def _parse_common(xml, the_dict):
    """
    Parse things in common for both variables and functions. This should
    be run after a more specific function like _parse_func or
    _parse_variable because it needs a member dictionary as an input.

    Parameters
    ----------
    xml : etree.Element
        The xml representation for the member you would like to parse

    the_dict : dict
        The dictionary that has already been filled with more specific
        data. This dictionary is modified in-place and an updated
        version is returned.

    Returns
    -------
    the_dict : dict
        The member dictionary that has been updated with the
        briefdescription and definition keys.
    """
    # Find brief description
    mem_bd = xml.find('briefdescription')
    try:
        mem_bdstr = mem_bd.find('para').text
        mem_bdstr = mem_bdstr if mem_bdstr is not None else ''
    except AttributeError:
        mem_bdstr = ''
    the_dict['briefdescription'] = mem_bdstr

    # add member definition
    the_dict['definition'] = xml.find('definition').text

    return the_dict