parallelism: finding the balance in writing. parallelism to err is human, to forgive is divine

PARALLELISM: PARALLELISM: FINDING THE BALANCE IN FINDING THE BALANCE IN

WRITINGWRITING

PARALLELISMPARALLELISM

To err is human, to forgive is divine.

inf. LV adj. inf. LV adj.

To err is human, to forgive is divine.

We must learn to live together as

brothers or perish together as fools.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

We must learn to live together as

brothers or (to) perish together as fools.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

(two infinitive phrases)

Cinzano and soda.Tinglier after tennis.Breezier on a boat.Livelier at a lawn party.Peppier ‘round the pool.Snappier after softball.Grander after golf.Bouncier at a barbecue.Brighter after biking.Friskier after fishing.Bubblier at a brunch.

Cinzano and soda.Tinglier (after tennis). ( Adjective / prep. phrase )Breezier (on a boat).Livelier (at a lawn party).Peppier (‘round the pool).Snappier (after softball).Grander (after golf).Bouncier (at a barbecue).Brighter (after biking).Friskier (after fishing).Bubblier (at a brunch).

What is parallel structure (parallelism)?

Parallel structure is the grammatical balance of two or more logically related sentence elements.

Why use parallel structure?Why use parallel structure?

• Use parallel structure to:

1. aid reader in understanding words

2. clarify language

3. emphasize meaning

• EXPRESS PARALLEL IDEAS IN THE SAME GRAMMATICAL FORM.

• You should be able to use three kinds of parallel structure:

• Coordinate• Compared and contrasted• Correlative

COORDINATE IDEASCOORDINATE IDEAS

• Coordinate ideas are of equal importance and are connected by coordinate conjunctions:

andand but but oror nornor

• For proper coordination,--- a noun is paired with another noun--- a phrase with a phrase--- a clause with a clause--- an infinitive with an infinitive--- a gerund with a gerund--- a word ending with –ing with another –ing word.

• INCORRECT: In the winter I usually like skiing and to skate.

( gerund paired with an infinitive)

• CORRECT: In the winter I usually like skiing and skating.

(gerund paired with a gerund)

In the winter I usually like

to ski and to skate.

(infinitive paired with an infinitive)

• INCORRECT: A good scholar must be precise and possess originality.

(helping verb - adjective and action verb - noun )

• INCORRECT: A good scholar must be precise and possess originality.

• CORRECT: A good scholar must be precise and original.

(one verb and two adjectives)

• INCORRECT: Noun Prep. Phr. Noun clause

• Consider the origins of man and how he has developed.

(noun / prepositional phrase with noun clause)

• INCORRECT: Noun Prep. Phr. Noun clause

Consider the origins of man and how he hasdeveloped.

• CORRECT: Noun clause Noun clause

Consider how man originated and how hehas developed. (two noun clauses)

Verb Verb

Consider how man originated and developed.(two past tense action verbs)

• INCORRECT: Give me the aggressive fellow and who has initiative.

(adjective/noun with adjective clause)

• CORRECT: Give me the fellow who is aggressive and who has initiative.

(two adjective clauses)

• INCORRECT: The pilot received orders to bomb the target and that he would then return home. (infinitive phase / noun clause)

• CORRECT: The pilot received orders

to bomb the target and then to return home. (two infinitive phrases)

• In parallel constructions, observe this principle of pairing one part of speech with another or one kind of construction with another.

• Parallelism is the grammatical balance of two or more logically related sentence elements.

COMPARED AND CONTRASTED IDEAS

• Ideas that are compared and contrasted are parallel, or in the same grammatical form.

COMPARED AND CONTRASTED COMPARED AND CONTRASTED IDEASIDEAS

• INCORRECT:

Einstein liked mathematical research more than to supervise a large laboratory.

• ( noun contrasted with an infinitive)

• INCORRECT: Einstein liked mathematical research more than to supervise a large laboratory.

( noun contrasted with an infinitive)

• CORRECT:Einstein liked mathematical research more than supervision of a large laboratory.

(noun and a modifier contrasted with noun and modifier)

• INCORRECT:

To chew carefully is as necessary for a good digestion as eating slowly.

( infinitive contrasted with a gerund)

• CORRECT:

Chewing carefully is as necessary for a good digestion as eating slowly.

