The document defines parallelism as the similarity of structure in related words, phrases, or clauses. It provides examples of parallel structure using nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. The document also discusses the five main ways writers use parallel structure: with elements joined by coordinating conjunctions; in lists or series; when comparing elements; with elements joined by a linking verb; and with elements joined by correlative conjunctions. It provides additional examples and exercises to identify and fix errors in parallel structure.
3. More
By convention, items in a series
appear in parallel grammatical
form: a noun is listed with other
nouns, an -ing form with other
-ing forms, and so on. Failure to
express such items in similar
grammatical form is called faulty
parallelism.
12. Your Turn!!
Place the following verbs in the correct
parallel structure: YIELDS, BRAKES
Place the following nouns in the correct
parallel structure: LAMPSHADE,
BOOKCASE
Place the following adverbs in the correct
parallel structure: FREELY, QUICKLY
13. Writers generally use parallelism as a
technique in the following five ways.
1. With elements joined
by coordinating
conjunctions, especially
and, but, and or.
16. 2. Use parallel structure with elements in
lists or in a series.
A series is a group of three or more
elements in a row. The last element in the
series is connected to the others with one
of these coordinating conjunctions: and,
or, but (not), or yet (not).
Commas should be placed between
each element in the series and before the
coordinating conjunction.
18. 3. Use parallel structure with elements
being compared. (X is more than / better
than Y)
When we compare things, we
often use words such as
more, less, better, and
worse, We connect the
items being compared with
words like as and than.
20. The elements being compared are parallel
to one another:
driving is parallel to flying
Miriam's ability to is parallel to her resolve
to
How you live is parallel to how much
money you make
21. 4. Use parallel structure with elements
joined by a linking verb or a verb of being.
22. Use parallel structure with elements
joined by a correlative conjunction.
These are the major correlative
conjunctions:
either / or neither /
nor both / and not only / but
also
Correlative conjunctions work in pairs.
27. 1. An actor knows how to memorize his
lines and getting into character.
2. Tell me where you were, what you
were doing, and your reasons for doing it.
3. Clark's daily exercises include running,
swimming, and to lift weights.
28. 4. To donate money to the homeless
shelter is helping people stay warm in
the winter.
5. Jim not only likes working outside
but also getting dirty.
6. We followed the path through the
forest, over the hill, and we went
across the river.