Parallel structure involves using the same grammatical pattern for elements that have equal importance. It originated in oral traditions and is used in poetry, rhetoric, and business writing to organize ideas, communicate effectively, and persuade. Parallel structure can be created using words, phrases, or clauses connected with coordinating conjunctions. Examples of parallel structure include verb phrases like "I came, I saw, I conquered" and adjective lists like "Mad, bad, and dangerous to know." Practicing parallel structure involves analyzing examples from everyday speech, advertising, music, and literature and then incorporating it into one's own writing.

1. Parallel Structure means . . .
"using the same pattern of words to
show that two or more ideas have the
same level of importance" (Purdue
OWL)

2. Background
Parallel structures . . .
Come from oral and rhetorical
(speaking) traditions
Are central to poetic, rhetorical, and
business writing

3. Use
Speakers use parallel structures to memorize,
organize, condense, communicate, and
persuade
Writers use parallel structures for brevity and power:
““The art of art, the glory of expression and the
sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity.”
Walt Whitman, Preface to Leaves of Grass

4. Structure
Parallel structures can be used with words,
phrases, and clauses
Words: Individual nouns, adjectives, verbs, prepositions, etc.
Phrases: Groups of words
Clauses: Parts of sentences
Parallel structures are usually used with a co-
coordinating conjunction (F.A.N.B.O.Y.S)

5. Parallel Structure with Words
Verbs
Everyday Example:
- Advertisements like “Live. Love. Buy Our Product.”
Famous Example: “I came, I saw, I conquered” - Julius Caesar's single-
sentence military report
Nouns & Adjectives
- Everyday Example:
Too many to list
Famous Noun List: “Lions and tigers and bears, O my!” - Dorothy in The
Wizard of Ozs
Famous Adjective List: “Mad, bad, and dangerous to know” - Lady Caroline
Lamb on her ex-Boyfriend, the poet Lord Byron

6. Parallel Structures with Phrases and
Clauses
Any group of words (phrases)
or parts of sentence
(clauses) can be formed into
parallel structures.

7. Simple Practice for Parallel Structure
The easiest way to practice parallel structure is to
- listen for parallel structures in the everyday speech of your friends, classmates,
siblings, family members, grandparents, and parents use parallel structures in their
everyday speech and write these sentences down (transcribe).
- listen to advertising, pop music, movie and television dialogue, and politicians and
write down how they use parallel structures
- read often and underline parallel phrases that are interesting to you and that you
want to use in your own writing.
- write often and try to use parallel phrases for a variety of effects,
Essential Questions:
How do people I know use parallel structures?
How do famous people use parallel structures?