Parallelism

What is Parallelism?
.

Parallelism in writing means that

similar parts in a sentence (2 or more)
must have the same structure.
Their parts are comparable and
balanced.
Allows writing to flow smoothly and
helps avoid misunderstandings.

Use similar structures to express similar ideas.

Put nouns with nouns

Faulty (F): I enjoy basketball more than
playing video
games.
Correct (C) : I enjoy basketball more than
video games.
Put verbs with verbs (and use same tense)
F: On our anniversary, we ate, danced, and
were singing.
C: On our anniversary, we ate, danced, and
sang.
Put adjectives with adjectives
F: My history class was both interesting and

 Put Gerunds with Gerunds

(F): I like singing, kayaking, and to dance.
(C) : I like singing, kayaking, and dancing.
Put
Infinitive
phrases
with
Infinitive
phrases
F: Paula went to work, a restaurant, and to the
movies.
C: Paula went to work, to a restaurant, and to the
movies.
Put
Prepositional
phrases
with
Prepositional phrases
F: Water in an electric water boiler may be
dispensed either by pouring or with pressing the
button that functions as a diaphragm pump.
C: Water in an electric water boiler may be

Make sure to use parallelism in the

following cases.
When joining two or more items with and or or:
The party featured a four-foot cake and a singing
gorilla.
I am doing well in my English class, in my math
class, and in my history class.
In comparisons:
Taking the train is as fast as driving.

Driving to Austin is as fast as flying

With certain paired words (like both/and, either/or,

and neither/nor):
Marlize both bakes bread and fixes cars.
My history course is both interesting and challenging.

Use parallel structure on both sides

of coordinating conjunctions
(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
FANBOYS

For example:
1. She possessed all the wizards charm yet none of the wizards
insight.
2. Consult a doctor if your coughing persists or if your coughing
worsens over the weekend.
3. In English class, Diego learned to read poems critically and
appreciate good prose..
4. A swimmer was attacked by a shark, but he scared it away by
poking it in the eye.

Paired Conjunctions: (Bothand; not

only. . . but also; either. . .or; neither
. . . nor)
For example,,
Both my mother and my sister are here.
Not only my mother but also my sister is here.
Neither my sister nor my parents are here.
We can have either broccoli or cauliflower for dinner.
Note:
1.When we use (both. . . and) the verb is always plural.
2. When we use (not onlybut also; neither... nor; either
or) the verb is always in the form of the word directly before it

application

Choose the correct answer to fill in

the blank.
1.

Ellas job responsibilities include ____,

training, and informing workers of
company policies.

A) to hire
B) hired
C) hire
D) hiring

D) hiring

2. Henry likes pizza more than _______.

A) spinach
B) to eat spinach
C) to be eating spinach
D) none of the above

A) spinach

3.He drove to the store to buy milk, eggs,

and _______.
A) to get bread
B) bread
C) getting bread
D) none of the above

B) bread

4.Tom jogs, swims, and _________.

A) he is kick boxing
B) kick boxes
C) he kick boxes
D) none of the above

B) kick boxes

5.The film had many stars, used various

special effects, and ________.
A) violence
B) featured graphic violence
C) it was violent
D) none of the above

B) featured graphic
violence

6.I think that learning a new language is

harder than ____.
A) math
B) to learn math
C) learning math
D) none of the above

C) learning math

7.For some very shy people, giving a speech

can be as frightening as _________.
A) having a serious illness
B) illness
C) to have an illness
D) none of the above

A) having a
serious illness

8.Id rather be lucky or hardworking than

________.
A) to have talent
B) having talent
C) talented
D) none of the above

C) Talented

9. That football team has both a good offense

and ______.
A) it has a good defense
B) a good defense
C) having a good defense
D) none of the above

B) a good defense

10. Bob is not only loyal to friends but also

________.
A) he is friendly to strangers
B) to be friendly to strangers
C) friendly to strangers
D) none of the above

C) friendly to
strangers