Let me count the ways. Parallel: Taylor criticizes public schools as they are compulsory, government-funded, and normalizing. The bold words in these examples are all past tense, which means they are examples of parallel construction. The bold terms illustrate parallel construction between the clauses. Parallel: I have to eat breakfast quickly and efficiently so I can get to class on time. Parallel structure can be defined as the repetition of the same grammatical structures within a sentence to create equal grammatical value. Keep in mind that any parallel structure error committed can make you sound strange to audiences. If you have several items in a list, put them in a column and evaluate the first words to see if they're parallel. In the example from the table, you can see the shift from a gerund to an infinitive verb form. I will not sing a song, nor will I dance. Surfing, skateboarding and require good balance. The above paragraph shows parallel structures. Jarring your audience is the last thing you want with content,so avoid these misstepswith parallelism mechanics. When content works, it just works well, theres a lot more to it than meets the eye. The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and in a detailed manner. Parallel structure should be used when you connect clauses with a coordinating conjunction such as: for, and, nor, or, but, so, or yet in a sentence. The Future of Freelancing , Your Content Distribution Needs a Checklist, He, 100 Blog Content Ideas For Your 2023 Calendar, What is Guest Blogging? By identifying a lack of parallel structure and correcting it, the sentences became clear and understandable. Otherwise, your sentences may come out completely awkward for readers to grasp. The original sentence includes a noun, another noun, and then a verb. For example, the first sentence below illustrates a lack of parallelism with one list item, "racial," being an adjective and the rest nouns. English 2 coming to our senses. parallel structure to emphasize ideas humorous tone author communicates ideas with irony and sarcasm. On weekends, I enjoy going to the beach, cuddling up with a good book, and drinking hot chocolate by the fire. The usual way to join parallel structures is with the use of coordinating conjunctions such as "and" or "or. Often, matching verb tenses, nouns, and conjunctions will lead you to a more parallel construction. Consistency is the key, and your readers will be thankful for the ease in which they will be able to absorb and understand your writing. Fact checked:Content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. We can go deep into the psychology of content marketing, analyzing our content through the lens of buyer personas or buyer stages. Review each of the following examples. Here is the same list with a broken parallel structure, with changing verbs at the beginning of the sentence. ', 'Daniel spent his Sunday afternoons cooking chili, watching football, and napping. Thats because parallel structures often come to us naturally when we communicate with others. Learn more about our Privacy Statement and Cookie Policy. Sure, your writing is better when you use parallel structure. Example 2: Not Parallel: To be Grace's friend means being constantly alert. But examples of good and bad parallel structure can be surprisingly obvious. Not Parallel: Reece likes to read, writing, and eat. This website collects and publishes the ideas of individuals who have contributed those ideas in their capacities as faculty-mentored student scholars. White. Let's take a look at a basic example of a sentence that uses parallel structure. To achieve parallel structure, verb forms should not be mixed within a sentence. The first sentence uses an adjective, an adjective, and a noun. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice. Though the way these sentences are structured never really mattered during our early years at school, as we grew older, we came to learn just how important it is to construct proper sentences for better communication. Welcome. You may also see flow chart examples. If a lack of parallel structure exists, you will need to exchange the item that does not match the others. The words that should be parallel but aren't are shown in italics here. It is similar to parallelism. 11 terms. Parallel: Reece likes reading, writing, and eating. Parallel verbs means that the same verb tense is used when verbs are used in a sentence to share two or more equally important ideas. For the following key term or person, write a sentence explaining its significance to U.S. foreign policy between 1890 and 1920: protectorate. Parallel Structure is also important in a displayed list of items. Purdue OWL is a registered trademark. She is certified to teach English and Humanities in Washington and Texas. Amanda Renaud has taught Middle School and High School English for 4 years. The salesman expected that he would present his product at the meeting, that he would have time to show his slide presentation, and that prospective buyers would ask him questions. Coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, or so) Our customers can leave reviews on Google or Facebook. Not Parallel: The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and that they should do some warm-up exercises before the game. 3. Our nervous system evolved under evolutionary pressure and our hunter - gatherer ancestors will have honed their senses in life or death situations. If you have several items in a list, put them in a column to see if they are parallel. Parallel: David liked diving better than swimming. Use parallel structure to improve scannability so people quickly understand key points. Writing Letters of Recommendation for Students, Higher Order Concerns (HOCs) and Lower Order Concerns (LOCs), Dangling Modifiers and How To Correct Them, Overview of Two-Part (Phrasal) Verbs (Idioms), Comparing Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives. Grammatical structures within a sentence include the parts of speech, clauses, and phrases. