Parallel Structure

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What is parallel structure?

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Parallel structure, or parallelism, is the repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence. It helps to create balance and clarity in writing.

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Why is parallel structure important in writing?

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Parallel structure enhances readability and flow, making sentences easier to understand. It also emphasizes the relationship between ideas.

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Identify the correct parallel structure: 'She likes reading, writing, and to swim.'

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Incorrect. The correct structure is: 'She likes reading, writing, and swimming.'

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What is an example of parallel structure in a list?

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An example is: 'For breakfast, I had eggs, toast, and orange juice.' All items in the list are in the same grammatical form.

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How can you fix a sentence with incorrect parallel structure?

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Identify the elements that are not in the same form and revise them to match. For example, change 'to run, swimming, and to bike' to 'running, swimming, and biking.'

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What is the effect of using parallel structure in speeches?

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It creates rhythm and can make the message more memorable, as seen in famous speeches like Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream'.

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What is the difference between parallel structure and coordination?

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Parallel structure refers to the grammatical form, while coordination refers to the joining of clauses or phrases using conjunctions.

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Identify the error in this sentence: 'The teacher asked the students to read, to write, and doing their homework.'

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The error is in 'doing.' It should be 'to do' for parallel structure: 'to read, to write, and to do their homework.'

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What is a common mistake when using parallel structure?

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A common mistake is mixing different forms, such as using nouns and verbs together in a list.

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Provide an example of a sentence with correct parallel structure.

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Example: 'The committee will meet to discuss the budget, to review the proposals, and to plan the next steps.'