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Parallelism

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GLAYDIE ESCUDERO
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35 views11 pages

Parallelism

Uploaded by

GLAYDIE ESCUDERO
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Parallelism

Could it be faulty?
Parallel structure
The use of the same grammatical forms or
structures to balance related ideas in a
sentence.
When joining several equal or related
ideas in a sentence, it is important that you
express these ideas in a similar way.
For example, balance an adjective with an
adjective, a phrase with a phrase, and a
clause with a clause.
Examples of parallel structure
Not parallel – He learned three things: shooting, passing,
and how to dribble. (two gerunds and a phrase)
Parallel – He learned three things: shooting, passing,
and dribbling. (three gerunds)
Not parallel – A good coach must learn to communicate
with players, to organize a schedule, and adversity. (two
phrases and a noun)
Parallel – A good coach must learn to communicate with
players, to organize a schedule, and to handle adversity.
(three phrases)
The grammar crime
Faulty parallelism distracts the reader and
disturbs the flow of the writing. When two
elements of a sentence are similar in
meaning, you should express them in
parallel form. In other words, all linked
words should match in form.
Question: How do we catch faulty
parallelism outlaws?
Look for comparisons and lists. Make sure
all of the linked items are in the same
form. For example, they should all be
nouns, or phrases, gerunds, etc. . .; all
should begin with matching articles, or
they should all be verbs.
Five situations
1. Coordinating conjunctions (and, or, but,
for, so, yet, or nor)
Example: Jane wants financial
independence and to find love.
Corrected: Jane wants financial
independence and love
or
Jane wants to achieve financial
independence and to find love.
Number Two
Correlative conjunctions
Either A or B
Neither A nor B
Both A and B
Not only A but also B
Whether A or B
Example: Vasu not only broke Indian traditions but
also was destroying Natara’s life.
Corrected: Vasu not only broke Indian traditions
but also destroyed Natara’s life.
Number 3
Word in a series
Example: Throughout The Diviners,
Laurence uses memory bank movies, lists,
songs, and some inner films.
Corrected: Omit some!
Number Four
Comparisons and contrasts using than or
as (more than, as much as)
Example: Joan does not like Chuck Brewer
as much as she seemed to like the Royal
Porcupine.
Corrected: Joan does not like Chuck Brewer
as much as she likes the Royal Porcupine.
Number Five
Function words
Prepositions (to, by, in, for)
Articles (a, an, the)
The infinitive (to)
Introductory words (that, who, which, because, when)
A function word that begins one clause must begin
others.
Example: Andrew believes that Jerry Bines is innocent, and
Vera’s book does not characterize Jerry properly.
Corrected: Andrew believes that Jerry Bines is innocent,
and that Vera’s book does not characterize Jerry
properly.
Let us try together
His work was a mess, all mixed up, and
wasn’t well planned.
At Lincoln High School, vandalism can
result in suspension or even being
expelled from school.
My income is smaller than my wife.
It was both a long ceremony and very
tedious.

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