Parallelism
What is Parallelism?
Parallelism, often referred to as parallel structure, refers to the arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence so thatthey follow the same grammatical form. This creates rhythm and balance, making sentences easier to understand and more enjoyable to read. When parts of a sentence are parallel, they function like a team—aligned steps that help your ideas flow clearly and smoothly.
Parallelism Examples
Let’s look at strong examples of parallelism in action:
“She likes reading, writing, and singing.”
“He wants to run, to jump, and to swim.”
“Our agenda includes discussing the budget, planning the event, and finalizing the schedule.”
Now compare those with faulty examples:
“She likes reading, to write, and singing.”
“He wants to run, to jump, and swimming.”
The problem? Lack of consistency distracts readers and weakens your message.
Parallelism Rules
To make your writing balanced and clear:
Match the Forms: Use the same grammatical structure for items in lists or pairs—be it nouns, gerunds, or infinitives.
Mirror Tenses: Keep verb tenses consistent to clearly convey timelines.
Balance Ideas: When using paired phrases (like “not only... but also”), ensure both parts match in form and meaning.
For example, “She is not only talented but also dedicated” maintains a perfect balance that enhances clarity.
Types of Sentence Fragments (and How Parallelism Helps)
Parallelism often helps fix sentence fragments—those incomplete thoughts missing subjects or verbs. For example, “Running to the market” is a fragment. By applying parallelism and adding what's missing, we get, “He was running to the market,” a full and balanced sentence that fits well with other sentences.
Why Comma Splices Matter
Comma splices crowd ideas together, making writing hard to follow and unprofessional. Imagine sending a job application with comma splices—it could look rushed and careless. Fixing them ensures clarity and a polished tone.
Faulty Parallelism: Common Errors and How to Fix Them
Many writers stumble by mixing different grammatical forms in a list or series. Take this sentence:“She is smart, hardworking, and has dedication.”
Here, “has dedication” breaks the rhythm and creates faulty parallelism. A better version:“She is smart, hardworking, and dedicated.”
Improving your skills with practice
Start small: list activities like “I enjoy reading, writing, and hiking.” Notice the consistency—that’s parallelism.Next, try complex sentences: “During festivals, we light lamps, burst crackers, and exchange sweets.”Challenge yourself by identifying and fixing parallelism issues in your own writing, or swap texts with friends for feedback.
Try completing this:“During Diwali, we light lamps, burst crackers, and ______.”Add your favorite festival activity to practice!
Why Parallelism Matters
Parallelism isn't just grammar fuss; it enhances clarity and rhythm, making your writing flow effortlessly. It injects power into speeches and boosts the persuasiveness of essays. Remember Lincoln’s “government of the people, by the people, for the people” — a timeless example of parallelism amplifying a message.