Parallelism (1)

Parallelism
What’s Wrong!?
● Planning, drafting, and revision are three steps in the writing process..
● I could not wait to try my new surfboard, to catch some waves, and for a visit to
the beach.
● Olivia likes her school: The teachers are good, the students are nice, and she
likes the new building.
Words, phrases, clauses

How to fix it!?
Eleanor spends her time reading, listening to music,
and she works at the mall.
(Break up the sentence)
Eleanor spends her time reading.

Eleanor spends her time listening to music.
Eleanor spends her time she works at the mall.
(working at the mall)
How to fix it!?
I was exhausted, irritable, and wanted to eat.
I was exhausted.
I was irritable.
I was wanted to eat.
(hungry)
How to fix it!?
Jack appeared on a talk show, visited with Vanna
White, and a meeting with Tom Cruise was arranged.
Jack appeared on a talk show.

Jack visited with Vanna White.
Jack a meeting with Tom Cruise was arranged.
(met with Tom Cruise)
Parallel Structure
It is the use of words, phrases, and clauses
that use similar grammatical patterns and
structures within a sentence to express related
ideas.
Nouns are with nouns, verbs with

verbs, and
phrases with phrases…etc.
This kind of structure provides a text with a

pattern of consistency and predictability. For
example, a single sentence or paragraph should
always maintain a consistent approach to such
things as verb tense, quantity, and voice.
When similar parts do not follow the same structure, you have created
Faulty Parallelism.
Not parallel: I like singing, kayaking, and to dance.
Parallel: I like singing, kayaking, and dancing.
Incorrect: Angry ants, munched the marshmallows, crumbling coffeecake,

sipping syrup, headed off across the countertop.
Correct: Angry ants, munching the marshmallows, crumbling coffeecake, a

sipping syrup, headed off across the countertop.
Put nouns with nouns:
• Faulty: I enjoy basketball more than playing video games.

• Correct: I enjoy basketball more than video games.
Put verbs with verbs (use the same tense):
• Faulty: On our anniversary, we ate, danced, and were singing.

• Correct: On our anniversary, we ate, danced, and sang.
Put adjectives with adjectives:
• Faulty: My history class was both interesting and a challenge.

• Correct: My history class was both interesting and challenging.
SAMPLE PARALLEL STRUCTURE
In a Series The athlete has sharp eyes, strong

(Parts of speech) hands, and deft fingers.
Sarah walks, bikes, or drives to the

store on Sundays.
In a Comparison I like listening to music better than

watching movies.
With a Coordinating Conjunction The French and the Spanish have

(FANBOYS) rich histories.
Laura will pick up her dry cleaning

and mail a package.
With a Correlative Conjunction

(both/and – either/or - neither/nor – You can either walk to the store or
not only/but also) ride your bike to the store.
Ella’s job responsibilities include_______,
training, and informing workers of
company policies.
a) to hire
b) hired
c) hire
d) none of the above
Ella’s job responsibilities include_______,
training, and informing workers of
company policies.
a) to hire
b) hired
c) hire
d) none of the above (hiring is
the correct answer)
Henry likes pizza more than __________.
a) spinach
b) to eat spinach
c) to be eating spinach
Henry likes pizza more than __________.
a) spinach
b) to eat spinach
c) to be eating spinach
He drove to the store to buy milk, eggs,
and _________.
a) to get bread
b) bread
c) getting bread
He drove to the store to buy milk, eggs,
and _________.
a) to get bread
b) bread
c) getting bread
Tom jogs, swims, and _________.
a) he is kick boxing
b) kick boxes
c) He kick boxes
Tom jogs, swims, and _________.
a) he is kick boxing
b) kick boxes
c) He kick boxes
The film had many stars, used various
special effects, and _________.
a) violence
b) featured graphic violence
c) It was violent
The film had many stars, used various
special effects, and _________.
a) violence
b) featured graphic violence
c) It was violent

Parallelism (1)

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Parallelism

Words, phrases, clauses

(Break up the sentence)

Eleanor spends her time reading.

(Break up the sentence)

(Break up the sentence)

Jack appeared on a talk show.

Nouns are with nouns, verbs with

This kind of structure provides a text with a

Not parallel: I like singing, kayaking, and to dance.

Parallel: I like singing, kayaking, and dancing.

Incorrect: Angry ants, munched the marshmallows, crumbling coffeecake,

Correct: Angry ants, munching the marshmallows, crumbling coffeecake, a

• Faulty: I enjoy basketball more than playing video games.

Put verbs with verbs (use the same tense):

• Faulty: On our anniversary, we ate, danced, and were singing.

Put adjectives with adjectives:

• Faulty: My history class was both interesting and a challenge.

In a Series The athlete has sharp eyes, strong

Sarah walks, bikes, or drives to the

In a Comparison I like listening to music better than

With a Coordinating Conjunction The French and the Spanish have

Laura will pick up her dry cleaning

With a Correlative Conjunction

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