Writers use parallel structure to add clarity to their writing, make it easier to understand and show that their writing is structurally and grammatically correct. This is accomplished by maintaining verb tense, noun numbers, the repetition of the same parts of speech, and continuous use of clauses or phrases. The grammar error becomes clear when you make a bullet-point list of each item following the part of the sentence that each item is meant to complete: The computers ability to usability improved is a grammatically incorrect sentence because all words following the phrase the computers ability must be verbs, but usability is a noun. ', 'Daniel spent his Sunday afternoons cooking chili, watching football, and napping. Repeating words instead of repeating patterns. 4. How did the dowry contribute to female children being less desirable than male children. This technique is most preferable in writing and advertising, as it makes our language seem a lot more refined than normal. Talk with one of our content experts about our hand-vetted expert content writers & designers who can help you scale your content marketing efforts quickly. parallel structure to emphasize ideas humorous tone author communicates ideas with irony and sarcasm. You may also check outexamples of oxymoron in sentences. He enjoys finding new recipes, cooking for friends, and to eat the meals too. Use parallel structure with elements in a series or list. I had been short, and now I was tall. How your words are connected impacts how your audience connects with your messaging. Everyone in class capped their pens, closedtheir textbooks, and zipped their school bags as they tried to alert the professor that the sound of the bell signaled the end of the lecture. Parallel structure allows the writer to give equal importance to two or more ideas within a sentence. I had been skinny and quiet and religious, and now I was good-looking and muscular. Hannahis responsible for stocking merchandise, taking orders for delivery, and giving out vouchers around the block. in and out of the classroom. But, incorporating parallelism also supports consistency, reinforcement, scannability, comprehension, and SEO. Northern Michigan University, located in Marquette, MI, is a dynamic four-year, public, comprehensive university. But whatever you do you have to keep moving forward,' can you identify the parallel structure? NMU is an equal opportunity institution. Staying with one form adds clarity to your writing. Parallel structure should be used when you connect clauses with a coordinating conjunction such as: for, and, nor, or, but, so, or yet in a sentence. Skim your paper, pausing at the words "and" and "or." You might be interested in. It also shows that ideas are of equal importance. In his article he asserts the importance of using scientific tools as our human senses are limited, we cannot understand the whole world around us by our human senses only because the reality is beyond our sense of imagination. 2. Switching between active and passive voice. That bulleted list you just read? She is certified to teach English and Humanities in Washington and Texas. The usual way to join parallel structures is with the use of coordinating conjunctions such as " and " or " or ." Words and phrases Parallel structure should be used when it comes to verb tense. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use. Coordinating conjunctions join parallel elements in a sentence. You may also seesimple sentence examples. Parallel: Esther said she would rather pay for her education than receive financial aid. This list is an example of parallel construction where each sentence begins with plural nouns. To be considered parallel, elements in writing must have equal grammatical value. Purdue OWL is a registered trademark. A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg. Correct Parallel Structure: The novel she read was well-written (adjective) and interesting (adjective). By maintaining a parallel structure, you will avoid grammatically incorrect sentences containing lists. The same patterns and parts of speech will be repeated to show that two or more ideas within the sentence have the same level of importance. In the parallel structure, all of the objects of "like" are gerunds, -ing verbs acting as nouns. Consistency is the key, and your readers will be thankful for the ease in which they will be able to absorb and understand your writing. Not Parallel: Parallel: I enjoy neither playing video games nor exercising. You may also like. Run-On Sentences Overview & Examples | What is a Run-On Sentence? When that pattern is broken, it creates a disruptive reading experience. Northern offers its 7,600 students an abundance of opportunities to explore their interests Patterns make your content more complete and your audience expects that. My professor told me that I need to write a paper by Friday, that I need to study for my quiz on Tuesday, and that I need to do my homework. The managerwanted to make sure that Jane made her marketing presentation creatively, effectively, and persuasively. All elements are described in the same grammatical context, making the message easier to read and understand. Parallel: Her shopping list for the party included: balloons, desserts, streamers, and chips. Below is an example of a grammatically incorrect sentence without parallel structure: The computers ability to multi-task, defend against viruses, and overall usability all improved when I updated the operating software. We often use sentences in essay writing, story writing, and even when writing our