(pmax(0, value_digits-1)))[e_scale_flag]
+    }
   } else {
     sep <- paste0(" ", .pm, " ")
     prepend[cond] <- "("
diff --git a/man/format.errors.Rd b/man/format.errors.Rd
index 692f758..85140b3 100644
--- a/man/format.errors.Rd
+++ b/man/format.errors.Rd
@@ -19,7 +19,10 @@ value according to the Particle Data Group rounding rule (see references).}
 encoded in scientific format.}
 
 \item{notation}{error notation; \code{"parenthesis"} and \code{"plus-minus"}
-are supported through the \code{"errors.notation"} option.}
+are supported through the \code{"errors.notation"} option.
+When using the "parenthesis" error notation, by default the uncertainty
+is formatted without any decimal point, unless the option
+\code{"errors.parenthesis.unc.dec.point"} is set to TRUE.}
 
 \item{...}{ignored.}
 }
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-print.R b/tests/testthat/test-print.R
index 5c4668a..7a2a947 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-print.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-print.R
@@ -41,6 +41,14 @@ test_that("error formatting works properly", {
     c("(1.11112", "0.00001)e4"), c("(1.111122", "0.000001)e4"), c("(1.111122222", "0.000000001)e4"),
     c("(1.111122222000", "0.000000000001)e4")),
     paste, collapse=paste("", .pm, "")))
+  #
+  # test using option to keep decimal point in uncertainty in parenthesis notation
+  #
+  saved_options = options(errors.parenthesis.unc.dec.point = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(format(x, notation="parenthesis", digits=3),
+               c("10000(12300000)", "11110(1230)", "11111.2(12.3)", "11111.22(1.23)",
+                 "11111.222(123)", "11111.2222(123)", "11111.2222200(123)", "11111.2222200000(123)"))
+  options(saved_options)
 
   x <- set_errors(rep(0.827, 3), c(0.119, 0.367, 0.962))
   expect_equal(format(x, notation="plus-minus", digits="pdg"), sapply(list(