Mastering Parallelism in Writing
Learn the art of parallelism in writing through examples and explanations. Understand how to maintain consistency in lists, phrases, clauses, conjunctions, and correlative conjunctions for clear and effective communication.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Parallelism Adapted from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Hixon
Parallelism Parallelism simply means that everything is the same. To ensure parallelism in your writing, locate all the items in a list; then make them match. This proposal is profitable, timely, and it helps us. The sentence above has a parallelism problem. Profitable and timely are adjectives describing the noun proposal, but it helps us is a clause. This proposal is profitable, timely, and helpful. In the revised sentence, profitable, timely, and helpful are all adjectives describing the same noun.
Parallelism with Phrases Parallelism is important wherever we have items in a series, whether those items are words, phrases, or clauses. A good attitude, being on time, and speaking effectively are her best professional attributes. Here, being on time and speaking effectively are phrases that contain gerunds, ing verbs acting as nouns. A good attitude is part of the list of attributes, but it does not contain a gerund. Having a good attitude, being on time, and speaking effectively are her best professional attributes. Giving a good attitude a gerund solves the problem.
Parallelism with Clauses The following sentence contains three short clauses, but there is a problem with parallelism. Did you know that you have a purpose, that you are needed, and we love you? To make the three clauses parallel, we have to add that to we love you and switch the pronouns so that you is in the same position in each clause. Did you know that you have a purpose, that you are needed, and that you are loved?
Parallelism with Conjunctions Conjunctions are words like for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so that connect words, phrases, and clauses. Wherever you see a conjunction, check to be sure the items on each side of the conjunction are parallel. James Baldwin was black, gay, and grew up in poverty. The word and signals that a list is present. However, the list in the sentence above is not parallel. Black and gay are adjectives that describe James Baldwin, but grew up in poverty is not an adjective. We ll revise the sentence by changing grew up in poverty to an adjective. James Baldwin was black, gay, and poor.
Parallelism with Correlative Conjunctions Correlative conjunctions are two-part connectors. If you have one half of a correlative conjunction, you have to have the other. either . . . or neither . . . nor both . . . and whether . . . or not only . . . but also
Parallelism with Correlative Conjunctions Not only do constructions with correlative conjunctions need both parts of the conjunction, but they also need to be in a logical position in the sentence to do their work. (Did you notice the correlative conjunction in that introductory sentence? It s not only. . . but also. ) Ora spent the entire trip either arguing with me or with Virginia. Ora is arguing with two people. We need either in a position close to me and Virginia to make a distinction between the two choices. Ora spent the entire trip arguing either with me or with Virginia. Moreover, because we have either, we must also have or.
Parallelism with Correlative Conjunctions Just for the sake of clarity, let s draw a picture of that sentence. with me Ora spent the entire trip arguing either or with Virginia. Arguing belongs to the core sentence Ora spent the entire trip arguing ; the two options for Ora s opponents don t become distinct until we indicate the two choices with either . . . or.
Parallelism with Correlative Conjunctions Here are some more examples of parallelism with correlative conjunctions. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds (unofficial motto of the U. S. Postal Service). Both Jenny and Kate work hard at their jobs. Whether you like succotash or not, that s what s for dinner. I always liked going to school not only as an opportunity to learn but also as a chance to see my friends.
Parallelism in Outlines Levels of English Usage I. Standard A. Informal English 1. Colloquialisms 2. Slang 3. Clich s B. Formal English 1. Academic English 2. Business English II. Nonstandard English A. Dialect B. Misspoken forms C. Bad English Parallelism is also vital for outlines and tables of contents. If one entry is a noun or noun phrase, take care that every entry is a noun or noun phrase. You may also use Proper nouns, verbs or verb phrases, independent clauses anything you want, really, but all entries must take the same form.
