Parallelism

Parallelism
0 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
0 When writing a list, every item starts with the same type
of verb or noun, adjective or adverb format. Examples:
1. "ing" verbs: We went running, biking, swimming, and
fishing.
2. "ed" verbs: We walked, jumped and skipped on the way.
3. nouns: We drove to the lake, mountains, desert and
beach all in one day.
4. adjective: She had purple, silver-tipped, spiky hair.
5. adverb: Lovingly, graciously and generously, she helped
us out.
0 With the -ing form (gerund) of words:
Parallel:
Mary likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling.
0 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.
0 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.
0 Example 2
Not Parallel:
The production manager was asked to write his report
quickly, accurately, and in a detailed manner.
Parallel:
The production manager was asked to write his report
quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.
 Clauses
0 A parallel structure that begins with clauses must
keep on with clauses.
0 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.
0 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.
 Lists After a Colon
Not Parallel:
The dictionary can be used to find these: word
meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and
looking up irregular verbs.
Parallel:
The dictionary can be used to find these: word
meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and
irregular verbs.
 Parallel Structure
The best music is loud, fun, and you can
dance to it.
Revision: The best music is loud, fun, and easy to dance
to.
That book we read for class was really long, wordy, and
didn’t make any sense.
Revision: That book we read for class was really long,
wordy, and confusing.
0 Tomorrow afternoon I will shop for groceries, eat lunch
with my brother, and be running all sorts of errands.
Revision: Tomorrow afternoon I will shop for
groceries, eat lunch with my brother, and run all sorts
of errands.
Faulty: Samantha likes to run, jumping around in the
backyard and played with her friend Jorge yesterday.
Correct: Samantha likes running and jumping around in
her backyard; in fact, yesterday she played there with her
friend Jorge.
Faulty: Henry likes a ball, to jump and running outside.
(mixing up a list of nouns and verbs)
Correct: Henry likes balls and likes jumping and running
outside.
 Faulty: Grandpa walked carefully, in a slow way, and
halted a lot. (mixed up adjectives or adverb forms) 
Correct: Grandpa walked carefully, slowly, and haltingly.