No you can’t!
Yes we could, because it's a theoretical different notation. Mathematics itself does not break down, if you have to put add explicit brackets to 1/(ab).
Mathematics does break down when you insist a(b)^2^ gets an a^2^ term, for certain values of b. It's why you've had to invent exceptions to your made-up bullshit, and pretend 2(8)^2^ gets different answers when simplified from 2(5+3)^2^ versus 2(8*1)^2^.