6F.

1 Parallelism

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

● Identify sentences that are parallel and not parallel.

● Identify ways to create parallelism in writing.
● Write and revise sentences using parallelism.

Earlier in this chapter, we learned that increasing sentence variety adds interest to a
piece of writing and makes the reading process more enjoyable for others. Using a
mixture of sentence lengths and patterns throughout an essay is an important writing
technique. However, it is equally important to avoid introducing variation within
individual sentences. A strong sentence is composed of balanced parts that all have the
same structure. In this section, we will examine how to create a balanced sentence
structure by using parallelism.

Using Parallelism

Parallelism is the use of similar structure in related words, clauses, or phrases. It

creates a sense of rhythm and balance within a sentence. As readers, we often correct
faulty parallelism—a lack of parallel structure—intuitively because an unbalanced
sentence sounds awkward and poorly constructed. Read the following sentences aloud:

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Faulty parallelism: Kelly had to iron, do the washing, and shopping before her parents
arrived.

Faulty parallelism: Driving a car requires coordination, patience, and to have good
eyesight.

Faulty parallelism: Ali prefers jeans to wearing a suit.

All of these sentences contain faulty parallelism. Although they are factually correct, the
construction is clunky and confusing. In the first example, three different verb forms are
used. In the second and third examples, the writer begins each sentence by using a
noun (coordination, jeans), but ends with a phrase (to have good eyesight, wearing a
suit). Now read the same three sentences that have correct parallelism.

Correct parallelism: Kelly had to do the ironing, washing, and shopping before her
parents arrived.

Correct parallelism: Driving a car requires coordination, patience, and good eyesight.

Correct parallelism: Ali prefers wearing jeans to wearing a suit.

When these sentences are written using a parallel structure, they sound more
aesthetically pleasing because they are balanced. Repetition of grammatical
construction also minimizes the amount of work the reader has to do to decode the
sentence. This enables the reader to focus on the main idea in the sentence and not on
how the sentence is put together.

Tip

A simple way to check for parallelism in your writing is to make sure you have paired nouns with
nouns, verbs with verbs, prepositional phrases with prepositional phrases, and so on. Underline
each element in a sentence and check that the corresponding element uses the same
grammatical form.

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Creating Parallelism Using Coordinating
Conjunctions

When you connect two clauses using a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or,
yet, so), make sure that the same grammatical structure is used on each side of the
conjunction. Take a look at the following example:

Faulty parallelism: When I walk the dog, I like to listen to music and talking to
friends on the phone.

Correct parallelism: When I walk the dog, I like listening to music and talking to
friends on the phone.

The first sentence uses two different verb forms (to listen, talking). In the second
sentence, the grammatical construction on each side of the coordinating conjunction
(and) is the same, creating a parallel sentence.

The same technique should be used for joining items or lists in a series:

Faulty parallelism: This committee needs to decide whether the company should
reduce its workforce, cut its benefits, or lowering workers’ wages.

Correct parallelism: This committee needs to decide whether the company should
reduce its workforce, cut its benefits, or lower workers’ wages.

The first sentence contains two items that use the same verb construction (reduce, cut)
and a third item that uses a different verb form (lowering). The second sentence uses
the same verb construction in all three items, creating a parallel structure.

Exercise 1

On your own sheet of paper, revise each of the following sentences to create parallel structure
using coordinating conjunctions.

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 1. Mr. Holloway enjoys reading and to play his guitar at weekends.
2. The doctor told Mrs. Franklin that she should either eat less or should
exercise more.
3. Breaking out of the prison compound, the escapees moved carefully,
quietly, and were quick on their feet.
4. I have read the book, but I have not watched the movie version.
5. Deal with a full inbox first thing in the morning, or by setting aside short
periods of time in which to answer e-mail queries.

