- Introduction
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What is parallel structure? The word parallelism comes from the Greek word parallelos which means side-by-side. Parallel structure is the similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses.
What do all of the pictures below have in common? See answer They are all parallel. .
Straight line colored pencils. |
Up and down escalators. |
Three arrows in a line. |
A boy on parallel bars. |
What can parallel structure do for you? It can provide a writer with instant style and can provide a reader with a deeper understanding of meaning and intent. It provides clarity to your reader and should be used throughout your writing.
Parallel structures use the same grammatical form to express equal ideas. Study the following examples.
Example #1
Pair a noun with a noun. What is a noun? A noun is a person, place, thing, or idea.
Example 1: Edgar Allan Poe (person)
Example 2: Tuscaloosa (place)
Example 3: toy box (thing)
Example 4: love (idea)
Not Parallel: I love football, writing, and to teach.
Parallel: I love football, writing, and teaching.
**Remember, if you have one -ing, you have to have all -ings.
Example #2
Pair a phrase with a phrase. What is a phrase? A phrase is a group of words that acts in a sentence as a single part of speech.
Example 1: in the ocean (prepositional phrase)
Example 2: the meal being done (absolute phrase)
Example 3: an important sporting event (appositive phrase)
Example 4: playing the piano (gerund phrase)
Example 5: sitting over there (participial phrase)
Example 6: will have been completed (verb phrase)
Not Parallel: I would rather be playing softball than the watcher of softball.
Parallel: I would rather be playing softball than watching softball.
Example #3
Pair a clause with a clause. What is a clause? A clause is a group of words that has a subject and a verb.
Example 1: The dog barked. (main/independent clause)
Example 2: When Caroline ran the mile (subordinate/dependent clause)
Not Parallel: He was driving to school, and he ate his breakfast.
Parallel: He was driving to school, and he was eating his breakfast.
Example #4
Pair an infinitive with an infinitive. What is a infinitive? An infinitive is the word to plus a verb.
Example 1: to go
Example 2: to sing
Not Parallel: I love to watch reality shows, reading books, and to go to football games.
Parallel: I love to watch reality shows, to read books, and to go to football games.
The online writing lab at Purdue University provides several more examples of parallel structure. Use OWL Materials: Parallel Structure as a resource.
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