PARALLELISM IN GRAMMAR

Parallel sentence elements in

grammar are just like parallel lines in
geometry: they face the same
direction and never meet.

More precisely, in grammar, it’s less

about meeting and more about
balance.
Parallelism in grammar is
defined as two or more
phrases or clauses in a
sentence that have the same
grammatical structure.
Most common parallelism problems you’ll
encounter—and how to avoid them.
1. Verb Forms
Olympic athletes usually like practicing, competing, and to eat ice cream sandwiches.

In this sentence, practicing and competing are gerunds (verbs functioning as nouns) and
“to eat” is an infinitive.

Instead:
Olympic athletes usually like practicing, competing, and eating ice cream sandwiches.
or
Olympic athletes usually like to practice, compete, and eat ice cream sandwiches.
Note that you don’t need to repeat the “to” in each instance of the infinitive form of the
verb. As long as the form of the verb is the same in all three cases, you’re good to go.
Nouns vs. Verbs

For dinner we like lamb chops and to fry brussel

sprouts.
Lamb chops is a noun. Brussel sprouts is a noun too,
but to fry is a verb.

For dinner we like lamb chops and brussel sprouts.

or
For dinner we like to grill lamb chops and fry brussel
sprouts.
Noun Number
Public transit such as buses or a train can help reduce
air pollution.

Here’s a better solution:

Public transit such as buses or trains can help reduce

air pollution.
Subject Matter
He decided to cover the gown in sequins, and had a steak for dinner.

Parallelism in subject matter means that everything discussed in a sentence

should have at least some amount of clarity and relatedness.

He decided to cover the gown in sequins, and to celebrate, he had a steak

for dinner.
or
He was hungry after he covered the gown in sequins, so he had a steak for
dinner.

The possible connections are endless, but for proper parallelism, that
connection must be clear to the reader.
With elements joined by coordinating
conjunctions, especially and, but, and or.
Phrases
Clauses
How to repair faulty parallel structure
Exercise 1- Directions: Each sentence below contains faulty parallelism with
coordinate conjunctions. Revise each sentence so that the elements joined by the
coordinate conjunction are parallel to one another.

1. What I said or my actions upset everyone in the room.

2. She suggested that I write a memoir and to send it to a
good publisher.
3. The instructor advised me to use the rearview mirror often,
and I should observe the speed limit.
4. People are paying more now for health insurance but to
get less coverage.
5. Doing strenuous exercise and poor nutrition habits can
lead to illness.
6. We put the pictures and what our itinerary was
into the album.
7. Many young people like to skateboard and
watching the techniques of other skateboarders.
8. Joe wants to buy a vest that has buttons or
closing with a zipper.
9. Her ideas are usually sound and of importance.
10. Good sense and being thoughtful are two
valuable assets.
1. What I said or my actions upset everyone in the room.

Correct: What I said or what I did upset everyone in the room.

Correct: My words or my actions upset everyone in the room.

2. She suggested that I write a memoir and to send it to a good publisher.

Correct: She suggested that I write a memoir andthat I send it to a good
publisher.
Correct: She suggested that I write a memoir and send it to a good publisher.

3. The instructor advised me to use the rearview mirror often, and I should
observe the speed limit.
Correct: The instructor advised me to use the rearview mirror often and (to)
observe the speed limit.
4. People are paying more now for health insurance but to get less coverage.
Correct: People are paying more now for health insurance but getting less
coverage.

5. Doing strenuous exercise and poor nutrition habits can lead to illness.
Correct: Strenuous exercise and poor nutrition habits can lead to illness.
Correct: Doing strenuous exercise and maintaining poor nutrition habits can
lead to illness.

6. We put the pictures and what our itinerary was into the album.
Correct: We put the pictures and our itinerary into the album.
7. Many young people like to skateboard and watching the techniques
of other skateboarders.

Correct: Many young people like to skateboard and (to) watch the
techniques of other skateboarders.
Correct: Many young people like skateboarding and watching the
techniques of other skateboarders.

8. Joe wants to buy a vest that has buttons or closing with a zipper.

Correct: Joe wants to buy a vest that has buttons or (that) closes with a
zipper.
9. Her ideas are usually sound and of importance.

Correct: Her ideas are usually sound and important.

10. Good sense and being thoughtful are two valuable assets.

Correct: Good sense and thoughtfulness are two valuable

assets.
Correct: Having good sense and being thoughtful are two
valuable assets.
2. Use parallel structure with elements in lists
or in a series.

