Parallelism
Mastering Parallel Structure in Writing
Enhance Your Writing with Balanced, Rhythmic Structure
Master the art of creating clear, compelling, and grammatically correct parallel constructions
What is Parallelism?
Parallelism is a fundamental writing technique that involves using similar grammatical structures for related words, phrases, or clauses to create balance and rhythm in your writing.
Why Parallelism Matters
- Clarity: Makes your writing easier to read and understand
- Flow: Creates smooth, rhythmic prose that engages readers
- Emphasis: Highlights important ideas through repetition of structure
- Professionalism: Demonstrates mastery of advanced grammar concepts
- Memorability: Parallel structures are more likely to be remembered
"I came, I saw, I conquered." - Julius Caesar
Each clause follows the same pattern: subject + verb + object
Core Definition & Principles
The Fundamental Rule
When listing or connecting similar ideas, use the same grammatical form throughout.
Key Elements to Keep Parallel
- Verb forms: All gerunds (-ing) or all infinitives (to + verb)
- Verb tenses: Past, present, or future consistently
- Parts of speech: All nouns, all adjectives, etc.
- Sentence structures: Similar clause patterns
- Voice: All active or all passive voice
"She enjoys reading, to write, and swimming."
"She enjoys reading, writing, and swimming."
Grammatical Rhythm and Readability
Parallelism creates a natural rhythm that makes writing more engaging and easier to process mentally.
How Parallelism Improves Readability
- Predictable patterns: Readers can anticipate structure
- Reduced cognitive load: Less mental effort to process information
- Enhanced flow: Smooth transitions between ideas
- Emphasis through repetition: Important concepts stand out
Examples of Rhythmic Parallelism
"Our company values innovation, dedication, and excellence."
(Three nouns creating steady rhythm)
"The study examined causes, analyzed effects, and proposed solutions."
(Three parallel verb phrases with consistent structure)
Types of Parallelism: Words & Phrases
Parallel Words
Words in a series must be the same part of speech.
"The presentation was informative, engaging, and had clarity."
(Two adjectives + one verb phrase)
"The presentation was informative, engaging, and clear."
Parallel Phrases
Phrases must follow the same grammatical pattern.
"She spent the day reading books, at the gym, and cooked dinner."
"She spent the day reading books, exercising at the gym, and cooking dinner."
Types of Parallelism: Clauses
Independent and dependent clauses in a series should follow similar structures.
Parallel Independent Clauses
"The team prepared the proposal, the manager reviewed the content, and the client approved the project."
(Subject + verb + object pattern repeated)
Parallel Dependent Clauses
"I believe that he is qualified and his experience is valuable."
"I believe that he is qualified and that his experience is valuable."
"I believe he is qualified and his experience is valuable."
Types of Parallelism: Lists & Series
Items in any list or series must maintain consistent grammatical structure.
Simple Lists
"The job requires attention to detail, working independently, and you must communicate effectively."
"The job requires paying attention to detail, working independently, and communicating effectively."
Complex Lists
"The course covers how to write effectively, research methods, and students learn presentation skills."
"The course covers effective writing techniques, research methods, and presentation skills."
Types of Parallelism: Comparisons
When making comparisons, both sides must use parallel structures.
Than/As Comparisons
"Reading books is more educational than to watch television."
"Reading books is more educational than watching television."
"To read books is more educational than to watch television."
Prefer/Rather Constructions
"I prefer hiking to go swimming."
"I prefer hiking to swimming."
Parallelism with Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) must connect parallel elements.
The "And" Rule
Elements connected by "and" must be grammatically equivalent.
"The manager is responsible for scheduling meetings and to coordinate projects."
"The manager is responsible for scheduling meetings and coordinating projects."
Multiple Conjunctions
"You can succeed by working hard, dedication, and to stay focused."
"You can succeed by working hard, showing dedication, and staying focused."
Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions work in pairs and require parallel structures on both sides.