( gerund contrasted with a gerund)

To chew carefully is as necessary for a good digestion as to eat slowly.

(infinitive contrasted with an infinitive)

CORRELATIVE IDEAS

Correlative constructions are formed with the correlative conjunctions:

both. . . and either . . . or

neither . . . nor not only . . . but (also)

• Correlative ideas should be expressed in parallel form.

• Place the correlative conjunctions immediately before the parallel ideas.

CORRELATIVE IDEASCORRELATIVE IDEAS

INCORRECT:

With The Pickwick Papers, Dickens

proved that he was not only humorous but also a writer of great originality.

( adjective --- noun)

• CORRECT:

With The Pickwick Papers, Dickens proved that hewas not only humorous but also original.

(two adjectives)

With The Pickwick Papers, Dickens proved that he was not only a humorist but also awriter of original ideas.

(two nouns)

• INCORRECT:A President of the United States must not only represent his own political party but also the entire American people.

(Not only . . . but also should directly precede the parallel ideas his own political party and the entire American people.)

Adj. adj. adj. n.his own political partyAdj. adj. adj.

n.the entire American people.

• CORRECT:

A President of the United States must represent not only his own political party but also the entire American people.

((Do not split Do not split verb phraseverb phrase or an infinitive or an infinitive. . Move the correlativeMove the correlative.).)

INCORRECT:

Washington both enjoyed Yorktown and experienced the gloom of Valley Forge.

CORRECT:

___________________________________

INCORRECT:

CORRECT:

___________________________________

INCORRECT:

CORRECT:

___________________________________

INCORRECT:

CORRECT:

___________________________________

CORRELATIVE CORRELATIVE IDEASIDEAS

INCORRECT:

CORRECT:

Washington experienced both the gloom

of Valley Forge and the joy of Yorktown.

NOTE #1:NOTE #1:

• NOTE: To assure parallel form or to stress emphasis, repeat the word that

introduces the parallel construction.

(prepositions, relative pronouns, sign of the infinitive “to”)

NOTE # 1: Repeat the WordNOTE # 1: Repeat the Word

• EXAMPLE:

We had to advise Edwards that (to accept his offer was out of the question), that (to leave our homestead was impossible), and that (to move our ailing father was dangerous).

NOTE #1: Repeat the WordNOTE #1: Repeat the Word

• Electrical contractors face involved problems in (estimating costs) and in (maintaining stock supplies).

• He refused to listen, to understand, and to compromise.

NOTE #2:NOTE #2:

• NOTE:

Change the word that introduces a series of parallel elements if doing so is necessary to maintain idiomatic

expression.

NOTE #2: Idiomatic NOTE #2: Idiomatic ExpressionExpression

• INCORRECT:

He is awed and courteous to high-ranking officials.

• INCORRECT:

He is awed high-ranking officials. (?)

He is awed to high-ranking officials. (?)

He is courteous to high-ranking officials.

• INCORRECT:

• CORRECT:

He is awed by and courteous to high-ranking officials.

possible STAAR/EOC question)

NOTE #3:NOTE #3:

• NOTE:

Change any word in a series of parallel elements if doing so is necessary to maintain correct grammatical form.

NOTE #3: Grammatical NOTE #3: Grammatical FormForm

• INCORRECT:Men have always and will continue to try improving their standard of living.

(one helping verb, one verb phrase)

Men have always continue to try improving their standard of living. (?)

Men will continue to try improving their standard of living. (!)

• CORRECT:Men have always tried and will continue trying to improve their standard of living.

(two verb phrases)

REMINDER:REMINDER:

• CLUE:

A good indication of the need for parallelism is the presence of either a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or) or a pair of correlative conjunctions (either…or, neither…nor, both…and, not only…but also).

PRACTICE QUESTIONPRACTICE QUESTION

Changing over from a military to a peacetime economy means producing tractors rather than tanks, radios rather than rifles, and producing running shoes rather than combat boots.

(A) producing running shoes rather than combat boots(B) the production of running shoes rather than combat

boots(C) running shoes rather than combat boots(D) replacing combat boots with running shoes(E) running shoes instead of combat boots

PRACTICE QUESTIONPRACTICE QUESTION

Changing over from a military to a peacetime economy means producing tractors rather than tanks, radios rather than rifles, and producing running shoes rather than combat boots.

