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#### 17.3.2 Excess Close Parentheses

To deal with an excess close parenthesis, first go to the beginning of the file, then type `C-u -1 C-M-u` to find the end of the first unbalanced defun.

Then find the actual matching close parenthesis by typing `C-M-f` at the beginning of that defun. This will leave you somewhere short of the place where the defun ought to end. It is possible that you will find a spurious close parenthesis in that vicinity.

If you don’t see a problem at that point, the next thing to do is to type `C-M-q` at the beginning of the defun. A range of lines will probably shift left; if so, the missing open parenthesis or spurious close parenthesis is probably near the first of those lines. (However, don’t assume this is true; study the code to make sure.) Once you have found the discrepancy, undo the `C-M-q` with `C-_`, since the old indentation is probably appropriate to the intended parentheses.

After you think you have fixed the problem, use `C-M-q` again. If the old indentation actually fits the intended nesting of parentheses, and you have put back those parentheses, `C-M-q` should not change anything.