A series is a group of three or more elements in a row. The last

element in the series is connected to the others with one of these
coordinating conjunctions: and, or, but (not), or yet (not).

Commas should be placed between each element in the series and

before the coordinating conjunction.
Exercise 2 - Directions: Each sentence below contains faulty parallelism
with coordinate conjunctions. Revise each sentence so that the elements
joined by the coordinate conjunction are parallel to one another.
1. The students have dissected frogs, cats, and how to dissect human
torsos.
2. At the store my duties are to keep the shelves stocked, to work the
registers, and assisting customers.
3. Original, imaginative, and seeming almost fantastic describe the
techniques of Dali's paintings.
4. My brother enjoys three activities: checkers, welding, and he
collects baseball cards.
5. Later that day, Mike took the fishing rods to the lake, caught several
fish, and he fell asleep.
6. The nanny was supposed to feed the children, walk the dog, and some
dusting in the living room.

7. The condominium board's goals include building up a reserve fund,

keeping the community informed, and property assessment.

8. Our baseball coach taught us how to hit, tag out runners, and base
stealing.

9. We want a candidate who has a sense of commitment, a good record in

public office, and who has experience in foreign affairs.

10. Reading mystery novels, exercising in the park, and crossword puzzles
occupy a good deal of my retirement time.
3. Use parallel structure with elements being
compared. (X is more than / better than Y)
When we compare things, we often use words such as more, less,
better, and worse.
We connect the items being compared with words like as and than.
The elements being compared are parallel to one another:
driving is parallel to flying
Miriam's ability to is parallel to her resolve to
How you live … is parallel to how much money you make

Comparing items without using parallel structure may cause

confusion about what is being compared to what.
Repair faulty parallelism in comparisons by making one
element of the comparison parallel to the other.

Note that you may choose to change either element to match the other.
 Exercise 3 - Directions: Each sentence below contains faulty parallelism
with coordinate conjunctions. Revise each sentence so that the elements
joined by the coordinate conjunction are parallel to one another.

1. It is harder to tie a slip knot than tying a square knot.

2. We enjoyed water skiing much more than when we swam in
the lake.
3. Driving will get you there more quickly than to walk.
4. A big car is not necessarily better than one that is small.
5. Hearing her sing in person was ten times better than if you
heard her on the radio.
6. He felt that being a good listener was just as important as to talk
well.
7. Her excuses bothered me more than she was absent.
8. It is better to learn the material slowly than cramming on the night
before the test.
9. What you actually do is a better indication of your true motives than
your words.
10. One is more likely to slip on a banana peel than when an orange
peel is on the floor.
4. Use parallel structure with elements joined by a
linking verb or a verb of being.
Joining elements with linking verbs or verbs of being suggests a
completing of the first item by the second one. Often, in fact, an
equality between the two is being set up.
Exercise 4 -Directions: Each sentence below contains faulty parallelism with
elements joined by linking verbs. Revise each sentence so that the elements are
parallel to one another.

1. To take the fifth amendment is refusing to incriminate

yourself.
2. What she said was her meaning.
3. Doing well on the PhilSAT means to assure yourself
acceptance into a good law school.
4. Many people mistakenly think that being wealthy is the
same thing as to be happy.
5. Marrying Major Ezy meant to leave her family and to
travel all over the world.
5. Use parallel structure with elements joined
by a correlative conjunction.
These are the major correlative
conjunctions:
either / or neither / nor
both / and not only / but also
Correlative conjunctions work in pairs.
Directions: Each sentence below contains faulty parallelism with
correlative conjunctions. Revise each sentence so that the elements are
parallel to one another.

1. Either ask Ben or Marianne to prepare the agenda for

tonight's meeting.
2. The director for special projects not only visited our
regional center in Baltimore but also our main office in New
York.
3. The exercise both toned my muscles and it helped me to
lose weight.
4. At my training session, I was not only taught how to work
the register, but also how to treat customers courteously.
5. Either work today, or you will have to work tomorrow.
6. My friends are neither anxious to see the items in the museum nor
are they happy about the admission price.
7. She is both happy about the raise and she is nervous about the extra
responsibility.
8. They not only ate all the food in the house but they also didn't clean
up their mess.
9. Bert will meet us either at the restaurant or he will be at the taxi
stand.
10. The doctor promised neither to cause pain during the procedure
nor leave a scar.