(A) producing running shoes rather than combat boots(B) the production of running shoes rather than combat

boots(C)(C) running shoes rather than combat bootsrunning shoes rather than combat boots(D) replacing combat boots with running shoes(E) running shoes instead of combat boots

PRACTICE QUESTIONPRACTICE QUESTIONChanging over from a military to a

GERUND - DO

peacetime economy means producing NOUN PREP. PHR. NOUN

tractors rather than tanks, radios rather PREP. PHR NOUN (GERUND) PREP.PHR

than rifles, and running shoes rather than

combat boots.

SUMMARYSUMMARY

1. Parallel structure is __________________________________ ____________________________________________________________.

SUMMARYSUMMARY

1. Parallel structure is

the grammatical balance of two or more logically related sentence elements.

SUMMARYSUMMARY

2. The three types of parallel structure are:

A._______________________________B.____________________________________

C.____________________________________

SUMMARYSUMMARY

2. The three types of parallel structure are:

A._COORDINATE IDEAS___________

B._COMPARED AND CONTRASTED IDEAS

C._CORRELATIVE IDEAS______________

SUMMARYSUMMARY

3. Coordinate conjunctions are _______, _______, ______, and ______.

SUMMARYSUMMARY

3. Coordinate conjunctions are AND, OR__, _BUT, and NOR.

SUMMARYSUMMARY

4. Correlative conjunctions, which come in pairs, are:

– A._______________________________– B.________________________________– C.________________________________– D.________________________________

SUMMARYSUMMARY

4. Correlative conjunctions, which come in pairs, are:– A.___BOTH… AND___________________– B.___EITHER… OR___________________– C.___NEITHER… NOR________________– D.___NOT ONLY… BUT ALSO__________

SUMMARYSUMMARY

5. Place the correlative conjunctions directly before__________________.

SUMMARYSUMMARY

5. Place the correlative conjunctions directly before the two parallel ideas.

SUMMARYSUMMARY

6. Use parallel structure to ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

SUMMARYSUMMARY

6. Use parallel structure to

a. Aid reader in understanding words____

b. Clarify language

c. Emphasize meaning

ONE MORE THINGONE MORE THING

7. You should never split ___________ or ______________.

SUMMARYSUMMARY

7. You should never split verb phrases

or infinitives.

Incorrect CorrectTo not only go not only to go

He was either saying Either he was saying

PRACTICEPRACTICE

QUIZQUIZ

TEST TAKING PRACTICETEST TAKING PRACTICEPARALLELISMPARALLELISM

1. To become better artists, we must continue to find good teachers, and it is important to enter competitions.

a. it is important to enter competitions

b. entering competitions

c. we must continue entering competitions

d. importantly enter competitions

e. to enter competitions

1. To become better artists, we must continue to find good teachers, and it is important to enter competitions.

a. it is important to enter competitions

b. entering competitions

c. we must continue entering competitions

d. importantly enter competitions

e. to enter competitions

Two infinitive phrases

2. To quit the contest early is relinquishing the title you have already earned.

a. relinquishing the title you have already earned

b. not good because of relinquishing the title you have already earned

c. to relinquish the title you have already earned

d. already going to take away the title you have earned

e. the same as relinquishing the title you have already earned

2. To quit the contest early is relinquishing the title you have already earned.

a. relinquishing the title you have already earned

b. not good because of relinquishing the title you have already earned

c. to relinquish the title you have already earned

d. already going to take away the title you have earned

e. the same as relinquishing the title you have already earned

* Two infinitive phrases

3. The boys in the class finished the test first, but the highest scores were made by the girls.

a. the highest scores were made by the girls

b. the girls made the highest scores

c. the girls were the ones who made the highest scores

d. the scores of the girls were the highest

e. the scores that were the highest were made by the girls

3. The boys in the class finished the test first, but the highest scores were made by the girls.

a. the highest scores were made by the girls

b. the girls made the highest scores

c. the girls were the ones who made the highest scores

d. the scores of the girls were the highest

e. the scores that were the highest were made by the girls

Two independent clauses with active voice verbs

4. The violin had a broken string, a cracked bridge, and the endpin was loose.

a. the endpin was loose

b. an endpin which was loose

c. along with a loose endpin

d. a loose endpin

e. it had a loose endpin

4. The violin had a broken string, a cracked bridge, and the endpin was loose.

a. the endpin was loose

b. an endpin which was loose

c. along with a loose endpin

d. a loose endpin

e. it had a loose endpin

* A series of adjectives modifying a noun

5. Before starting a new business, you should consider all costs, potential sales and how convenient it would be to market your product.

