The document discusses the concept of parallelism in writing. It defines parallelism as balancing the items in a sentence to make it clearer and easier to read. Some uses of parallelism include coordinating elements in a series, pairing ideas, enhancing coherence, and organizing lists. The document provides examples of parallel and non-parallel sentences and gives guidance on using parallel structure when listing items and pairing ideas. It also includes exercises for readers to practice identifying parallelism.

1. ©2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Sentence Skills: A Workbook forSentence Skills: A Workbook for
Writers, Form AWriters, Form A
John LanganJohn Langan
ParallelismParallelism

2. ©2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
Parallelism
Use ParallelismUse Parallelism
By balancingbalancing the items in a sentence,
you will make the sentence clearer
and easier to read.
Ex.:Ex.: My job includes checkingMy job includes checking
inventory, initialing orders, andinventory, initialing orders, and
to call the suppliers.to call the suppliers. callingcalling

3. ©2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
Parallelism
Uses of ParallelismUses of Parallelism
• To coordinatecoordinate
elements in a series
• To pairpair ideas
• To enhanceenhance
coherence
• To organizeorganize lists

4. ©2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
Parallelism
UsingUsing ParallelismParallelism
• All items listing two or more words, phrases, or clauses,
need to be written in the same grammatical structure.
For exampleFor example,, balance a noun with a noun, abalance a noun with a noun, a
phrase with a phrase, a clause with a clause.phrase with a phrase, a clause with a clause.
Revision:Revision: Many people are interested in combatMany people are interested in combat
when theywhen they read about it at home, study about
it in school, or, or watch it on television.
Many people are interested in combat whenMany people are interested in combat when
theythey read about it at home, study about it
in school, or, or watching it on television..

5. ©2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
Parallelism
Using Parallelism with PairsUsing Parallelism with Pairs
• When two ideas are included, they must
be parallel.
– Tourists enjoyTourists enjoy viewing air shows onair shows on
military bases andmilitary bases and to examine displaysdisplays
of armor in museums.of armor in museums.
• Revision:Revision:
– Tourists enjoyTourists enjoy viewing air shows onair shows on
military bases andmilitary bases and examining armorarmor
displays in museums.displays in museums.

6. ©2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
Parallelism
Using ParallelismUsing Parallelism
• Put words linked by coordinating conjunctions
in parallel form.
– The martial arts stressThe martial arts stress the studythe study ofof
hand technique andhand technique and how youhow you kick.kick.
• Revision:
– The martial arts stressThe martial arts stress strengtheningstrengthening
the hands and the feet.the hands and the feet.

7. ©2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
Parallelism
Checking for ParallelismChecking for Parallelism
• Check items listed in a
series.
– Use a parallelUse a parallel
grammatical structuregrammatical structure
for all items.for all items.
• Check places where
coordinatingcoordinating
conjunctionsconjunctions are used.

8. ©2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
Parallelism
Parallelism Review ExercisesParallelism Review Exercises
• In the 18th century,
Franz Mesmer treated
patients by using iron
magnets and hypnosis.
CorrectCorrect
Judge whether the followingJudge whether the following
sentence is correct.sentence is correct. (Click to see(Click to see
the answer.):the answer.):

9. ©2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
Parallelism
Parallelism Review ExercisesParallelism Review Exercises
• People accused him of
being a magician and that
he was a fraud.
ErrorError
Judge whether the followingJudge whether the following
sentence is correct.sentence is correct. (Click to(Click to
see the answer.):see the answer.):

10. ©2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
Parallelism
Parallelism Review ExercisesParallelism Review Exercises
• People accused him of
being a magician and a
fraud.
CorrectCorrect
Judge whether the followingJudge whether the following
sentence is correct.sentence is correct. (Click to see(Click to see
the answer.):the answer.):

11. ©2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
Parallelism
Parallelism Review ExercisesParallelism Review Exercises
• Today hypnosis is used
in dentistry, in
obstetrics, and when
having minor surgery.
ErrorError
Judge whether the followingJudge whether the following
sentence is correct.sentence is correct. (Click to see(Click to see
the answer.):the answer.):

12. ©2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
Parallelism
Parallelism Review ExercisesParallelism Review Exercises
• Today hypnosis is used
in dentistry, in
obstetrics, and in minor
surgery.
CorrectCorrect
Judge whether the followingJudge whether the following
sentence is correct.sentence is correct. (Click to(Click to
see the answer.):see the answer.):

13. ©2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
Parallelism
Parallelism Review ExercisesParallelism Review Exercises
• Under hypnotic trance, the
depressed patient may learn to
assign positive feelings to past
loss or learn to put the loss
behind him and resume his life.
CorrectCorrect
Judge whether the followingJudge whether the following
sentence is correct.sentence is correct. (Click to see(Click to see
the answer.):the answer.):

14. ©2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
Parallelism
Parallelism Review ExercisesParallelism Review Exercises
• However, hypnotic subjects
can readily confuse events
that really happened with
imaginary events.
ErrorError
Judge whether the followingJudge whether the following
sentence is correct.sentence is correct. (Click to(Click to
see the answer.):see the answer.):

15. ©2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
Parallelism
Parallelism Review ExercisesParallelism Review Exercises
• However, hypnotic
subjects can readily
confuse real events
with imaginary events.
CorrectCorrect
Judge whether the followingJudge whether the following
sentence is correct.sentence is correct. (Click to see(Click to see
the answer.):the answer.):

16. ©2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
Parallelism
Parallelism Review ExercisesParallelism Review Exercises
• Fear, stress, and feeling
anxious seem to be
factors in increasing
physiological pain.
ErroErro
rr
Judge whether the followingJudge whether the following
sentence is correct.sentence is correct. (Click to see(Click to see
the answer.):the answer.):

17. ©2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
Parallelism
Parallelism Review ExercisesParallelism Review Exercises
• Fear, stress, and
anxiety seem to be
factors in increasing
physiological pain.
CorrectCorrect
Judge whether the followingJudge whether the following
sentence is correct.sentence is correct. (Click to(Click to
see the answer.):see the answer.):

18. ©2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
Parallelism
Parallelism Review ExercisesParallelism Review Exercises
• Hypnosis can quiet the
mind by slowing heart
rates, lowering respiration
rates, and it reduces blood
pressure.
ErrorError
Judge whether the followingJudge whether the following
sentence is correct.sentence is correct. (Click to see(Click to see
the answer.):the answer.):

19. ©2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
Parallelism
Parallelism Review ExercisesParallelism Review Exercises
• Hypnosis can quiet the
mind by slowing heart
rates, lowering respiration,
and reducing blood
pressure.
CorrectCorrect
Judge whether the followingJudge whether the following
sentence is correct.sentence is correct. (Click to see(Click to see
the answer.):the answer.):