{"id":185,"date":"2021-08-13T12:23:06","date_gmt":"2021-08-13T16:23:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/advancedenglish\/chapter\/parallelism\/"},"modified":"2021-08-13T12:23:06","modified_gmt":"2021-08-13T16:23:06","slug":"parallelism","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/advancedenglish\/chapter\/parallelism\/","title":{"raw":"Parallelism","rendered":"Parallelism"},"content":{"raw":"\n

Earlier in this chapter, we learned that increasing sentence variety adds interest to a piece of writing and makes the reading process more enjoyable for others. Using a mixture of sentence lengths and patterns throughout an essay is an important writing technique. However, it is equally important to avoid introducing variation within individual sentences. A strong sentence is composed of balanced parts that all have the same structure. In this section, we will examine how to create a balanced sentence structure by using parallelism<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n

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Using Parallelism<\/h1>\n

Parallelism is the use of similar structure in related words, phrases, or clauses. It creates a sense of rhythm and balance within a sentence. As readers, we often correct faulty parallelism\u2014a lack of parallel structure\u2014intuitively because an unbalanced sentence sounds awkward and poorly constructed. Read the following sentences aloud:<\/p>\n\n

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Faulty parallelism:<\/strong> Kelly had to iron, do the washing, and shopping before her parents arrived.<\/p>\n

Faulty parallelism:<\/strong> Driving a car requires coordination, patience, and to have good eyesight.<\/p>\n

Faulty parallelism:<\/strong> Ali prefers jeans to wearing a suit.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n

All of these sentences contain faulty parallelism. Although they are factually correct, the construction is clunky and confusing. In the first example, three different verb forms are used. In the second and third examples, the writer begins each sentence by using a noun (coordination<\/em>, jeans<\/em>), but ends with a phrase (to have good eyesight<\/em>, wearing a suit<\/em>). Now read the same three sentences that have correct parallelism.<\/p>\n\n

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Correct parallelism:<\/strong> Kelly had to do the ironing, washing, and shopping before her parents arrived.<\/p>\n

Correct parallelism:<\/strong> Driving a car requires coordination, patience, and good eyesight.<\/p>\n

Correct parallelism:<\/strong> Ali prefers wearing jeans to wearing a suit.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n

When these sentences are written using a parallel structure, they sound more aesthetically pleasing because they are balanced. Repetition of grammatical construction also minimizes the amount of work the reader has to do to decode the sentence. This enables the reader to focus on the main idea in the sentence and not on how the sentence is put together.<\/p>\n\n

Tip: A simple way to check for parallelism in your writing is to make sure you have paired nouns with nouns, verbs with verbs, prepositional phrases with prepositional phrases, and so on. Underline each element in a sentence and check that the corresponding element uses the same grammatical form.<\/div>\n
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Creating Parallelism Using Coordinating Conjunctions<\/h1>\n

When you connect two clauses using a coordinating conjunction (for<\/em>, and<\/em>, nor<\/em>, but<\/em>, or<\/em>, yet<\/em>, so<\/em>), make sure that the same grammatical structure is used on each side of the conjunction. Take a look at the following example:<\/p>\n\n

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Faulty parallelism:<\/strong> When I walk the dog, I like to listen to music<\/strong> and talking to friends<\/strong> on the phone.<\/p>\n

Correct parallelism:<\/strong> When I walk the dog, I like listening to music<\/strong> and talking to friends<\/strong> on the phone.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n

The first sentence uses two different verb forms (to listen<\/em>, talking<\/em>). In the second sentence, the grammatical construction on each side of the coordinating conjunction (and<\/em>) is the same, creating a parallel sentence.<\/p>\n

The same technique should be used for joining items or lists in a series:<\/p>\n\n

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Faulty parallelism:<\/strong> This committee needs to decide whether the company should reduce its workforce, cut its benefits,<\/strong> or lowering workers\u2019 wages<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Correct parallelism:<\/strong> This committee needs to decide whether the company should reduce its workforce, cut its benefits,<\/strong> or lower workers\u2019 wages<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n

The first sentence contains two items that use the same verb construction (reduce<\/em>, cut<\/em>) and a third item that uses a different verb form (lowering<\/em>). The second sentence uses the same verb construction in all three items, creating a parallel structure.<\/p>\n\n

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Exercise<\/p>\n\n<\/header>\n

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On your own sheet of paper, revise each of the following sentences to create parallel structure using coordinating conjunctions. Once done, please share with a classmate and compare your answers.<\/p>\n\n

    \n \t
  1. Mr. Holloway enjoys reading and to play his guitar at weekends.<\/li>\n \t
  2. The doctor told Mrs. Franklin that she should either eat less or should exercise more.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Breaking out of the prison compound, the escapees moved carefully, quietly, and were quick on their feet.<\/li>\n \t
  4. I have read the book, but I have not watched the movie version.<\/li>\n \t
  5. Deal with a full inbox first thing in the morning, or by setting aside short periods of time in which to answer e-mail queries.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    Creating Parallelism Using Than<\/em> or As<\/em><\/h1>\n

    When you are making a comparison, the two items being compared should have a parallel structure. Comparing two items without using parallel structure can lead to confusion about what is being compared. Comparisons frequently use the words than<\/em> or as<\/em>, and the items on each side of these comparison words should be parallel. Take a look at the following example:<\/p>\n\n

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    Faulty parallelism: Swimming in the ocean<\/strong> is much tougher than a pool<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    Correct parallelism: Swimming in the ocean<\/strong> is much tougher than swimming in a pool<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n

    In the first sentence, the elements before the comparison word (than<\/em>) are not equal to the elements after the comparison word. It appears that the writer is comparing an action (swimming<\/em>) with a noun (a pool<\/em>). In the second sentence, the writer uses the same grammatical construction to create a parallel structure. This clarifies that an action is being compared with another action.<\/p>\n

    To correct some instances of faulty parallelism, it may be necessary to add or delete words in a sentence.<\/p>\n\n

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    Faulty parallelism: A brisk walk<\/strong> is as beneficial to your health as going for a run<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    Correct parallelism: Going for a brisk walk<\/strong> is as beneficial to your health as going for a run<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n

    In this example, it is necessary to add the verb phrase going for<\/em> to the sentence in order to clarify that the act of walking is being compared to the act of running.<\/p>\n\n

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    Exercise<\/p>\n\n<\/header>\n

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    On your own sheet of paper, revise each of the following sentences to create parallel structure using than<\/em> or as<\/em>. Once done, please share with a classmate and compare your answers.<\/p>\n\n

      \n \t
    1. I would rather work at a second job to pay for a new car than a loan.<\/li>\n \t
    2. How you look in the workplace is just as important as your behavior.<\/li>\n \t
    3. The firefighter spoke more of his childhood than he talked about his job.<\/li>\n \t
    4. Indian cuisine is far tastier than the food of Great Britain.<\/li>\n \t
    5. Jim\u2019s opponent was as tall as Jim and he carried far more weight.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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      Creating Parallelism Using Correlative Conjunctions<\/h1>\n

      A correlative conjunction<\/a><\/span> is a paired conjunction that connects two equal parts of a sentence and shows the relationship between them. Common correlative conjunctions include the following:<\/p>\n\n