Here are revised versions of the sentences using more parallel structure: 1. I'd rather you do what I tell you than imitate me. 2. When you have a cold, you should eat more than usual, but with a fever you should not eat at all. 3. He left town as a villain, but when he returned he was considered a hero. 4. That family survived poverty, overcame prejudice, and successfully met the challenge of personal tragedy.

1. Parallelism and Parallel
Structures

2. What is Parallelism?
 Parallelism in writing means that similar parts
in a sentence (2 or more) must have the same
structure.
– Their parts are comparable and balanced.
– Allows writing to flow smoothly and helps avoid
misunderstandings.
 When similar parts do not follow the same
structure, you have created Faulty Parallelism.

3. Understanding Parallelism
 Use similar structures to express similar ideas.
– Put nouns with nouns
 Faulty: I enjoy basketball more than playing video games.
 Correct: I enjoy basketball more than video games.
– Put verbs with verbs (and use same tense)
 Faulty: On our anniversary, we ate, danced, and were
singing.
 Correct: On our anniversary, we ate, danced, and sang.
– Put adjectives with adjectives
 Faulty: My history class was both interesting and a
challenge.
 Correct: My history class was both interesting and
challenging.

4. Parallelism in Pairs & Lists
 When you present two or more items in a
series joined by and or or, use similar form
for each item.
– Faulty: I am doing well in my English class, in my
math class, and in history.
– Faulty: I am doing well in my English class, in my
math class, and my history class.
– Correct: I am doing well in my English class, in
my math class, and in my history class.

5. Parallelism in Pairs & Lists
 When you present two or more items in a
series joined by and or or, use similar form
for each item.
– Faulty: I am doing well in my English class, in my
math class, and in history.
– Faulty: I am doing well in my English class, in my
math class, and my history class.
– Correct: I am doing well in my English class, in
my math class, and in my history class.

6. Parallelism in Comparisons
 In comparisons, the items being compared
must have parallel structure.
– Faulty: Driving to Austin is as fast as to fly.
– Correct: Driving to Austin is as fast as flying.
– Faulty: Buying textbooks is almost as expensive
as tuition.
– Correct: Buying textbooks is almost as expensive
as paying tuition.
– Correct: Textbooks are almost as expensive as
tuition.

7. Parallelism with Paired Words
 When a sentence uses correlative conjunctions, the
items joined by them must be parallel.
– Faulty: My history course is both interesting and a challenge.
– Correct: My history course is both interesting and
challenging.
– Faulty: You must either make a C in the course or taking it
again will be the consequence.
– Correct: You must either make a C in the course or take it
again.
– Faulty: I would rather work hard and pass than to repeat the
course.
– Correct: I would rather work hard and pass than repeat the
course.

8. Parallelism with correlative
(paired) conjunctions
 both…and
 either…or
 neither….nor
 not only…but also

9. Understanding Parallel Structure
 Parallel structure (also called parallelism) is the repetition of a
chosen grammatical form within a sentence. By making each
compared item or idea in your sentence follow the same
grammatical pattern, you create a parallel construction.
Example:
–Not Parallel: Ellen likes hiking, the rodeo, and to take afternoon
naps.
–Parallel: Ellen likes hiking, attending the rodeo, and taking afternoon
naps.
OR
–Ellen likes to hike, attend the rodeo, and take afternoon naps.

10. Using Parallel Structure
 With Coordinating Conjunctions
– When you connect two or more clauses or phrases with a
coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, or so),
use parallel structure.
Example:
– Not Parallel: My best friend took me dancing and to a
show.
– Parallel: My best friend took me to a dance and a show.

11. Using Parallel Structure
 With Correlative Conjunctions
– When you connect two clauses or phrases with a correlative
conjunction (not only…but also, either…or, neither…nor, if…then,
etc.), use parallel structure.
Example:
– Not Parallel: My dog not only likes to play fetch, but also chase
cars.
– Parallel: My dog not only likes to play fetch, but he also likes to
chase cars.
OR
– My dog likes not only to play fetch, but also to chase cars.

12. Using Parallel Structure
 With Phrases or Clauses of Comparison
– When you connect two clauses or phrases with a word of
comparison, such as than or as, use parallel structure.
Example:
– Not Parallel: I would rather pay for my education than be
getting financial aid.
– Parallel: I would rather pay for my education than receive
financial aid.

13. Using Parallel Structure
 With Lists
 When you are comparing items in a list, use
parallel structure.
Example:
–Not Parallel: John Taylor needed to go to the
store to get milk, and he also had to buy eggs, and
he was going to get oranges too.
–Parallel: John Taylor needed to go to the store to
get milk, eggs, and oranges.

14. Mini – Quiz: Write the sentence
that contains parallelism
1.
a. Cynthia has wit, charm, and she has an extremely pleasant
personality.
b. Cynthia has wit, charm, and personality.
2.
a. Coach Espinoza was a brilliant strategist, a caring mentor,
and a wise friend.
b. Coach Espinoza was a brilliant strategist, a caring mentor,
and friend.
3.
a. We found the film repulsive, offensive, and we thought it
was embarrassing.
b. We found the film repulsive, offensive, and embarrassing.

15. Practice: Revise the following
Paragraph for parallel structure
 I would rather eat potatoes than to have to
eat rice. This is because potatoes have less
calories and they are also a good source of
vitamins. A potato can be baked, fried, or
you can mash it up.

16. Practice: Revise the following
Paragraph for parallel structure
 Pirates broke into the palace, stole several
valuable items and were really messy. When
the prince returned, he vowed to find the
thieves and will be hanging them for their
crime. But the pirates are not afraid because
they know about a secret passage out of the
town and can be escaping quickly.

17. The following sentences or clauses would be more effective
were they structured using parallel form. Revise them to make
them more effective. Change the wording where necessary.
 The following sentences or clauses would be more effective
were they structured using parallel form. Revise them to make
them more effective. Change the wording where necessary.
 1. I'd rather you do what I tell you to do than have you imitate
me.
 2. When you have a cold, you should eat more than you usually
do but with a fever you're better off not eating at all.
 3. He left town a villain, but when he returned he was
considered to be heroic.
 4. That family survived poverty; they also had to overcome
prejudice; and personal tragedy was another obstacle they met
successfully.