Faulty ParallelismFaulty Parallelism• By placing two or more ideas of equal value iBy placing two or more ideas of equal value i

n the same grammatical form will enable us tn the same grammatical form will enable us to express these ideas clearly and emphaticallo express these ideas clearly and emphatically. However, to position parallel ideas properly. However, to position parallel ideas properly, we must pay close attention to the logic of y, we must pay close attention to the logic of grammatical relationship.grammatical relationship.

• 1. Correcting faulty coordination1. Correcting faulty coordination• When word groups are linked by a coordinatiWhen word groups are linked by a coordinati

ng conjunction, they should each have the sang conjunction, they should each have the same grammatical construction. Consider the pme grammatical construction. Consider the parallel structure of the following word groups:arallel structure of the following word groups:

• Her office is small, Her office is small, chillychilly and dirty, (par and dirty, (parallel adjectives)allel adjectives)

• I enjoy football and hockey. (parallel noI enjoy football and hockey. (parallel nouns)uns)

• Our dog ran across the lawn and Our dog ran across the lawn and under under the hedge.the hedge. ( parallel phrases) ( parallel phrases)

• We requested that he sing our favorite sWe requested that he sing our favorite songs and he allow us to ongs and he allow us to record them.record them. (p (parallel clauses)arallel clauses)

• I want to learn English, and she wants tI want to learn English, and she wants to learn French. (parallel sentences)o learn French. (parallel sentences)

• Notice how awkward sentences look aNotice how awkward sentences look and sound when they contain unequal end sound when they contain unequal elements:lements:

• She works She works diligentlydiligently and and at night.at night.• He spends a He spends a great deal of moneygreat deal of money and and ff

oolishly.oolishly.• I was told to report to the supervisor aI was told to report to the supervisor a

nd that I should bring my tools.nd that I should bring my tools.

• (a) (a) And Who I And Which ConstructionAnd Who I And Which ConstructionAnd who / and which construction is one of the And who / and which construction is one of the most common yet most serious errors made by tmost common yet most serious errors made by the students, for it results in an illogical link betwhe students, for it results in an illogical link between dependent and independent clauses. To avoieen dependent and independent clauses. To avoid this error, follow this rule: Never use d this error, follow this rule: Never use and whoand who or or and whichand which clauses unless they are preceded b clauses unless they are preceded by y whowho or or whichwhich clauses. clauses.

• Tom Clark, who is wise and intelligent and who iTom Clark, who is wise and intelligent and who is our union representative, has been promotes our union representative, has been promoted to foreman.d to foreman.

• James Joyce's James Joyce's Ulysses,Ulysses, which is a long and compl which is a long and complicated novel, and which is on our reading list, haicated novel, and which is on our reading list, has been banned by the school board.s been banned by the school board.

• (b) Correlative Conjunctions(b) Correlative Conjunctions• Correlative conjunctions are always used in pairs: Correlative conjunctions are always used in pairs: eithereither

... or; neither . . . nor; not only . . . but also; both . . . and. ... or; neither . . . nor; not only . . . but also; both . . . and. Because they are used to compare and contrast similar s Because they are used to compare and contrast similar statements, each part of the conjunction must be followetatements, each part of the conjunction must be followed by the same grammatical conjunction. The proper use d by the same grammatical conjunction. The proper use of correlative conjunctions will enable you to write clear,of correlative conjunctions will enable you to write clear, well-balanced sentences. well-balanced sentences.

• Unbalanced He wants either to study English LiteratUnbalanced He wants either to study English Literature or ure or study World History.study World History.Balanced He wants to study either English LiteratuBalanced He wants to study either English Literature or re or World History.World History.

• Unbalanced Our new car not only is more economicUnbalanced Our new car not only is more economical but al but also it is more comfortable than also it is more comfortable than our old one.our old one.

• Balanced Our new car is not only more economical Balanced Our new car is not only more economical but but also more comfortable than our old oalso more comfortable than our old one.ne.