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Parallel structure in writing is achieved when each element of the sentence has equal grammatical value. Reflexive Pronoun Examples | What is a Reflexive Pronoun? Writers should use parallel structure whether the items in the list or series are grammatical subjects, predicates, or objects. Parallel: All elements are described in the same grammatical context, making the message easier to read and understand. Staying with one form adds clarity to your writing. So in this article, we take on the basics of parallel structures along with a few examples onhow they are used in literature and everyday speech. Much like parts of speech, if the parallel structure begins with a clause or phrase, it must continue with a clause or phrase. Humanity has advanced, when it has advanced, not because it has been sober, responsible, and cautious, but because it has been playful, rebellious, and immature.. A man who had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones, and cut by flints, and stung by nettles, and torn by briars and glared and growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin.. The parallel structures in this short poem give it a little waltz and jingle feel. Parallel structure means presenting ideas that are similar in content or function using a similar grammatical form. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. You might be interested in. Everyone in class capped their pens, closedtheir textbooks, and zipped their school bags as they tried to alert the professor that the sound of the bell signaled the end of the lecture. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use. You can test your writing abilities by taking various exams, including the SAT, that will require you to locate and revise parallel structure errors as a way of improving your skills. In the quote 'if you can't fly, then run. With clear writing, youre giving your audience an unobstructed path to engage with your content. To revise this sentence and create parallel structure, all verbs are changed to gerunds which creates a repetition of the same verb tense. Parallel structure in English refers to the use of similar grammar constructions within a sentence or clause. She covers English, ESL, and all things grammar on GrammarBrain. The terms that indicate parallel structure are marked in bold. As a writer, having the ability to synchronize, repeat, and emphasize your words and thoughts with the use of a parallel structure is something that must be valued and applied correctly. He went to the store, the bank, and for a run. Theres something about messing up parallel structure that really messes with the readers head youre welcome. Parallel structure allows the writer to give equal importance to two or more ideas within a sentence. The following activities are a part of our daily chores: running errands, cooking lunch, and cleaning the house. succeed. People expect the ease of patterns when they read content. I have a dream today., How do I love thee? Not Parallel:My little brothernot only likes to play catch, but also chase frogs.Parallel:My little brothernot only likes to play catch, but he also likes to chase frogs. As content marketers, we are forever looking for ways to reinforce our messaging so that the message actually sticks. Maria has taught University level psychology and mathematics courses for over 20 years. The author has combined several elements, but given them a balance by parallel clauses. Check on each side of these words to see if the joined items are parallel. Parallel structure is also called parallelism, parallel form, and parallel construction. She was never wrong; she never lost her patience. Below is another example of parallel structure: In addition, in parallel structure, it is important to group similar ideas and items when you have short phrases that can be put together. 1. Errors in parallel structure can make your writing sound strange to listeners. 20 terms. Not Parallel:Every morning, I make my bed, drinking coffee, and brush my teeth.Parallel:Every morning, I make my bed, drink coffee, and brush my teeth. Parallel: I enjoy neither playing video games nor exercising. This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. I love thee freely, as men strive for right. You may also seecomplex sentences definition and examples. academic programs, we invite you to start your story at a school that can offer you the parallel structure. Jo also used the free weights. Sentence lists (item comparison separated by commas) Our content team excels at writing, editing, optimizing, and distributing content. Parallel structure is the process of writing similar items in the same format and can be applied to a single sentence, a paragraph, or multiple paragraphs. In grammar, it refers to ensuring agreement in elements like number, verb tense, and adjective types. Balance is created in a sentence by using parallel structure. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. Language and Style: Parallel Structure Parallel structure is the repetition of a pattern of words or phrases within a sentence or passage to signify that two or more events or ideas have the same level of importance. From our brand new residence halls to our groundbreaking Correlative conjunctions come in pairs, such as 'not only' and 'also', 'or' and 'neither', 'if' and 'then'. 1. ', 'Daniel spent his Saturday afternoon cooking chili, then he watched football, and took a nap. You may also seefused sentence examples and corrections. Parallel Sentence: Definition, Structure & Examples, How to Identify Errors in Comparison, Correlation & Parallelism, Study.com ACT® English Test Prep Practice: Colons, Semicolons, and Periods. Its a grammatical construction carrying two or more clauses, phrases or words, with a similar grammatical form and length. Not Parallel:Not only did Mrs.Carter give the class a smolderinglook, but shealso was assigning50extra pages of homework as punishment for everyone who failed to pass their assignments on time. It also lends consistency to professional writing, as it providesrhythm and balance that lead the readers to the exact idea, without any misguidance. Parallel: I enjoy neither exercising nor playing video games. As you may have noticed, using a parallel structure builds a unique rhythm between the lines which offers an enjoyable time and experience for readers to absorb and understand ideas, concepts, and facts in a different way. Northern Michigan University, located in Marquette, MI, is a dynamic four-year, public, comprehensive university. Northern students are deeply involved in real-world scientific and creative research, professional Dalia Y.: Dalia is an English Major and linguistics expert with an additional degree in Psychology. complete and incomplete sentences examples, examples on how to write a sentence outline, complex sentences definition and examples. It is usually easy to identify a lack of parallel structure because the elements of the sentence will seem out of balance and may cause confusion. It landed snippets for several keyword phrases. For example, if one is a verb, they should all be verbs of the same tense, or if one is a noun, they all should be nouns. This list is an example of parallel construction where each sentence begins with plural nouns.
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