Class Notes: Parallelism

Parallel Structure
Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. The usual way to join parallel structures is with the use of coordinating conjunctions such as "and" or "or."
Words and Phrases
With the -ing form (gerund) of words:
Parallel: Mary likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling.
With infinitive phrases:
Parallel: Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle.
OR
Mary likes to hike, swim, and ride a bicycle.
(Note: You can use "to" before all the verbs in a sentence or only before the first one.)
Do not mix forms.
Example 1
Not Parallel:
Mary likes hiking, swimming, and to ride a bicycle.
Parallel:
Mary likes hiking, swimming, and riding a bicycle.
Example 2
Not Parallel:
The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurate ly, and in a detailed manner.
Parallel:
The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.
Example 3
Not Parallel:
The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and his motivation was low.
Parallel:
The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation.
Clauses
A parallel structure that begins with clauses must keep on with clauses. Changing to another pattern or changing the voice of the verb (from active to passive or vice versa) will break the parallelism.
Example 1
Not Parallel:
The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and to do some warm-up exercises before the game.
Parallel:
The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and that they should do some warm-up exercises before the game.
— or —
Parallel:
The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, not eat too much, and do some warm-up exercises before the game.
Example 2
Not Parallel:
The salesman expected that he would present his product at the meeting, that there would be time for him to show his slide presentation, and that questions would be asked by prospective buyers. (passive)
Parallel:
The salesman expected that he would present his product at the meeting, that there would be time for him to show his slide presentation, and that prospective buyers would ask him questions.
Be sure to keep all the elements in a list in the same form.
Not Parallel:
The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and looking up irregular verbs.
Parallel:
The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and irregular verbs.
Proofreading Strategies to Try:
• Skim your paper, pausing at the words "and" and "or." Check on each side of these words to see whether the items joined are parallel. If not, make them parallel.
• If you have several items in a list, put them in a column to see if they are parallel.
• Listen to the sound of the items in a list or the items being compared. Do you hear the same kinds of sounds? For example, is there a series of "-ing" words beginning each item? Or do your hear a rhythm being repeated? If something is breaking that rhythm or repetition of sound, check to see if it needs to be made parallel.
Simple Parallelism
Parallel structure is really a matter of balance. Balancing a sentence can be compared to balancing a scale if we pretend that certain words -- and, or, but -- are the balancing points and if we understand that the words being balanced must carry the same "weight" in the sentence. One part of speech or of a sentence can be balanced only by one (or a series) of the same kind.
Notice that modifiers (like "down by the pier," "with the sunrise," and "of the fisherman") do not affect the balance of the sentences.

Unbalanced
I enjoy biking and to walk down by the pier.

Parallel
I enjoy biking and walking down by the pier.

This example sentence is unbalanced because "and" divides two different parts of speech. An "ing" word is used before and,while an infinitive, "to walk," is used after. To make the sentence parallel, simply use the same part of speech for both ideas.


Unbalanced
Boy Scouts at the camp can learn cooking, canoeing, swimming, or how to make ropes.

Parallel
Boy Scouts at the camp can learn cooking, canoeing, swimming, or rope-making.

Here again, the form of the last item, "how to make ropes," doesn't match the other items and seems too heavy. To balance the sentence, change the form to match as in the parallel example.


Unbalanced
Non-traditional students often study long hours, get limited sleep, and up again with the sunrise.

Parallel
Non-traditional students often study long hours, get limited sleep, and are up again with the sunrise.
This time the sentence is unbalanced because the first two phrases include verbs, "study" and "get," but the last phrase doesn't contain a verb. To be parallel, each phrase should follow the pattern of the first one in the series. This can be accomplished by adding a verb to the last phrase.

Parellelism using common connectors
A slightly different parallelism involves the common connectors-- either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also. Here, the kind of word or part of a sentence that follows the first connector must be the same as the kind following the second. Consider the following examples.


The storm front was moving either east through Minneapolis or northeast through Duluth.
Here the two prepositional phrases are parallel; they are the same kind of structure.


Unbalanced
The hurricane not only destroyed the fishing fleet but also the homes of the fishermen.

Parallel
The hurricane destroyed not only the fishing fleet but also the homes of the fishermen.
In this case, the verb "destroyed" cannot balance the noun "homes." The sentence should be rewritten so that "destroyed" appears before "not only" and so nouns follow both connectors.