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.
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
