What is Parallel Structure

in Writing?
 Parallel Structure
f i ni t i on
De
Repeating the same
grammatical form within a
sentence
Why W
e Car
Good parallel structure e
improves the clarity of
your writing
 Parallelism in S
3

entences
Poor: Sarah has intelligence,
honesty, and she is funny.

Improved: Sarah has intelligence,

honesty, and humor.
Parallel Structure?
Parallel structure: each point/idea in the
sentence is introduced in the same way

Staying…touching…walking…

Please help us preserve this place by staying on the boardwalks,

not touching the carvings, and walking between the ropes.

 since each point is introduced with the same word

structure (verb tense), they are now considered
“parallel”
Parallelism in Thesis Statements 6

When you write your thesis

statement, you have to summarize
three causes/or effects in parallel
form.
Example 1:
Tobacco should be outlawed because it
endangers everyone’s health, pollutes
the environment, and drains us of
valuable energy.
 Example 2

 Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ failed

in their relationship because he was
older than her, were of different
faiths, and being a celebrity.

 Improved: Tom Cruise and Katie

Holmes’ relationship failed due to
their age difference, their religious
beliefs, and their fame.
Which sentence has parallel structure?
A. I wondered whether to make an outline 8

first or I should write the rough draft.

B. I wondered whether to make an outline

first or to write the rough draft.

C. I wondered whether to make an outline

first or writing rough draft.

D. I wondered whether to make an outline

first or that I should write a rough draft.
Now fix the parallelism issues in the
following

1. The room was beautiful, the service impeccable,

and I've never tasted better food in my entire
life.

2. You are not only responsible for organizing the

conference, but we also want you to introduce
the keynote speaker.

3. I arrived in Barcelona without knowing anyone and I could

not understand any Spanish.