Parallelism

GRAMMAR

Parallelism

Based on this image, what can you infer about parallelism?

✏️Parallel Structure✏️

• Parallel Structure, or parallelism, is the use of similar sentence elements that have the same function. Sentence elements can be individual words, phrases, clauses, individual sentences, or paragraphs. 

  
  

• Using parallel structure in writing helps the reader better understand what you have written. 

  
  

Method #1 - To join sentence elements with coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS)

• Incorrect: Shelly dislikes washing dishes and also having to vacuum. 

• Correct: Shelly dislikes washing dishes and vacuuming. 

Multiple Choice

Which of the following uses correct parallelism?

• He wanted three things out of college: to learn a skill, to make good friends, and to learn about life.

• He wanted three things out of college: to learn a skill, to make good friends, and learning about life.

Method #2 - To write sentence elements in a list or a series

• Incorrect: John runs track, playing on the football team, and swims laps. 

• Correct: John runs track, plays football, and swims laps. 

Fill in the Blank

Write the correct word to finish this sentence & make it parallel:

The doctor recommended exercise that isn't hard on the joints, like doing gentle yoga, talking walks, and ________ in a pool once a week.

Method #3:  To compare or contrast sentence elements 

• Incorrect: Thomas loves watching horror movies more than to read books. 

• Correct: Thomas loves watching horror movies more than reading books.

Multiple Select

Check off the sentences that are parallel:

• Not only are volcanoes very destructive, they are providing benefits

• Learning a new language as an adult is more difficult than to learn one as a child.

• If you can’t appreciate what you’ve got, you’d better get what you can appreciate.

• Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced.

• It is easier for a father to have children than for children to be having a real father.