Parallel Structure

Parallel Structure, or parallelism, is a grammatical and rhetorical device that involves using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.

It enhances readability and clarity, making sentences easier to understand and more persuasive.

"I enjoy reading, writing, and hiking." All items in the list are in the same grammatical form.

Mixing different forms, such as "I like to swim, biking, and to run." This should be corrected to "I like swimming, biking, and running."

By ensuring all items in the list are in the same grammatical form, it creates a rhythm and balance, making the sentence more engaging.

"She likes dancing, to swim, and running." This mixes gerunds and infinitives.

It can make arguments more compelling and memorable by creating a sense of balance and symmetry.

Look for lists or series of items that should be in the same grammatical form.

Conjunctions like 'and' or 'or' are used to connect items in a parallel structure.

"Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country." - John F. Kennedy.