Parallelism

Frequently in writing and speaking, you need to indicate equality of ideas. To show this equality, you should employ parallel grammatical constructions. In other words, convey parallel thought in parallel language; conversely, use parallel language only when you are conveying parallel thoughts.

Coordinate Elements

In employing parallelism, balance nouns against nouns, infinitives against infinitives, prepositional phrases against prepositional phrases, adjective clauses against adjective clauses, etc.

Never make the mistake of saying “I have always liked swimming and to fish.” Because the object of have liked is two parallel ideas, you

should say: I have always liked swimming and fishing. (And joins two

gerunds.) I have always liked to swim and to fish. (And joins two

infinitives.)

Coordinate Elements

Parallel prepositional phrases are illustrated in the following sentence. The parallel elements appear immediately after the double bar:

Government II of the people,

II by the people,

and II for the people

shall not perish from the earth.

Coordinate Elements

Parallel noun clausesHe said II that he would remain in the East,

II that his wife would travel in the Northwest,

and II that his son would remain in the South. Parallel independent clauses

II I came;

II I saw;

II I conquered.

Coordinate Elements Parallel elements are usually joined either by

simple coordinating (FANBOYS) conjunctions or by correlative conjunctions (both...and; not only…but also).

Whenever one of these connectives is used, you must be careful to see that the elements being joined are coordinate or parallel in construction:

Coordinate Elements

FAULTY: Ann is a girl with executive ability and who therefore should be elected class president. This sentence contains faulty parallelism, since

and is used to join a phrase (with executive ability) and a dependent clause (who therefore should be elected class president).

Ann is a girl II with executive ability

and II who therefore should be elected class president.

Coordinate Elements

CORRECT:Ann is a girl II who has executive ability

and II who therefore should be elected class president.

Coordinate Elements

A common error results from making a construction appear to be parallel when actually it is not: FAULTY: Mr. Lee is honest, intelligent, and works

hard.

Mr. Lee is II honest

II intelligent

and II works hard.

Coordinate Elements

CORRECT: Mr. Lee is honest, intelligent, and industrious.

Mr. Lee is II honest

II intelligent

and II industrious.

Correlative Conjunctions

Remember that correlative conjunctions are used in pairs: either…or; neither…nor; both…and; not only…but also

When these conjunctions are used in a sentence, they must be followed by parallel constructions.

Correlative Conjunctions

INCORRECT: I hope either to spend my vacation in Mexico or Hawaii.

I hope either II to spend my vacation in Mexico

or II Hawaii. CORRECT: I hope to spend my vacation

either in Mexico or in Hawaii.I hope to spend my vacation either II in Mexico

or II in Hawaii.

Correlative Conjunctions

INCORRECT: She knew not only what to say, but also she knew when to say it.

CORRECT: She knew not only what to say, but also when to say it.

Repetition of Certain Words In order to make parallel constructions clear, you

must sometimes repeat an article, a preposition, an auxiliary verb, the sign of the infinitive (to), or the introductory word of a dependent clause. Three of these types of necessary repetition are illustrated in the sentences that follow:

OBSCURE: He must counsel all employees who participate in sports and also go on recruiting trips throughout the Southwest.

CLEAR: He must counsel all employees who participate in sports and must also go on recruiting trips throughout the Southwest.

Repetition of Certain Words OBSCURE: The instructor wants to meet those students

who enjoy barbershop harmony and organize several quartets.

CLEAR: The instructor wants to meet those students who enjoy barbershop harmony and to organize several quartets.

OBSCURE: He thought that economic conditions were improving and the company was planning to increase its dividend rate.

CLEAR: He thought that economic conditions were improving and that the company was planning to increase its dividend rate.

Than and As

When than and as introduce comparisons, you must be sure that the things compared are similar.

Don’t compare, for instance, a janitor’s salary with a teacher. Compare a janitor’s salary with a teacher’s salary. INCORRECT: A janitor’s salary is frequently more

than a teacher. CORRECT: A janitor’s salary is frequently more

than a teacher’s.

Incorrect Omission of Necessary Words INCORRECT: I always have and always will

remember to send my first-grade teacher a Christmas card.

Remember is used correctly after will, but after have the form needed is remembered. Consequently, remember cannot serve as the understood participle after have.

CORRECT: I always have remembered and always will remember to send my first-grade teacher a Christmas card.

Incorrect Omission of Necessary Words INCORRECT: He gave me an apple and pear. CORRECT: He gave me an apple and a pear. INCORRECT: I was interested and astounded by

his story. CORRECT: I was interested in and astounded by

his story. INCORRECT: She is as tall if not taller than her

sister. CORRECT: She is as tall as, if not taller than, her

sister.

Correct Use of “Unparallel” Constructions Parallelism is not always possible.

CORRECT THOUGH “UNPARALLEL”: He spoke slowly and with dignity.