Common Correlative Pairs
- both...and
- either...or
- neither...nor
- not only...but also
- whether...or
Examples of Correct Usage
"She is not only intelligent but also has creativity."
"She is not only intelligent but also creative."
"Either you can call me or send an email."
"You can either call me or send an email."
Infinitives vs Gerunds
Choose either infinitives (to + verb) or gerunds (verb + -ing) consistently throughout a series.
Parallel Infinitives
"The goals are to increase sales, to improve service, and to expand markets."
Parallel Gerunds
"The company focuses on increasing sales, improving service, and expanding markets."
Common Mixing Errors
"I enjoy reading books, to watch movies, and listening to music."
"I enjoy reading books, watching movies, and listening to music."
Active vs Passive Voice Consistency
Maintain consistent voice (active or passive) within parallel structures.
Parallel Active Voice
"The team analyzed the data, identified trends, and prepared recommendations."
Parallel Passive Voice
"The data was analyzed, trends were identified, and recommendations were prepared."
Voice Mixing Error
"The report was written by the team, and they submitted it yesterday."
"The team wrote the report and submitted it yesterday."
Common Faulty Parallelism: Mixing Verb Forms
One of the most frequent parallelism errors involves mixing different verb forms in a series.
Gerund and Infinitive Mixing
"She likes swimming, to run, and cycling."
(gerund + infinitive + gerund)
"She likes swimming, running, and cycling."
Tense Mixing
"Yesterday I studied, will exercise, and ate dinner."
"Yesterday I studied, exercised, and ate dinner."
Common Faulty Parallelism: Inconsistent Lists
Lists must maintain consistent grammatical patterns throughout all items.
Mixed Parts of Speech
"The candidate is experienced, intelligent, and shows leadership."
(adjective + adjective + verb phrase)
"The candidate is experienced, intelligent, and charismatic."
Phrase Structure Inconsistency
"The workshop covers public speaking, how to network effectively, and presentation skills."
"The workshop covers public speaking, effective networking, and presentation skills."
Common Faulty Parallelism: "That" Clause Errors
When using "that" clauses in series, maintain consistency in structure.
Inconsistent "That" Usage
"I know that he is qualified and his experience is valuable."
"I know that he is qualified and that his experience is valuable."
"I know he is qualified and his experience is valuable."
Complex "That" Constructions
"The report states that sales increased, profits rose, and there was market expansion."
"The report states that sales increased, that profits rose, and that markets expanded."
Common Faulty Parallelism: Voice Inconsistency
Mixing active and passive voice within parallel structures disrupts flow and clarity.
Active/Passive Mixing
"The committee reviewed the proposal, suggestions were made, and they approved changes."
"The committee reviewed the proposal, made suggestions, and approved changes."
When Passive Voice is Appropriate
"The proposal was reviewed, suggestions were made, and changes were approved."
Key Point: Choose one voice and stick with it throughout the parallel structure, unless there's a compelling reason to change.
Fixing Faulty Parallelism: Identify Elements
Step 1: Locate the Series
Find words, phrases, or clauses connected by conjunctions or presented in lists.
Step 2: Analyze Each Element
- Identify the grammatical structure of each item
- Note any inconsistencies in form
- Determine the most appropriate consistent structure
Example Analysis
"The job requires attention to detail, working independently, and you must communicate well."
Analysis:
- "attention to detail" - noun phrase
- "working independently" - gerund phrase
- "you must communicate well" - complete clause
Problem: Three different grammatical structures
Fixing Faulty Parallelism: Choose Consistent Forms
Step 3: Select the Best Pattern
Choose the grammatical form that best serves your meaning and style.
Multiple Solutions
Using our previous example:
"The job requires paying attention to detail, working independently, and communicating well."
"The job requires attention to detail, independent work, and effective communication."
"The job requires that you pay attention to detail, that you work independently, and that you communicate well."
Choosing the Best Option
Consider conciseness, clarity, and natural flow when selecting your preferred structure.
