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Learn the importance of parallel structure in sentences and how to create balance between sentence parts. Improve your writing skills and become a skilled author with practice exercises.
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Parallel Structure When you join several equal or related ideas in a sentence, it is important to balance the structure of your sentence parts. For example, you balance an adjective with an adjective, a phrase with a phrase, and a clause with a clause. This kind of balance is called parallel structure.
Examples • Not parallel: Quickly but with thoroughness, the senator answered the question. • Parallel: Quickly but thoroughly, the senator answered the question. • Not parallel: Two goals of the NAACP were to build up membership and encouraging nonviolent reform. • Parallel: Two goals of the NAACP were to build up membership and to encourage nonviolent reform.
More Examples: • Not parallel: He thought living in Theodore was better than Saraland. • Parallel: He thought living in Theodore was better than living in Saraland. • Not parallel: The teacher told me that I was a poor student because I waited until the last minute to study for tests, completed my lab work in a careless manner, and my motivation was low. • Parallel: The teacher told me that I was a poor student because I waited until thelast minute to study for tests, completed my lab work in a carelessmanner, and lacked motivation.
So, remember! • Balance your sentence parts. • Make your sentence parts parallel. • Creating parallel structure will help your writing flow better and sound better. • Paying attention to creating parallel structure will help to improve your writing skills. • You will become a skilled author!
Let’s practice! • My friends and I enjoy fishing, to ride dirt bikes, and swimming. • My friends and I enjoy fishing, riding dirt bikes, and swimming. • Learning to swim is easier in a pool than the ocean. • Learning to swim is easier in a pool than in the ocean.
Naturally graceful and because she was confident, Lori will be a skilled gymnast. • Naturally graceful and confident, Lori will be a skilled gymnast. • Fluffy’s favorite toys were an old shoe, a bear that was stuffed, and a chewed-up blanket. • Fluffy’s favorite toys were an old shoe, a stuffed bear, and a chewed-up blanket.
Time for a Worksheet: • Using a class worksheet, we will now practice parallel structure together. • Then, you will complete some practice on your own.
