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Parallel Structure. WHAT IS PARALLEL STRUCTURE?. Parallel structure refers to the repetition of a grammatical form within a sentence. Specifically, elements in a sentence that have the same function or express similar ideas should be grammatically parallel, or grammatically matched .
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WHAT IS PARALLEL STRUCTURE? • Parallel structure refers to the repetition of a grammatical form within a sentence. • Specifically, elements in a sentence that have the same function or express similar ideas should be grammatically parallel, or grammatically matched. • This is important because… parallel structure makes your writing more readable and clear. You also need this a lot for THESES!
An Example of Parallelism • Not Parallel: The President traveled to several cities meeting voters, to give speeches, and ask for campaign funds. • Parallel: The President traveled to several cities meeting voters, giving speeches, and asking for campaign funds.
Spotting errors • Errors in parallel structure are obvious in lists: Sarah likes to swim, read, and running. We need to pick a single verb form for each item. Sarah likes to swim, to read, and to run. OR Sarah likes swimming, reading, and running.
Spotting Errors • Here’s an example with nouns: There was a shoe, shirt, and a sock on the bed. Not parallel: use of articles must be consistent. There was a shoe, a shirt, and a sock on the bed. Parallel
With Conjunctions • Not parallel (coordinating): My best friend took me dancing and to a show. • Parallel: My best friend took me to a dance and a show. • Not Parallel (correlative): My dog not only likes to play fetch, but also chase cars. • Parallel: My dog not only likes to play fetch, but he also likes to chase cars.
With comparison • Not Parallel: I would rather pay for my education than financial aid. • Parallel: I would rather pay for my education than receive financial aid. • Not parallel: It is better to plan ahead than falling behind. • Parallel: It is better to plan ahead than to fall behind.
The next step • As sentence construction gets more complicated and complex, maintaining parallel structure gets a bit trickier. Because Ryan studied thoroughly for his entrance exam, receives good grades, and worked as an intern, he was a candidate for the job. Notice that each of these items begins with a verb, but they are not all in the same tense. In order to have parallel construction here, all of the verbs must be in the same tense. By changing receives to received, we now have parallel construction. Because Ryan studied for his entrance exam, received good grades, and worked as an intern, he was a candidate for the job.
The next step • Not parallel: Dr. Kall challenged his students to initiate their own learning, be creative problem-solvers, and think independently. • Dr. Kall wants his students to DO 2 things, and BE 1 thing. • Parallel: Dr. Kall challenged his students to become self-motivated learners, creative problem-solvers, and independent thinkers. • Now the students are BEING 3 things, each following an “adjective-noun” sequence.
practice • We debated the difference between the weather in Minnesota in the winter and how hot it is in the summer. • What’s wrong? How can we fix it?
Practice • Global warming affects humans, the environment, and is scary. • What’s wrong? How can we fix it?
An example from you • This is an example of a GOOD thesis, but it does not follow parallel structure: • Through his actions in the novel, Robert Cohn makes it clear that he is arrogant, intruding, and an annoyance to his friends. • How can we fix it?
Works Cited • Kubista, Amy. “Parallel Construction.” Walden University. • “Parallel Structure.” Evergreen Writing Center. <http://www.evergreen.edu/writingcenter /handouts/grammar/parallel.pdf>. • “Use Parallel Structure.” Writing Commons. <http://writingcommons.org/style/ sentence-construction/541-use-parallel-structure->.
