Parallelism

Parallelism &
Sentence Problems
Parallelism
Parallelism
Parallelism means that each item in a list or
comparison follows the same grammatical
pattern.
For example in a list if the first item is a noun,
write all the following items as nouns also.

Parallel structures to express similar ideas
Non- Parallel Sentences Parallel sentences
• My history class was both • My history class was both
interesting and a challenge. interesting and challenging.

• The language skills of the
• The language skills of the
students in the evening classes are
students in the evening classes are the same as the language skills of
the same as the day classes. the students in the day classes.
(The items are both noun
phrases)
Parallelism with Coordinators: and, or, but
Words, phrases, and clauses that are joined by: and, or, and
but (fan boys)are written in parallel structure.
e.g.
• The Federal Air Pollution Control Administration regulates
automobile exhausts, and the Federal Aviation
Administration makes similar regulations for aircraft.
• The states regulate the noise created by motor vehicles but
not by commercial aircraft.
Parallelism with Correlative (Paired) Conjunctions
Use parallel forms with the paired

conjunctions both ... and, either... or,
neither.. nor, and not only . .. but also.
e.g.
• Many people are neither concerned about pollutants
nor worried about their future impact.
Activity
Identify non parallel structures and correct it
• Credit cards are accepted by department stores,
airlines, and they can be used in some gas
stations.
• With credit cards, you can either pay your bill
with one check, or you can stretch out your
payments.
Solution !
• Credit cards are accepted by department
stores, airlines, and some gas stations.
• With credit cards, you can either pay your
bill with one check or stretch out your
payments.
• Many people carry not only credit cards
but also cash.
Sentence Problems
Sentence Problems
A sentence structure can have following errors:
• Sentence fragments
• Choppy
• Run-on and Comma splice
• Stringy
Sentence Fragments
Sentence fragments are incomplete sentences or parts
of sentences. A complete sentence must contain at
least one main or independent clause.
e.g.
• Because some students work part-time while taking a
full load of classes. (fragment)
• Because some students work part-time while taking a
full load of courses, they have very little free time.
(complete sentence) or
• Some students work part-time while taking a full load
of classes.
Fragments Complete Sentences
• The increase in the cost of • The increase in the cost of

renting an apartment to renting an apartment is
live and work for at least a one reason for more
year in a foreign country. people being homeless.
• Teachers who give too • Teachers who give too
much homework. much homework are
• Many of my friends who unpopular.
did not have the • Many of my friends who
opportunity to go to did not have the
college. opportunity to go to
college are unhappy.
Choppy Sentences
• Choppy sentences are sentences that are too
short. Short sentences can be effective in certain
situations. However, overuse of short sentences
is considered poor style in academic writing.
• Choppy sentences are easy to correct. Just
combine two or three short sentences to make
one compound or complex sentence.
If the sentences express equal ideas, use coordination
to combine them.
Choppy Sentences Correct Sentences
• Wind is an enduring • Both wind and water are

source of power. Water is enduring sources of
also an unlimited energy power.
source. Dams produce • Dams have produced
hydraulic power. They hydraulic power for a long
have existed for a long time, but windmills are
time. Windmills are relatively new.
relatively new.
If the sentences express unequal ideas, use
subordination to combine them.
Choppy Sentences Correct Sentences
• We must find new sources • We must find new sources of

of energy. Natural sources energy because natural sources
of energy are decreasing.
of energy are dwindling.
• Solar energy is a
• Solar energy, which is energy
promising new source of
from the sun, is a promising
energy. Solar energy is
new source.
energy from the sun
Run-On Sentences and Comma Splices
Run on sentences Comma splices
Two or more independent when two independent clauses
clauses are written one after are incorrectly joined by a
another with no punctuation. comma without a coordinating

conjunction
e.g.
e.g.
• My family went to Australia
• My family went to Australia,
then they emigrated to
then they emigrated to Canada.
Canada.
The ways to correct these two sentence
errors are the same
Add a period
• My family went to Australia. Then they
emigrated to Canada.
Add a semicolon
• My family went to Australia; then they
Add a coordinator
• My family went to Australia, and then
they emigrated to Canada.
Add a subordinator
• My family went to Australia before they
• After my family went to Australia, they
Stringy Sentences
• A sentence with too many clauses, usually
connected with and, but, so, and
sometimes because. It often the way you
speak, going on and on like a string
without an end.
• To correct a stringy sentence, divide it
and/or recombine the clauses.
Stringy Sentences Correct Sentence
• Many students attend

• Many students attend
classes all morning and
classes all morning, work all afternoon. Since
they also have to study at
and then they work all
night, they are usually
afternoon, and they exhausted by the weekend.
also have to study at OR
• Because many students
night, so they are attend classes all morning,
usually exhausted by work all afternoon, and
study at night, they are
the weekend. usually exhausted by the
weekend.
Correct Choppy, run-on and stringy sentences
• An encyclopedia is a valuable source of information it contains

summaries of every area of knowledge.
• To find a book on a certain subject, you used to look in a card
catalogue, to find a magazine article on a subject, you used to
look in a periodical index.
• He enrolled in an intermediate calculus class, but he found it too
easy, so he dropped it, and he signed up for the advanced class.
• Some students go to a vocational school to learn a trade. Some
students go to college to earn a degree.
Solution! (answers can vary)
• An encyclopedia is a valuable source of information
because it contains summaries of every area of
knowledge.
• To find a book on a certain subject, you used to look in
a card catalog; moreover, to find a magazine article on
a subject, you used to look in a periodical index.
• After he enrolled in an intermediate calculus class, he
found it too easy, so he dropped it and signed up for
the advanced class.
• Some students go to a vocational school to learn a
trade, and some students go to college to earn a degree.

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Parallelism &

Parallelism means that each item in a list or

comparison follows the same grammatical

For example in a list if the first item is a noun,

write all the following items as nouns also.

Non- Parallel Sentences Parallel sentences

• My history class was both • My history class was both

interesting and a challenge. interesting and challenging.

Use parallel forms with the paired

• Credit cards are accepted by department stores,

airlines, and they can be used in some gas

• With credit cards, you can either pay your bill

with one check, or you can stretch out your

• Run-on and Comma splice

• The increase in the cost of • The increase in the cost of

Choppy Sentences Correct Sentences

• Wind is an enduring • Both wind and water are

Choppy Sentences Correct Sentences

• We must find new sources • We must find new sources of

Two or more independent when two independent clauses

clauses are written one after are incorrectly joined by a

another with no punctuation. comma without a coordinating

• Many students attend

• An encyclopedia is a valuable source of information it contains

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