A Guide to Parallel Form

Methods for improving coherence, unity, and balance in writing.

http://faculty.valenciacc.edu/ataylor/downloads

Parallelism in Writing

Many students feel that parallel form is a concept that only a rocket scientist could understand; however, parallel form is actually quite easy once students learn the parts of speech and learn how to spot grammatical patterns.

Parallelism in Writing

Parallelism utilizes the same or similar grammatical form or structure to relate ideas of equal importance.

Parallelism increases coherence by breaking ideas into elements of similar grammatical form.

Parallelism in Writing

Is this sentence in parallel form?

She enjoys reading, to play piano, and hard work.

Before determining if it is parallel, the grammatical structure of each clause must be identified.

“reading” is a present participle.

“to play piano” is an infinitive + a noun

“hard work” is an adjective + a noun

Parallelism in Writing

Since parallelism has been defined as “the same or similar grammatical form or structure to relate ideas of equal importance,” it is clear that the sentence is not in parallel form.

In order to put the sentence in parallel form, each of the clauses must utilize the same grammatical elements.

Parallelism in Writing

So the sentence

She enjoys reading, to play piano, and hard work.

becomes

She enjoys reading, playing piano, and working hard. (participles)

or

She enjoys to read, to play piano, and to work hard. (infinitives)

Parallelism in Writing

Use parallelism when listing items in a series.

Spock tried threats, pleading, and shouting but his brain would not cooperate.

Spock tried threats, pleas, and shouts, but his brain would not cooperate.

Spock tried threatening, pleading, and shouting, but his brain would not cooperate.

Parallelism in Writing

Use Parallel form with longer phrases and clauses.

He bought her flowers, had sent some candy, and played music, but she still tore his heart out.

He bought her flowers, sent her candy, and played her music, but she still tore his heart out.

Parallelism in Writing

Whenever possible, parallel form should be used with all types of compound sentences which include:

compound or coordinate sentences (fanboys)

conjunctive adverbs

correlative conjunctions

than or as clauses

Parallelism in Writing

Remember that a compound sentence is balanced, so whenever possible use the same grammatical pattern on both sides of the coordinating conjunction. Noun Verb Infinitive Verb Noun ccj Noun Verb Infinitive Verb Noun

Spock loves to read poetry, and he loves to drink cola.

Parallelism in Writing

Conjunctive Adverbs:

Noun Verb art Adjective Noun Conjunctive Noun Verb art Adverb

Spock needed a quick boost ;hence, he found a Adjective Noun

faster way.

Parallelism in Writing

Correlative conjunctions:Correlative Noun Verb Subject Correlative Noun Verb art Subject

Conjunction Complement Conjunction Complement

Either Spock is crazy or Spock is a genius.

Parallelism in Writing

With “than” or “As”: Noun Verb art Adjective Adjective Noun Noun Verb art

Spock is a better crossing guard than he is a Adjective Adjective Noun

computer repair technician.

Parallelism in Writing

Whenever possible lists and outlines should be put in parallel form. Parallelism makes lists easier to understand and may help to avoid disputes caused by poor reading comprehension.

Parallelism in Writing

Not Parallel

some sugar

a box of Wheaties

green beans six cans

eggs

jug of milk

Parallel

two bags of sugar

one box of Wheaties

six cans of green beans

one dozen eggs

one gallon of milk

Parallelism in Writing

Often similar grammatical form isn’t enough to signal parallelism, repeating of key words can also help to make sentences more emphatic.

They fought to protect farms, crops, and wives.

Farms, crops, and wives are all plural nouns, but the sentence can be more emphatic.

Parallelism in Writing

They fought to protect their farms, their crops, and their wives.

By repeating the key word “their” the writer is reminding the reader that “they” are fighting for their own possessions. The sentence is also more emphatic because the parallelism has been increased from simply plural nouns to possessive pronoun + plural noun.

Parallelism in Writing

Whenever possible use parallel sentences in paragraphs and essays. This is best accomplished by the writer making a conscious decision to gravitate toward one particular type of sentence construction such as a present participle or an infinitive phrase.

Parallelism in Writing

Jason has an amazing ability to imitate others. When Jason began to walk, he would often stumble and hit his head on the coffee table. To get Jason to stop crying, my wife began to hit the coffee table and say, “Bad Table.” This worked well until one day grandma mentioned that Missy was a “Bad Dog.” When Jason heard this, he jumped to his feet, ran to Missy, and began to hit Missy with all his might and he started to shout “Bad Dog!”

Parallelism in Writing

Utilizing parallelism in writing helps to bring unity and coherence to writing. Remember to use parallelism with compound sentences, lists, outlines, and longer pieces of writing.

To increase parallelism in your writingis a great way to increase your grade in the course.

Parallelism in Writing

The End