Editing Strategies for Parallelism
The Four-Step Edit Process
- Scan: Look for conjunctions (and, or, but) and lists
- Isolate: Identify each element in the parallel structure
- Compare: Check if all elements use the same grammatical form
- Revise: Adjust elements to match the chosen pattern
Reading Aloud Technique
Read your sentences aloud to identify awkward rhythms that might indicate parallelism problems.
Visual Method
Write parallel elements in vertical lists to easily spot inconsistencies:
Original: "I like reading, to swim, and cycling."
Visual breakdown:
- • reading (gerund)
- • to swim (infinitive)
- • cycling (gerund)
Corrected: "I like reading, swimming, and cycling."
Before and After Examples
Example 1: Business Communication
"Our team is responsible for planning events, coordinate schedules, and the management of budgets."
"Our team is responsible for planning events, coordinating schedules, and managing budgets."
Example 2: Academic Writing
"The study found that exercise improves health, reduces stress, and there are cognitive benefits."
"The study found that exercise improves health, reduces stress, and enhances cognitive function."
Example 3: Creative Writing
"The storm approached quickly, trees were bent by wind, and lightning struck repeatedly."
"The storm approached quickly, wind bent the trees, and lightning struck repeatedly."
Advanced Applications: Professional Writing
Business Documents
Parallelism enhances clarity and professionalism in business communication.
"Our company strives to innovate continuously, serve customers excellently, and operate ethically."
"Responsibilities include analyzing data, preparing reports, and presenting findings to stakeholders."
Résumés and Cover Letters
- Increased sales revenue by 25%
- Reduced operational costs by 15%
- Improved customer satisfaction scores by 30%
Presentations
Parallel bullet points create visual consistency and improve audience comprehension.
Benefits of Our Solution:
- Reduces processing time
- Eliminates manual errors
- Increases team productivity
Advanced Applications: Rhetorical Parallelism
Parallelism is a powerful rhetorical device used in speeches, literature, and persuasive writing.
Famous Examples
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, that all men will be created equal, that my children will be judged by the content of their character."
"We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets."
Creating Emphasis
Parallel structures can emphasize key points through repetition and rhythm.
"This policy will reduce inequality, eliminate discrimination, and promote justice for all citizens."
Building Momentum
Series of parallel elements can build emotional and logical momentum in arguments.
Proofreading Strategies for Parallelism
Checklist Method
- Circle all coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor)
- Highlight correlative conjunctions (both...and, either...or)
- Underline items in series or lists
- Mark comparison structures (more...than, prefer...to)
- Check each marked area for consistent grammatical patterns
Technology Tools
- Use grammar checkers as a starting point
- Read text aloud using text-to-speech software
- Format parallel elements in columns for visual comparison
Peer Review Focus
Ask reviewers to specifically look for:
- Smooth flow and rhythm
- Consistency in lists and series
- Clarity of comparisons
- Professional tone consistency
Final Read Strategy
Do one final read focusing only on parallelism, ignoring content to concentrate purely on structure.
Interactive Quiz: Test Your Parallelism Knowledge
Answer Key with Explanations:
Summary & Key Takeaways
Essential Parallelism Rules
- Consistency is key: Use the same grammatical form throughout lists and series
- Match verb forms: All gerunds OR all infinitives, never mixed
- Maintain tense: Keep consistent verb tenses within parallel structures
- Balance conjunctions: Ensure correlative conjunctions connect parallel elements
- Check comparisons: Both sides of comparisons must use parallel forms
Benefits of Mastering Parallelism
- Clearer communication
- Enhanced credibility
- Improved readability
- Better flow and rhythm
- Stronger emphasis
- More engaging prose
Quick Reference Checklist
- Identify series, lists, and conjunctions
- Check for consistent grammatical patterns
- Verify verb forms and tenses match
- Ensure correlative conjunctions are balanced
- Read aloud to check rhythm and flow
Continue Your Learning
Practice these concepts in your writing to develop natural parallelism skills.
Remember: Clear structure leads to clear communication.
Thank you for completing this parallelism presentation!
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