Example of Parallelism
Example of Parallelism
Examples of Parallel Structure on Lists
When you have items on a list following a colon, the items should all be in the same form in order to avoid a parallel structure error.
Some examples can illustrate this point:
- Correct: The following
activities can be done at the mall: buying groceries, eating lunch, and
paying bills.
Incorrect: The following activities can be done at the mall: buying groceries, eating lunch and bill payment. - Correct: In your bedroom, you
will find the following: a bed, a closet, and a desk.
Incorrect: In your bedroom, you will find the following: a bed, a closet and, sitting at a desk. - Correct: Dogs are great pets
for the following reasons: they are loyal, they are loving, and they are
obedient.
Incorrect: Dogs are great pets for the following reasons: they are loyal, they are loving, and because of their obedience. - Correct: People who get ahead
do lots of different things such as: studying, working hard, and going to
college.
Incorrect: People who get ahead do lots of different things such as: studying, working hard, and attend college.
How do you Identify Parallelism?
There are several simple ways to identify parallel structure in any piece of writing. Since it’s typically used in comparisons, look for similarities in structure, sound, and topics. Reading aloud can also help reveal patterns in meter, emphasis, and sound.
In identifying parallel structure, it may also be helpful to look for:
- Lists
- Conjunctions such as but, and, for, and so
- Comparison words such as than and as
- Sentences or paragraphs with similar beginnings or lengths
- Opposites
But what happens when you find parallelism and it’s faulty?
Faulty Parallelism
Unfortunately, the parallel structure is easy to get wrong. Fortunately, when it goes wrong, it’s easy to troubleshoot and fix.
Troubleshooting Parallel Structure Issues
If you aren’t sure you’ve effectively created a parallel structure, you can troubleshoot it by creating a list of bullet points. Begin by writing out the section of your sentence that the bullet points pertain to. Then, each bullet point should represent one item or phrase in your sentence.
A Deeper Dive
Let’s look at an example.
The new cash registers were designed to ensure accuracy, speed up transactions, and better records.
Your list would then look like this:
The new cash registers…
- ensure accuracy
- speed up transactions
- better records
It’s easy to see where the sentence has gone wrong. Whereas “promote accuracy” and “speed up transactions” both start with verbs, “better records” starts with an adjective. It’s not parallel at all.
Making the Correction
You can rewrite the sentence to be parallel by amending the phrase “better records,” to begin with, a verb, matching the other two phrases. Let’s give it a try.
The new cash registers were designed to ensure accuracy, speed up transactions, and promote better record-keeping.
Your bulleted list would now look like this:
The new cash registers…
- ensure accuracy
- speed up transactions
- promote better record-keeping
The list now reflects an effective parallel structure since all three items begin with a verb.
Choices, Choices, Choices
Sometimes, there’s more than one way to fix a faulty parallel structure. Take this example.
John likes playing board games, solving puzzles, and to cook.
John likes playing board games, solving puzzles, and cooking.
John likes to play board games, solve puzzles, and cook.
In this example (and in most faulty parallel structures), there are two ways to correct the error. You just need to make sure all components match up.
This, That, and the Other Thing: Final Words on Parallelism
Whether you’re writing a novel, poem, or thesis, parallelism is an excellent tool for adding balance, creating rhythm, and effectively conveying your message. By learning this simple stylistic technique, you can make your writing more readable and appealing, no matter what your ultimate objective is.