• 2. Making a series of parallels2. Making a series of parallels• When words or groups of words are placed in a series, When words or groups of words are placed in a series,

they must be parallel in both meaning and structure. they must be parallel in both meaning and structure. Observe how the proper use of parallel tightens your Observe how the proper use of parallel tightens your sentence structure and clarifies your meaning.sentence structure and clarifies your meaning.

• FAULTY When we arrived home, we unpacked our FAULTY When we arrived home, we unpacked our suitcases, suitcases, took showers, and then we went to took showers, and then we went to sleep after eating sleep after eating our lunch.our lunch.

• REVISED When we arrived home, we unpacked our REVISED When we arrived home, we unpacked our suitcases, suitcases, took showers, ate our lunch, and took showers, ate our lunch, and went to sleep.went to sleep.

• FAULTY Many people choose air transportation FAULTY Many people choose air transportation because it is because it is fast, offers convenience, and it fast, offers convenience, and it is not very expensive.is not very expensive.

• REVISED Many people choose air transportation REVISED Many people choose air transportation because it is because it is fast, convenient, and fast, convenient, and inexpensive.inexpensive.

• FAULTY You should strive to cooperFAULTY You should strive to cooperate with your colleagues to bring about ate with your colleagues to bring about change, for improving communication change, for improving communication and professional development.and professional development.

• REVISED You should strive to coopeREVISED You should strive to cooperate with your colleagues to bring aborate with your colleagues to bring about change, to improve communication, ut change, to improve communication, and to further professional developmeand to further professional development.nt.

• 3. Watching incorrect omissions3. Watching incorrect omissions• By omitting essential words in a parallel By omitting essential words in a parallel

construction, you force one word to servconstruction, you force one word to serve the grammatical requirements of two de the grammatical requirements of two different statements. One of the most coifferent statements. One of the most common errors of omission in student writmmon errors of omission in student writing occurs in the ing occurs in the has I have, willhas I have, will, , shallshall c constructions.onstructions.Examples:Examples:

• He always has and always will compete fHe always has and always will compete for the highest honor .or the highest honor .I always have and always shall practice dI always have and always shall practice diligently.iligently.

• To correct this type of omission error, teTo correct this type of omission error, test the verb with each of its auxiliary worst the verb with each of its auxiliary words; if it appears in the wrong tense, the cds; if it appears in the wrong tense, the construction is unparalleled.onstruction is unparalleled.

• CORRECTION He has always competeCORRECTION He has always competed ( not compete) and always will competd ( not compete) and always will compete (not competed) for the highest honor.e (not competed) for the highest honor.

• I have always practiced (not practice) dilI have always practiced (not practice) diligently and always shall. (Practice is undigently and always shall. (Practice is understood. )erstood. )

• 4. Comparisons using than or as4. Comparisons using than or as• When When thanthan or or asas are used to join are used to join

parallel constructions, make sure parallel constructions, make sure that the things or ideas they that the things or ideas they compare are logically and compare are logically and grammatically alike.grammatically alike.

• ILLOGICAL ILLOGICAL • The students attending our school The students attending our school

are more intelligent than your are more intelligent than your school. (Compare people — students, school. (Compare people — students, that is, to a thing — a building. )that is, to a thing — a building. )

• LOGICAL LOGICAL • The students attending our school are The students attending our school are

more intelligent than the students attemore intelligent than the students attending your school.nding your school.

• ILLOGICAL ILLOGICAL • His learning is as extensive as Paul. (CHis learning is as extensive as Paul. (C

ompare an abstract quality — learning, ompare an abstract quality — learning, to a proper noun — Paul)to a proper noun — Paul)

• LOGICAL LOGICAL • His learning is as extensive as Paul's leHis learning is as extensive as Paul's le

arning. (Or simply Paul's)arning. (Or simply Paul's)

• PracticePractice• After each of the following sentences containing erAfter each of the following sentences containing er

rors in parallel construction, write P in the blank at rors in parallel construction, write P in the blank at the left. Then write the sentence correctly. If the sethe left. Then write the sentence correctly. If the sentence contains no error, write C instead of P.ntence contains no error, write C instead of P.Example:Example:

• I cannot decide whether I should remain in school I cannot decide whether I should remain in school or toor towithdraw.withdraw.Revised:Revised:

• I cannot decide whether to remain in school or to I cannot decide whether to remain in school or to withdraw.withdraw.

