Which Sentence Correctly Uses Parallel Structure

Parallel Structure With Coordinating Conjunctions

Parallel structure should be used when you lot connect clauses with a coordinating conjunction such as: for, and, nor, or, only, so, or notwithstanding in a judgement.

Correct Examples

The words that point parallel construction are marked in bold.

• Every morning, nosotros
  make
  our bed,
  eat
  breakfast and
  feed
  the dog.
• I
  will
  non sing a song, nor
  will
  I trip the light fantastic toe.

Incorrect Examples

The terms that should be parallel, but are not, are italicized.

• Every morning, we
  make
  our bed,
  eating
  breakfast and
  feed
  the dog. (“Eating” does not match “brand” or “feed” in structure.)
• I
  volition not
  sing a song,
  nor
  dance. (tThe writer used “will” with “non,” then as well needs to apply “will” with nor.)

Parallel Structure With Correlative Conjunctions

Parallel structure is also used with correlative conjunctions, such equally either … or, neither … nor, non simply … but besides.

Right Examples

The words that betoken parallel construction are marked in bold.

• They argued
  non simply
  about the article
  but also
  about the review.
• Either she
  likes to run into
  him or she
  doesn’t like to see
  him.

Incorrect Examples

The errors in the following examples are italicized.

• They argued non just well-nigh the article, but
  they argued
  also about the review. (The phrase “they argued” should not be hither; information technology keeps the 2d office of the sentence from being parallel with the first.)
• Either she
  likes to run across
  him or doesn’t
  like seeing
  him. (“Likes to meet” should be used with “doesn’t like to see” or “doesn’t like to encounter” should be used with “likes to see”, but the two structures shouldn’t be mixed. )

Correct Examples

The terms that indicate parallel structure are marked in bold.

• Ashley likes
  to
  ski,
  to
  swim and
  to
  spring.
• She likes
  to
  dance and
  to
  sing songs.

Incorrect Examples

The problematic areas are italicized beneath.

• Ashley likes
  to ski,
  to swim
  and spring. (There needs to be a “to” between “and” and “jump,” to be parallel with the other items. )
• She likes
  dancing
  and
  to sing
  songs. (This should pair “to dance” with “to sing” and then the infinitive course is used throughout the sentence.)

Parallel Construction With -ing Endings

Be consistent and use parallel structure with words that end in
-ing.

Correct Examples

The bold words signal that parallel construction is used correctly.

• Joe likes
  running,
  walking
  and
  being
  active.
• We enjoy
  relaxing
  and
  sitting
  out in the sun.

Incorrect Examples

The words that should be parallel but aren’t are shown in italics here.

• Joe likes
  running,
  walking
  and
  outdoor activities. (“Running” and “walking” are parallel with each other, but “outdoor activities” is non parallel. Apply “participating in outdoor activities” or similar.)
• We relish
  relaxing
  and
  like to sit
  out in the sun. (The italicized phrases are not parallel; they should both include verbs that end in
  -ing.)

Parallel Construction With Clauses

Parallel construction should be used when writing clauses.

Correct Examples

The bold terms illustrate parallel construction between the clauses.

• The instructor told them
  that they
  need to study and
  that they
  should practice their words every night.
• My parents said
  get a
  good education and
  do not
  settle for less.

Incorrect Examples

In these examples, the clauses do not illustrate parallel construction. The problem wording is highlighted.

• The teacher told them to report
  and that
  they should practice their words every nighttime. (This sentence should either include “that they” in both clauses, like the right example in a higher place, or it should include the word “said” between “that” and “they.”)
• My parents said to get a proficient education
  and non
  settle for less. (Here, the word “to” should be included before “not” in the italicized text.)

Parallel Structure in Lists With Colons

When you have items on a list following a colon, the items should all be in the same class in order to avoid a parallel structure error.

Correct Examples

Wording that indicates parallel construction in these examples is bold.

• The following activities tin can be done at the mall:
  ownership
  groceries,
  eating
  lunch and
  paying
  bills.
• In your chamber, yous will discover the following:
  a bed, a
  cupboard
  and
  a desk.

Wrong Examples

The problematic wording in these examples is highlighted in italics.

• The following activities can be done at the mall:
  buying
  groceries,
  eating
  dejeuner and
  pecker payment. (“Bill payment” should be written as “paying bills” in club to show parallel structure.)
• In your chamber, yous will find the following:
  a bed,
  a shutt and,
  sitting at a desk-bound. (You shouldn’t list two nouns with an activity in this type of listing. It could read, “a bed, a closet, and a desk if that is what the writer ways. If the author wants to depict someone sitting at a desk-bound, that should be part of a new sentence. )

Parallel Structure in Other Lists

Even when a colon isn’t used to introduce a list, parallel construction is important.

Right Examples

The terms that form parallel structure in these sentences are bold.

• Mary wanted to brand sure that she made her presentation
  creatively,
  finer
  and
  persuasively.
• Tim was considered to exist a good employee because
  he was
  e’er on fourth dimension,
  he was
  very motivated and
  he was
  a good leader.

Wrong Examples

Parallel constructor errors are italicized.

• Mary wanted to make sure she fabricated her presentation
  creatively,
  effectively
  and
  persuaded others.
  (“Persuaded others” is not parallel with the other listing items.)
• Tim was considered to exist a good employee because
  he was
  e’er on time,
  he was
  very motivated and
  led the team well. (“Led the team well” is not parallel with the other list items.)

Parallel Construction in Verb Tense

Keep in listen that parallel construction should be used when it comes to verb tense. Your verb tenses should always match.

Correct Examples

The bold words in these examples are all past tense, which means they are examples of parallel construction.

• She
  wrote
  a letter and
  mailed
  information technology to the school.
• Yesterday we
  watched
  a movie,
  played
  video games and
  made
  pizza.

Wrong Examples

The examples below mix tenses. The problematic wording is italicized.

• She
  writes
  a alphabetic character and
  mailed
  it to the school. (This mixes present and by tense; both words should be the same tense.)
• Yesterday we watched a motion picture, play video games and made pizza. (“Watched” and “made” are past tense, but “play” is present tense. It should exist “played” since the sentence specifies this took identify in the past.)

The Importance of Parallel Structure

Parallel structure provides flow in a sentence. It keeps your writing balanced and makes it easier to read. It likewise shows that ideas are of equal importance. Errors in parallel construction can make your writing sound strange to listeners. Many tests, including the SAT, will require you to place parallel structure errors as a ways of testing your writing abilities. To further expand your cognition about parallel structure in writing, review these examples of parallelism in literature and rhetoric.