Is this sentence correct?

My family (my mom, dad, and I) was going on a trip.

I think it is correct, because family is singular?

If you want to use "was," make sure you take all the stuff in parentheses out.

Or else take "My family" out, make the words in parentheses be the subject, and use "were."

If I want to keep everything the same, do I use "were?"

No, it'd just be a VERY awkward sentence. I'd choose one way or the other. Using words in parentheses in the middle of a sentence -- especially between the subject and the verb -- is a very poor idea.

Oh, okay. I'll change the sentence, and keep the tip in mind. Thank you!

You're welcome.

Yes, you are correct. The sentence "My family (my mom, dad, and I) was going on a trip" is correct.

The word "family" is considered a collective noun, which refers to a group of people seen as a single unit. In this case, the singular form "was" is appropriate because the emphasis is on the family as a whole, rather than individual family members.

To determine whether a collective noun should take a singular or plural verb, consider the context and focus of the sentence. If the emphasis is on the group acting together as a single unit, then a singular verb is used. If the focus is on the individuals within the group, a plural verb is used.

In the given sentence, the emphasis is on the family as a whole going on a trip, so the singular verb "was" is the correct form.