Parallelism

Examples of Parallelism

• Winston Churchill did not say– I have nothing to offer but bleeding, toil, tears,

and sweating.• He said

– I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.

• Churchill understood parallelism!

2

Examples of Parallelism

• Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.—Joseph Addison

• Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.—John F. Kennedy

3

Use parallel structure on both sides of coordinating conjunctions

(and, but, yet, or, nor, for, so)

Examples:

She possessed all the wizard’s charm yet none of the wizard’s insight.

Consult a doctor if your coughing persists or if your coughing worsens over the weekend.

Items in a series must have parallel structure.

Shane ate the pizza, wiped his lips, and burped with contentment.

Ate = past tense verb; wiped = past tense verb; and

burped = past tense verb.

Words and Phrases

Incorrect:

Mary likes hiking, swimming, and to ride a bicycle.

Correct:

Mary likes hiking, swimming, and riding a bicycle.

More Examples: Words & Phrases

Incorrect:

The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and in a detailed manner.

Correct:

The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.

Clauses

Parallel structure that begins with clauses must continue on with clauses.

Incorrect:

The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and to do some warm-up exercises before the game.

Correct:

The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and that they should do some warm-up exercises before the game

Lists after a colonIncorrect:

The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and looking up irregular verbs.

Correct:

The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and irregular verbs.

Parallel Verbs

If encounter sentence with 2 verbs separated by conjunction make sure the verbs are parallel. I drove the entire trip, but Zach was more tired.The car rolled away and crashed into the field.The boy that ran and hid was Paul.

• The company is considering a new paging system that would alleviate long lines and if employees are overwhelmed they would be assisted.

a. No changeb. And for overwhelmed employees who would

be assisted.c. And assist overwhelmed employees

• C.

• The environmental group A) is asking all boat owners to dispense fuel into approved containers, B) throw away all litter C) generated on the boat, D) and to eliminate unnecessary idling. E) no error

• B SHOULD BE TO THROW AWAY

PARALLEL PREPOSITIONS

• Prepositions in a series must be parallel. Use prep by all members of series or only the first member.

You can succeed on the SAT by reading, by studying, and by taking prep class.You can succeed on the SAT by reading, studying, and taking prep class.

Series does not have to repeat same prep.

• We have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

(i) You can travel to the town on a plane, in a car, or a boat.

• The toy drive, which A) collects new toys for the children in the shelter, parents B) who are unemployed over the holidays, and C) for babies in the hospital D) is slated to start the last week in November E) no error

• C. notice all items do not use prep therefore, c must be changed to babies in the hospital

Parallel conjunctions

• Either…or neither…nor both…andNot…but whether…or as…as

Words immediately following must be same part of speech. We accept either cash or money order.She is both artistically gifted and academically inclined.I am deciding whether to eat pizza of to eat spaghetti.

• Aloe is used not only to soothe burns but also it heals fungal infections.

A. No changeB. To sooth burns but it healsC. In soothing burns but also it is healingD. To soothe burns but also to heal

• D

• Behaviorists agree that how a teenage boy dresses and his performance in athletics contribute to his degree of popularity.

a. No changeb. How a teenage boy dresses and how he

performsc. How a teenage boy is dressing and his

performance

• B both contain subj and verb

Parallel comparisons

Jim, a legendary multi-sport star, enjoyed playing football more than A) he ran track field, but it was B) winning the gold medal I the 1912 Olympic pentathlon that shot C) him D) to fame. E) no change

A

• Running track and field