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Parallel Structure

Parallel structure requires that sentence elements with similar functions also share the same grammatical form, enhancing economy, clarity, equality, and delight in writing. Faulty parallelism occurs when these elements are not aligned, leading to unclear emphasis and meaning. Writers can utilize parallelism in various contexts, including lists, comparisons, linking verbs, and correlative conjunctions, to maintain coherence and clarity.

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2 views

Parallel Structure

Parallel structure requires that sentence elements with similar functions also share the same grammatical form, enhancing economy, clarity, equality, and delight in writing. Faulty parallelism occurs when these elements are not aligned, leading to unclear emphasis and meaning. Writers can utilize parallelism in various contexts, including lists, comparisons, linking verbs, and correlative conjunctions, to maintain coherence and clarity.

Uploaded by

Evi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Parallel Structure

Sentence elements that are alike in function should also be alike in construction. These
elements should be in the same grammatical form so that they are parallel.

Using parallel structure in your writing will help with

1) economy 2) clarity 3) equality 4) delight.

Here are some examples


of parallel elements

These elements, on the other hand, are not parallel

Used in a sentence, they create a jarring effect and produce writing with unclear emphasis
and meaning. We call such an error "faulty parallelism."

Writers generally use parallelism as a technique in the following five ways.

1. With elements joined by coordinating conjunctions, especially and, but, and or.

Examples of parallel words

Examples of parallel phrases


Examples of parallel clauses

The examples below show how to repair faulty parallelism.

Example #1

Example #2

2. Use parallel structure with elements in lists or in a series.

A series is a group of three or more elements in a row. The last element in the
series is connected to the others with one of these coordinating conjunctions: and, or, but
(not), or yet (not).

Commas should be placed between each element in the series and before the
coordinating conjunction.

Examples:
As the examples below show, a series whose components are not in parallel format
sounds awkward and may cause misunderstanding.

Example #1

Example #2

Note that in the corrected versions of example #2, you may choose to repeat the "to" or
to omit it.
Click on the link below to complete an exercise on parallelism with elements in a series..

3. Use parallel structure with elements being compared. (X is more than / better
than Y)

When we compare things, we often use words such as more, less, better, and worse,
We connect the items being compared with words like as and than.

Note the comparison methods in the examples below.


The elements being compared are parallel to one another:

driving is parallel to flying

Miriam's ability to is parallel to her resolve to

How you live is parallel to how much money you make

Comparing items without using parallel structure may cause confusion about what is
being compared to what.

Repair faulty parallelism in comparisons by making one element of the comparison


parallel to the other.

Note that you may choose to change either element to match the other.

4. Use parallel structure with elements joined by a linking verb or a verb of being.

Joining elements with linking verbs or verbs of being suggests a completing of the first
item by the second one. Often, in fact, an equality between the two is being set up, as the
examples below illustrate.

Repair faulty parallelism with linking verbs or verbs of being by making one element of
the equation parallel to the other.
Click on the link below to complete an exercise on parallel structure with linking verbs
or verbs of being.

5. Use parallel structure with elements joined by a correlative conjunction.

These are the major correlative conjunctions:

either / or neither / nor both / and not only / but also

Correlative conjunctions work in pairs.

Whatever grammatical structure follows one must be parallel to the grammatical structure
that follows the other.

Examples with either / or and neither / nor

Examples with both / and

Examples with not only / but also


Repair faulty parallelism with correlative conjunctions by making one structure
parallel to the other as shown below.

With either / or

With neither / nor

With both / and

With not only / but also

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