University of Algiers 2 / Department of English / 1 LMD / Reading and Writing S2 / Ms Yerboub / 2022-2023

Lecture 01: Fixing Sentence Problems 1 (Parallel Structure)

To make the ideas in your sentences clear and understandable, you need to make your sentence structures
grammatically balanced (i.e., parallel). Therefore, ideas in a sentence or paragraph that are similar should be
expressed in parallel grammatical form (e.g., Jessie likes running, swimming, and painting NOT Jessie likes
running, swimming, and to paint). In English grammar, parallelism (also called parallel structure) is the
repetition of the same grammatical form in two or more parts of a sentence.

Examples

Not parallel Parallel

I like to jog, bake, paint, and watching movies. I like to jog, bake, paint, and watch movies.

I like jogging, baking, painting, and watching movies.

Maintaining parallel structure helps you avoid grammatically incorrect sentences and improves your writing
style. Although lack of parallelism is not always strictly incorrect, sentences with parallel structure are easier
to read and add a sense of balance to your writing.

Parallel structure is most commonly used in sentences containing elements that appear in a series or in a pair.
It is also applied to headings and outlines in academic writing.

1. Parallel structure in a series

Use parallel construction when items in a series have an equal level of importance. These items are usually
joined by commas or semicolons along with and or or.

1.1. Parallel words

On the word level, a noun should be grouped with other nouns, an adjective with other adjectives, and so on.

Not parallel Parallel

The company is looking for a candidate who The company is looking for a candidate who
is friendly, organized, meticulous, and is going to arrive is friendly, organized, meticulous, and punctual.
to work on time.

When a series is composed of verbs, do not mix forms. For example, mixing an infinitive (a verb beginning
with to) with a gerund (a verb form ending in -ing) breaks parallel structure.

Not parallel Parallel

The participants in the workshop learned how The participants in the workshop learned how
to communicate, negotiate, and working to communicate, negotiate, and work collaboratively for

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 University of Algiers 2 / Department of English / 1 LMD / Reading and Writing S2 / Ms Yerboub / 2022-2023

Not parallel Parallel

collaboratively for the most effective outcome. the most effective outcome.

The participants in the workshop learned

about communicating, negotiating, and working
collaboratively for the most effective outcome.

1.2. Parallel phrases

Parallel structure should be used to balance a series of phrases with the same grammatical structure.

For example, avoid mixing noun phrases with verb phrases.

Not parallel Parallel

Initial trials showed that exposure to the chemical Initial trials showed that exposure to the chemical
caused memory problems, intermittent dizziness, caused memory problems, intermittent dizziness,
and deters sleep. and insomnia.

As with a series of verbs, a series of verb phrases should use parallel forms. Do not mix phrases based on an
infinitive with phrases based on -ing verbs.

Not parallel Parallel

Her main duties were answering phone calls, filing Her main duties were answering phone calls, filing
records, and to conduct visitor surveys. records, and conducting visitor surveys.

1.3. Parallel clauses

Parallelism is also applicable to a series of clauses in a sentence.

Not parallel Parallel

The report card stated that the student often talked in The report card stated that the student often talked in
class, that he bullied other students, and rarely finished class, that he bullied other students, and that he rarely
his homework. finished his homework.

The report card stated that the student often talked in

class, bullied other students, and rarely finished his
homework.

2. Lists after a colon

A list that follows a colon should always have parallel elements.

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 University of Algiers 2 / Department of English / 1 LMD / Reading and Writing S2 / Ms Yerboub / 2022-2023

Not parallel Parallel

Mainstream economists have attributed the recession to Mainstream economists have attributed the recession to
several key causes: deregulation policies, spike in several key causes: the enactment of deregulation
interest rates, manufacturing orders declining, and the policies, the spike in interest rates, the decline in
emergence of asset bubbles. manufacturing orders, and the emergence of asset
bubbles.

Mainstream economists have attributed the recession to

several key causes: deregulation policies, high interest
rates, low manufacturing orders, and asset bubbles.

3. Parallel structure in pairs

Use parallel construction when a sentence contains a pair of connected ideas.

Pairs can be connected by coordinating conjunctions, which include and, nor, but, or and yet.

Not parallel Parallel

She planned to collect data by either using an online She planned to collect data by either using an online
survey or phone interviews. survey or conducting phone interviews.

She planned to collect data through either online

surveys or phone interviews.

More examples

√ Your oral presentation should use PowerPoint slides and refer to handouts.
√ She failed the essay but passed the final exam.
√ Her oral presentation was good, yet her essay was poor.

Use parallel structure when a pair of ideas are linked by a correlative conjunction, such as not only…but
also, either…or, and neither…nor, both ... and, whether ... or not.

Not parallel Parallel

His paper argues that the distinctive divergence in the His paper argues that the distinctive divergence in the
two artists’ styles was not only shaped by their mutual two artists’ styles was shaped not only by their mutual
rivalry but also because of the idiosyncratic tastes of rivalry but also by the idiosyncratic tastes of patrons.
patrons.

More examples

√ Both the lecturers and the students protested about the changes in assessment policy.

√ The students were not only hard-working but also community-minded.

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 University of Algiers 2 / Department of English / 1 LMD / Reading and Writing S2 / Ms Yerboub / 2022-2023

√ The assignment tasks need to be either submitted electronically or posted to the university assessment
centre.

- The same rule applies to pairs connected by a word of comparison, such as over, than or as.

pNot parallel Parallel

He prefers movie nights at home over going to loud He prefers movie nights at home over loud house
house parties. parties.

He prefers hosting movie nights at home over going

to loud house parties.

More examples

√ Learning at university is more difficult than studying at high school.

√ Writing assignments is as important as sitting for exams.

4. Outlines and headings

Headings that divide a paper into sections should be parallel. Likewise, parallel structure should be applied
to elements in paper outlines.

Not parallel Parallel

1. Origin of homeopathy 1. Origin of homeopathy

2. Initial reception 2. Initial reception
3. Rising to popularity in the 19th century 3. Rise to popularity in the 19th century
4. Recent studies show lack of evidence 4. Lack of evidence in recent studies

Reference
https://www.scribbr.com/language-rules/parallelism/