Grammar Practice – Parallel Structure

June 27, 2020 BEN_BEN

Parallel Structure

Parallel structure adds both clout and clarity to your writing. When you use parallel structure, you increase the readability of your writing by creating word patterns readers can follow easily.

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.

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.

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.

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 financial aid.
Parallel:
I would rather pay for my education than receive financial aid.

With Lists

When you are comparing items in a list, use parallel structure.

Example

Not Parallel:
John Taylor Gatto criticizes public schools because they are compulsory, funded by the government, and destroy students’ humanity.
Parallel:
John Taylor Gatto criticizes public schools because they are compulsory, government funded, and normalizing.
OR
John Taylor Gatto criticizes public schools because they require students to attend, receive money from the government, and destroy students’ humanity.

Exercise

Read the following example sentences and revise any that do not use parallel structure. Remember that there are
many ways to revise a sentence to reflect parallel structure; if possible, rewrite each incorrect sentence in more
than one way.

Some helpful hints on how to revise sentences for parallel structure:
1) Figure out what parts of the sentence are being compared.
2) Decide whether they are parallel, i.e. arranged or constructed in the same way.
3) If they are not, make them parallel by making the grammatical construction the same in each part.

Examples

I would rather eat potatoes than to eat rice.
Global warming affects humans, the environment, and is scary.
It’s harder to do long division than dividing with a calculator.
Pirates ransacked the mansion, but they didn’t steal all the silver.
Merchants receive either money or trade goods with their clients.
Bruce Wayne enjoys donning his Batman costume, answering the Commissioner’s phone calls, and saving
Gotham City from cruel villains like the Penguin.

Exercise-1

Find and correct mistakes in parallel structures in the following sentences.

1. Steel is alloyed with manganese to increase its strength, hardness and resistant to wear.

2. Sacramento is the commercial, industry, and financial center of California’s Central Valley, as well as being the state capital.

3. When taking part in winter sports, one should wear clothing that is lightweight, warmth, and suitable for the activity.

4. Folklore consists of the beliefs, customs, traditions, and telling stories that people pass from generation to generation.

5. Because of their hardness, industrial diamonds can be used for cutting, to grind, and drilling.

6. Scholar John Fiske wrote on history, religious, and sociology.

7. Monterey, California, has long been a center for writers, artists, and the craftsman.

8. T.S. Eliot was equally distinguished as a poet, he wrote criticism and dramatist.

9. The book contained stories, poetic and plays.

10. She needed some shoes that were inexpensively, hard-wearing and attractive.

1l. The paper contained mistakes in grammar, spelling and stylistic.

12. In the mornings, he usually has some coffee, reads the newspaper and will jog.

13. They do not eat pork nor are they eating shellfish.

14. Most visitors to London or Paris spend their time visiting the museums and to shop.

15. The course was very interesting and practical but costs.

16. Check your verbs for tense and agree.

Ex-1

1. resistance	5. grinding	9. poems	13. nor do they eat
2. industrial	6. religion	10. inexpensive	14. shopping
3. warm	7. craftsmen	11. style	15. but expensive
4. and stories	8. a critic	12. jogs	16. agreement

Grammar Practice

To improve the clarity of your writing, it is important to remember the equality of your sentence
structure. This worksheet was designed to help you better understand the importance of Parallel Structure.
Parallel Structure means using the same construction for sentence elements that are the same in function.

Below are THREE rules to consider when checking for Parallel Structure in your writing:

1. Parallel Structure should be used when elements are joined by coordinating conjunctions:
Incorrect: I am allergic to the dog’s hair and how it smells.
Correct: I am allergic to the dog’s hair and its smell.

2. Parallel Structure should be used when writing elements in the form of a list or a series:

Incorrect:

The class valued respect, honesty, and being on time in a teacher.

Correct:

The class valued respect, honesty, and promptness in a teacher.

3. Parallel Structure should be used when comparing or contrasting elements ( A is better than
B – X is less than Y ) :

Incorrect:

James enjoys reading more than to write.

Correct:

James enjoys reading more than writing.

PRACTICE EXERCISE

Complete the exercises on the backside of this worksheet for more practice on using Parallel Structure.

A. In the four sentences below, circle the correct word or phrase that gives the sentence correct parallel structure.

1. Justin was excited about inviting friends over, eating a good meal, and ———.

a. …a game of cards.
b. …to play cards.
c. …playing a game of cards.

2. I have always enjoyed reading the book more than ———-.

a. …I watched the movie version.
b. …watching the movie.
c. …to watch the movie.

3. When the weather outside is cold and ———, I like to be indoors.

a. …starting to get windy…
b. …windy…
c. …getting windy…

4. Running, lifting, and ——– are three of Ashley’s favorite exercises.

a. …racquetball…
b. …a spinning class…
c. …bicycling…

B. In the sentences below, write a word or phrase in the blank that gives the sentence Parallel Structure.

1. The little girl liked eating cookies better than ———- at her grandmother’s house.

2. Students like to sleep, relax and ———- during the summer.

3. He went to the store to pick up a carton of milk and two ———-.

4. Food, shelter, and ———- are all I need to survive on a deserted island.

5. ———- is much better than a visit to the dentist.

Grammar Practice