a. how convenient it would be to market your product

b. how to conveniently market your product

c. convenience of marketing your product

d. be able to market your product conveniently

e. how conveniently your product can be marketed

5.Before starting a new business, you should consider all costs, potential sales and how convenient it would be to market your product.

a. how convenient it would be to market your product

b. how to conveniently market your product

c. convenience of marketing your product

d. be able to market your product conveniently

e. how conveniently your product can be marketed

* a series of nouns

6. The athlete was noted for his athletic prowess, his good business sense, and he was sincerely humble as well.

a. he was sincerely humble as well

b. his sincerity as well as being humble

c. being both sincere and humble

d. he was sincere with humility

e. his sincere humility

6.The athlete was noted for his athletic prowess, his good business sense, and he was sincerely humble as well.

a. he was sincerely humble as well

b. his sincerity as well as being humble

c. being both sincere and humble

d. he was sincere with humility

e. his sincere humility

* A series of adjectives modifying nouns

7.To the incoming college student, fraternity initiation may seem like a fun activity, but a dangerous and sometimes fatal act is how the dean sees it.

a. a dangerous and sometimes fatal act is how the dean

sees it

b. the act is dangerous and sometimes fatal to the dean

c. how the dean sees it is that it is dangerous and sometimes

d. to the dean, it is a dangerous and sometimes fatal act

e. it is dangerous and sometimes fatal to the dean who sees it

7.To the incoming college student, fraternity initiation may seem like a fun activity, but a dangerous and sometimes fatal act is how the dean sees it.

a. a dangerous and sometimes fatal act is how the dean

sees it

b. the act is dangerous and sometimes fatal to the dean

c. how the dean sees it is that it is dangerous and sometimes

d. to the dean, it is a dangerous and sometimes fatal act

e. it is dangerous and sometimes fatal to the dean who sees it•Introductory preposition phrase, subject, verb, predicate nominative

8.The sea captain reported that he was facing high winds, torrential rain, and probably there would be 10 foot waves.

a. probably there would be 10 foot waves

b. waves that would get as high as 10 feet

c. he also expected to see 10 foot waves

d. probably the thought he would see 10 foot waves

e. 10 foot waves

8.The sea captain reported that he was facing high winds, torrential rain, and probably there would be 10 foot waves.

a. probably there would be 10 foot waves

b. waves that would get as high as 10 feet

c. he also expected to see 10 foot waves

d. probably the thought he would see 10 foot waves

e. 10 foot waves

* Series of adjectives modifying nouns

9.My employer told me to reconcile the bank statement and that I should count the petty cash.

a. that I should count the petty cash

b. to count the petty cash

c. begin counting the petty cash

d. the petty cash should be counted

e. find some time to count the petty cash

9.My employer told me to reconcile the bank statement and that I should count the petty cash.

a. that I should count the petty cash

b. to count the petty cash

c. begin counting the petty cash

d. the petty cash should be counted

e. find some time to count the petty cash

* Two infinitive phrases

10.Jeremy carried a black cane while brown canes were carried by his friends.

a. brown canes were carried by his friends

b. being carried by his friends were brown canes

c. his friends were carrying brown canes

d. his friends carried brown canes

e. brown canes were being carried by his friends

10.Jeremy carried a black cane while brown canes were carried by his friends.

a. brown canes were carried by his friends

b. being carried by his friends were brown canes

c. his friends were carrying brown canes

d. his friends carried brown canes

e. brown canes were being carried by his friends

* Two clauses / active voice verbs

MOREMORE

PRACTICEPRACTICE

parallelism: finding the balance in writing. parallelism to err is human, to forgive is divine

noun clausesverbverbconsider

noun prepositional phrase

parallel structure parallelism

kinds of parallel structure

verb adjective

parallelismparallel

good scholar

adjective clausecorrect

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