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Parallelism for Web 7 2019

The document explains the importance of parallelism in writing, emphasizing that items in a list must match in structure. It provides examples of incorrect and correct parallelism with words, phrases, clauses, and conjunctions, illustrating how to achieve clarity and balance in sentences. Additionally, it includes an activity for correcting faulty parallelism.

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4 views

Parallelism for Web 7 2019

The document explains the importance of parallelism in writing, emphasizing that items in a list must match in structure. It provides examples of incorrect and correct parallelism with words, phrases, clauses, and conjunctions, illustrating how to achieve clarity and balance in sentences. Additionally, it includes an activity for correcting faulty parallelism.

Uploaded by

rossanthonytan130
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Parallelism

Adapted from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Hixon


Why parallelism is important?
Parallelism

Parallelism simply means that everything is the same. To


ensure parallelism in your writing, locate all the items in a
list; then make them match.

This proposal is profitable, timely, and it helps us.

The sentence above has a parallelism problem. “Profitable” and


“timely” are adjectives describing the noun “proposal,” but “it helps us”
is a clause.

This proposal is profitable, timely, and helpful.

In the revised sentence, “profitable,” “timely,” and “helpful” are all


adjectives describing the same noun.
Parallelism with Phrases
Parallelism is important wherever we have items in a series,
whether those items are words, phrases, or clauses.

A good attitude, being on time, and speaking effectively


are her best professional attributes.

Here, “being on time” and “speaking effectively” are phrases that contain
gerunds, –ing verbs acting as nouns. “A good attitude is part of the list of
attributes, but it does not contain a gerund.

Having a good attitude, being on time, and speaking effectively


are her best professional attributes.

Giving “a good attitude” a gerund solves the problem.


Parallelism with Clauses

Incorrect:
She said that she would go to the store, that she was tired,
and to call me later.
In this sentence, the clauses don’t match. The first two are
introduced by "that," but the third clause starts with "to,"
which is not parallel.

Correct:
She said that she would go to the store, that she was tired, and
that she would call me later.

Now, all three clauses are introduced by "that," and they all
follow the same structure, creating parallelism. Each clause
starts with "that" and keeps the same sentence pattern.
Parallelism with Conjunctions
Conjunctions are words like “for,” “and,” “nor,” “but,”
“or,” “yet” and “so” that connect words, phrases, and
clauses. Wherever you see a conjunction, check to be
sure the items on each side of the conjunction are
parallel.
Example: One day Carl suggested painting our sailboat and to
start to practice for the race.
In the corrected version, both actions ("painting" and
"starting") are in the same grammatical form, making the
sentence clearer and more balanced.
Correct: One day Carl suggested painting our sailboat and
starting to practice for the race.
Parallelism with Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions are two-part connectors.


If you have one half of a correlative conjunction,
you have to have the other.

either . . . or
neither . . . nor
both . . . and
whether . . . or
not only . . . but also
Parallelism with Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words that work together to join


equal parts of a sentence. Examples include: either...or, neither...nor,
both...and, not only...but also.

When you use correlative conjunctions, it’s important that the parts
joined by them are parallel (i.e., they have the same structure). Let me
show you an example:

Incorrect:
She will either go to the party or staying home.

In this sentence, the structures are not parallel: "go” is in the base
form, but "staying” is in the gerund form.
• Correct:
She will either go to the party or stay home.
• Now, both parts of the sentence ("go to the
party" and "stay home") are in the same form
(infinitive verb), making the sentence parallel and
easy to understand. (GO and STAY are in the
same form which makes the sentence to be
parallel).
• Why it's correct:
With correlative conjunctions like either...or, both
parts should follow the same structure for
balance and clarity.
Parallelism with Correlative Conjunctions
Just for the sake of clarity, let’s draw a picture of
that sentence.

go to the party
ILLUSTRATION:
She will either or

stay home.

The go and stay are now in parallel form since both of


them are in a base form of the verb.
Parallelism with Correlative Conjunctions

Here are some more examples of parallelism with


correlative conjunctions.

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays
these couriers from the swift completion of their
appointed rounds (unofficial motto of the U. S. Postal
Service).

Both Jenny and Kate work hard at their jobs.

I always liked going to school not only as an opportunity


to learn but also as a chance to see my friends.
ACTIVITY:
CORRECT THE FOLLOWING FAULTY PARALLELISM.
1. Walking and to swim are good exercise.
2. Pasted on almost every tree and pole, the posters
were intended for political campaigning and to
acquaint the voters with the candidate.
3. Drinking hot chocolate for breakfast appeals to me
more than coffee.
4. The prisoners passed us with hanging heads,
drooping shoulders, and their feet shuffled.
5. One day Carl suggested painting our sailboat and to
start to practice for the race.
6. Mrs. Jane was aware of her friend’s lack of
experience and that she was not yet ready for the job.

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