Creating Parallelism Using Than or As

When you are making a comparison, the two items being compared should have a
parallel structure. Comparing two items without using parallel structure can lead to
confusion about what is being compared. Comparisons frequently use the words than or
as, and the items on each side of these comparison words should be parallel. Take a
look at the following example:

Faulty parallelism: Swimming in the ocean is much tougher than a pool.

Correct parallelism: Swimming in the ocean is much tougher than swimming in a

pool.

In the first sentence, the elements before the comparison word (than) are not equal to
the elements after the comparison word. It appears that the writer is comparing an
action (swimming) with a noun (a pool). In the second sentence, the writer uses the
same grammatical construction to create a parallel structure. This clarifies that an action
is being compared with another action.

To correct some instances of faulty parallelism, it may be necessary to add or delete

words in a sentence.

Faulty parallelism: A brisk walk is as beneficial to your health as going for a run.

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Correct parallelism: Going for a brisk walk is as beneficial to your health as going
for a run.

In this example, it is necessary to add the verb phrase going for to the sentence in order
to clarify that the act of walking is being compared to the act of running.

Exercise 2

On your own sheet of paper, revise each of the following sentences to create parallel structure
using than or as.

1. I would rather work at a second job to pay for a new car than a loan.
2. How you look in the workplace is just as important as your behavior.
3. The firefighter spoke more of his childhood than he talked about his job.
4. Indian cuisine is far tastier than the food of Great Britain.
5. Jim’s opponent was as tall as Jim and he carried far more weight.

Creating Parallelism Using Correlative

Conjunctions

A correlative conjunction is a paired conjunction that connects two equal parts of a

sentence and shows the relationship between them. Common correlative conjunctions
include the following:

● either…or
● not only…but also
● neither…nor
● whether…or
● rather…than

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 ● both…and

Correlative conjunctions should follow the same grammatical structure to create a

parallel sentence. Take a look at the following example:

Faulty parallelism: We can neither wait for something to happen nor can we take
evasive action.

Correct parallelism: We can neither wait for something to happen nor take evasive
action.

When using a correlative conjunction, the words, phrases, or clauses following each
part should be parallel. In the first sentence, the construction of the second part of the
sentence does not match the construction of the first part. In the second sentence,
omitting needless words and matching verb constructions create a parallel structure.
Sometimes, rearranging a sentence corrects faulty parallelism.

Faulty parallelism: It was both a long movie and poorly written.

Correct parallelism: The movie was both long and poorly written.

Tip

To see examples of parallelism in use, read some of the great historical speeches by
rhetoricians such as Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. Notice how they use parallel
structures to emphasize important points and to create a smooth, easily understandable oration.

Speechwriters use parallelism not only within sentences but also throughout paragraphs
and beyond. Repeating particular key phrases throughout a speech is an effective way
of tying a paragraph together as a cohesive whole and creating a sense of importance.
This technique can be adapted to any piece of writing, but it may be especially useful for
creating a proposal or other type of persuasive workplace document.

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 Note that the spelling and grammar checker on most word processors will not draw
attention to faulty parallelism. When proofreading a document, read it aloud and listen
for sentences that sound awkward or poorly phrased.

Exercise 3

On your own sheet of paper, revise each of the following sentences to create parallel structure
using correlative conjunctions.

1. The cyclist owns both a mountain bike and has a racing bike.
2. The movie not only contained lots of action, but also it offered an important
lesson.
3. My current job is neither exciting nor is it meaningful.
4. Jason would rather listen to his father than be taking advice from me.
5. We are neither interested in buying a vacuum cleaner nor do we want to
utilize your carpet cleaning service.

Key Takeaways

● Parallelism creates a sense of rhythm and balance in writing by using the

same grammatical structure to express equal ideas.
● Faulty parallelism occurs when elements of a sentence are not balanced,
causing the sentence to sound clunky and awkward.

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 ● Parallelism may be created by connecting two clauses or making a list
using coordinating conjunctions; by comparing two items using than or as;
or by connecting two parts of a sentence using correlative conjunctions.

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