own speech. Surfing, skateboarding and require good balance. If you are unsure if a sentence is parallel and has grammatically correct structure, try making a bullet-point list like the one above. Each parallel sentence follows a basic pattern, starting with pronouns and ending with nouns and adverbs, except the first line, which ends with an adjective. What will you do at NMU? It should be "played" since the sentence specifies this took place in the past. Understand words, phrases, slang terms, and all other variations of the English language. The first sentence uses an adjective, an adjective, and a noun. The bold terms illustrate parallel construction between the clauses. She has a Master's of Education in Curriculum and Development with a minor in Reading Intervention from Concordia University. You may also seecumulative sentence examples. Also remember that commas are placed after each noun with the exception of the last item. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you You can test your writing abilities by taking various exams, including the SAT, that will require you to locate and revise parallel structure errors as a way of improving your skills. It keeps your writing balanced and makes it easier to read. He enjoys finding new recipes, cooking for friends, and eating meals too. Use parallel structures to connect to phrases or clauses with a correlative conjunction such as eitheror, not onlybut also, ifthen, neither thisnor. 2023 LoveToKnow Media. Skim your paper for the words "and" and "or." In English grammar, parallel structure (also referred to as parallelism) is the repetition of the same grammatical structure in each part of a sentence. Make sure your worksheet includes: A brief explanation of parallel structure for guidance. If we journey back to English class, youll remember seeing parallel construction used in some ofthese profound messaging moments in history. All elements are described in the same grammatical context, making the message easier to read and understand. parallel structure repetition of a pattern of words or phrases within a sentence or passage to signify that two or more events or ideas have the same level of importance; helps the writer organize and clarify their thoughts. She was intelligent, engaging, and a good speaker. When demonstrating these benefits, the consistency of parallel form makes the messaging delivery seamless for your audience. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. This creates fluency in writing and enhances readability by creating a pattern of words in such a way that readers could easily follow. If you have several items in a list, put them in a column and evaluate the first words to see if they're parallel. There are two reasons it is important to maintain parallelism in a series: Sentences that maintain parallelism are much easier to read and process than those that do not. Parallel structure is used in sentences to promote readability as well as to create a common level of importance between ideas. Identify the element that does not match and change it to match the others. I had been skinny and quiet and religious, and now I was good-looking and muscular. This helps writers clearly communicate ideas and makes the writing sound formal and elegant. With parallel structure, increased comprehension comes from an increase in readability. On weekends, I enjoy going to the beach, cuddling up with a good book, and drinking hot chocolate by the fire. For the ends of being and ideal grace. View the full answer. As a writer, having the ability to synchronize, repeat, and emphasize your words and thoughts with the use of a parallel structure is something that must be valued and applied correctly. But examples of good and bad parallel structure can be surprisingly obvious. | 1 1401 Presque Isle You might have applied a parallel structure numerous times before, but have never given it much thought. Examples of Parallel Structure in Technical Writing. The saccule and utricle, in turn, together make the otolith organs. By continuing to use this website, you consent to the usage of cookies. 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All three verbs in this sentence are in the same tense, or form. Julia23Bennett "The Night Face Up" vocabulary & questions. All the items in this example are nouns. Faulty Parallelism Structure & Examples | What is Faulty Parallelism? Changing to another pattern or changing the voice of the verb (from active to passive or vice versa) will break the parallelism. What about the certain rhythm that his word choice presents? - Examples, Definition & Types, Synecdoche vs. Metonymy: Definitions & Examples, Cliches, Paradoxes & Equivocations: Definitions & Examples, Similes in Literature: Definition and Examples, Personification and Apostrophe: Differences & Examples, Allusion and Illusion: Definitions and Examples, What Are Literary Motifs? Phrases such as, "to bake" or "to write" are infinitives. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. 34 terms. these profound messaging moments in history, 10 Types of Content Writers and When to Use Them. The wheels wheeled, the chairs spun, the cotton candy tinted the faces of children, the bright leaves tinted the woods and hills. The wordscappedandzippedare both classified as simple past tense verbs, but because the phrasewere closingis a past progressive, the example cannot be defined as a parallel structure. Whenever you make a list of items or actions in a sentence, using equal grammatical units is crucial. The words that indicate parallel construction are marked in bold.