• 1. I decided to live in this city because I wanted a 1. I decided to live in this city because I wanted a better better job for its social activities, and because job for its social activities, and because of a clean of a clean environment.environment. 2. My sister was a teacher, a school principal, an 2. My sister was a teacher, a school principal, and d finally she became a successful business efinally she became a successful business executive.xecutive.

• 3. Carl wants not only to compare, but he wants a3. Carl wants not only to compare, but he wants also to lso to win a gold medal.win a gold medal.

• 4. She is neither young nor is she inexperienced.4. She is neither young nor is she inexperienced.• 5. My father's car is sporty, fast, expensive, and it 5. My father's car is sporty, fast, expensive, and it

is also is also quite comfortable.quite comfortable.• 6. Debbie enjoys playing cards, reading novels, li6. Debbie enjoys playing cards, reading novels, li

stening stening to classical music, and going on campito classical music, and going on camping trips.ng trips.

• 7. Our school's computers are more advance7. Our school's computers are more advanced than d than your school.your school.

• 8. Soccer is Europe's most popular sport, an8. Soccer is Europe's most popular sport, and which is d which is becoming more popular evebecoming more popular every year in North ry year in North America.America.

• 9. I am either going to study electrical engin9. I am either going to study electrical engineering at eering at university, or I might try studying university, or I might try studying electrical electrical technology at our local communittechnology at our local community college.y college.

• 10. He is not only a star basketball player but 10. He is not only a star basketball player but also an also an excellent student.excellent student.

• 11. My parents always have and always will v11. My parents always have and always will vote in the ote in the national election.national election.

• 12. She contributes and works for the peace 12. She contributes and works for the peace movement movement in Canada.in Canada.

• 13. Dominic not only works hard, he studies har13. Dominic not only works hard, he studies hard as d as well.well.

• 14. Jack helps his wife by dusting and cooking h14. Jack helps his wife by dusting and cooking his own is own meals.meals.

• 15. When we arrived at the lake, we unpacked t15. When we arrived at the lake, we unpacked the car, he car, fed the dog, and aired out the cottage.fed the dog, and aired out the cottage.

• 16. Our city's buildings are not as modern as yo16. Our city's buildings are not as modern as your city.ur city.

• 17. Both our teachers as well as our students wa17. Both our teachers as well as our students wanted nted the gymnasium repainted.the gymnasium repainted.

• 18. My favorite teacher, a native of Australia, an18. My favorite teacher, a native of Australia, and who d who is also our tennis coach, is moving to is also our tennis coach, is moving to another city another city next semester.next semester.

• 19. An industrial plant with well-motivate19. An industrial plant with well-motivated and d and qualified workers and having thqualified workers and having the latest high-e latest high- technology equipment will technology equipment will succeed in today's succeed in today's competition marketplacompetition marketplacece

• 20. My sister asked for the family car and 20. My sister asked for the family car and that that she be allowed to stay out after twelvshe be allowed to stay out after twelve e o'clock.o'clock.

• 21. If I had my choice of seeing a rock con21. If I had my choice of seeing a rock concert cert or opera, I would choose the opera.or opera, I would choose the opera.

• 22. My teacher asked me to state my opini22. My teacher asked me to state my opinion of on of the short story and that I should the short story and that I should talk about talk about the main character.the main character.

• 23. Susan always has promoted women's ri23. Susan always has promoted women's rights ghts and always will.and always will.

• 24. Sky-diving is extremely hazardous and 24. Sky-diving is extremely hazardous and which which requires great skill and concentrrequires great skill and concentration.ation.

• 25. My mother studied physics, mathemati25. My mother studied physics, mathematics, cs, and now she is studying world history.and now she is studying world history.

• 26. Maria not only collects old coins, she c26. Maria not only collects old coins, she collects ollects stamps as well.stamps as well.

• 27. Hockey in Canada is more popular tha27. Hockey in Canada is more popular than the n the United States.United States.