The document discusses parallel structure and how to use it properly in writing. It defines parallel structure as using the same grammatical structure for elements in a list, series, or paired items to convey similar ideas. It provides examples of correct and incorrect parallel structure with verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and sentence structure. Maintaining parallel structure adds smoothness and emphasis to writing. Writers should check that each element of a list, series, or pair could stand alone as a complete sentence with the same structure.

1. Creating a Parallel Flow…
Chapter 19: Using Parallelism

2. Locating Parallelism within Sentences
• Parallelism refers to using the same structure of words to convey similar
ideas:
• Melissa is a dancer and an actress.
• Parallel Structure: Article + Noun
• The man felt tired, weak, and ill.
• Parallel Structure: Adjectives
• The dog was running around, jumping on, and barking at its shadow.
• Parallel Structure: —ing + Preposition
• Sentences that are parallel should be able to logically form separate
independent sentences:
• The dog was running around its shadow. The dog was jumping on its shadow.
The dog was barking at its shadow.
• Using parallelism helps sentences like this avoid being
repetitive.

3. Watch out for Parallelism Errors
• Faulty parallelism occurs when the sentences structure is
not the same throughout the sentence.
• Incorrect: I enjoy going to the park, the mall, and
dancing.
• Incorrect structure: Article + Noun ≠ —ing verb
• Correct: I enjoy going to the park, the mall, and the
dance studio.
• Parallel structure: Article + Noun

4. Parallelism is in:
• Verbs: Tense and conjugation
• Incorrect: He ran and crosses the bridge.
• Correct: He ran and crossed the bridge.
• Correct: He runs and crosses the bridge.
• Incorrect: I was running, jumping, and danced all the way home.
• Correct: I was running, jumping, and dancing all the way home.
• Correct: I ran, jumped, and danced all the way home.
• Incorrect: The dog likes to eat, sleep, and walking.
• Correct: The dog likes to eat, sleep, and walk.
• Correct: The dog likes to eat, to sleep, and to walk.
• Correct: The dog likes eating, sleeping, and walking.
• Incorrect: The chairs and table was stained a golden color.
• Correct: The chairs and table were stained a golden color.
• Correct: The chairs or table was stained a golden color.

5. Continued…
• Nouns
• Incorrect: The dog, cat, and hair were playing.
• Correct: The dog, cat, and hare were playing.
• Incorrect: The mailmen, doctors, and nurses are busy.
• Correct: The doctors, nurses, and nurse’s aids are busy.
• Correct: The mailmen and deliverymen are busy.
• Incorrect: The board members, teachers, and people are
taking a stand against the cutbacks.
• Correct: The board members, teachers, and parents are
taking a stand against the cutbacks.
• Correct: Schools and people are taking a stand
against the cutbacks.

6. Continued…
• Adjectives:
• Incorrect: The race is long, climbs steeply, and difficult.
• Correct: The race is long, steep, and difficult.
• Incorrect: Meicha was surprised, challenging, and determined.
• Correct: Meicha was surprised, challenged, and determined.
• Adverbs:
• Incorrect: Anxiously and expectant, Melinda waited for her grade.
• Correct: Anxiously and expectantly, Melinda waited for her grade.
•Relative Clauses:
• Incorrect: People that are funny and who make me laugh are
my favorite type of people.
• Correct: People who are funny and who make me laugh are
my favorite type of people.

7. Continued…
• Sentence Structure:
• Prepositional Phrases
• Incorrect: The man ran and jumped over the wall.
• Correct: The man ran to and jumped over the wall.
• Incorrect: The rope ran over the side and the bucket is where it went into.
• Correct: The rope ran over the side and into the bucket.
• Correct: The rope ran over the side and went into the bucket.
• Wording
• Incorrect: We went to town , and he eats at Olive Garden.
• Correct: We went to town, and we ate at Olive Garden.
• Correct: We went to town while he ate at Olive Garden.
• Correct: We are going to town while he is eating at Olive
Garden.

8. Practice 19-1

9. AKA (Also Known As…)
•Parallel Structure
•It adds smoothness and gives power to your sentences
and paragraphs.
• All parts of a sentence must be parallel.
•Double check Parallel Structure by seeing if you can
make individual sentences.
•Make sure the entire sentence expresses similar
ideas.

10. Parallel Structure…
• When you are writing paired items, comparisons, items in a series, and items in a
list, you must use the same structure (be parallel):
• Paired items:
• Are connected by a coordinating conjunction (Fanboys)
• My grandmother is the history keeper in the family and is the
story teller of the family.
• You can love shopping, or you can hate shopping.
• Micah plays the guitar, but he does not play the piano.
• Are also joined through correlative conjunctions (pg. 281)
• Melinda is neither happy nor upset with the changes.
• The dog feels both excited to be with me and nervous to
be in the car.
• He was not only waiting for spring break but also
counting down the days.

11. Parallel Structure…
• Comparisons:
• Being able to survive in the wilderness is as valuable as
being able survive in the city.
• I would prefer to stay home rather than to fight traffic.
• Items in a Series:
• More than three things are listed in one sentence. Commas
are used to separate these items.
• The man was tired, bored, and annoyed.
• The baby cooed, giggled, and cried.
• I want to attend college, to receive a degree,
and to become a doctor.

12. Parallel Structure…
• Items in a List:
• Used in 
• Outlines
• Résumés = Designed ads
Drew illustrations (verb tenses)
Created computer programs
• Numbered or bulleted lists
• 1. To dance at the studio  Or  1. Dance at the studio
2. To shop in the mall 2. Shop in the mall
3. To meet with Molly 3. Meet with Molly
• 1. Good habits
A. Exercising
B. Getting enough sleep
C. Eating well

13. Practice 19-3 & 19-4