Parallel Structure

What is Parallel Structure?

Parallel structure involves using the same pattern of words or phrases in a series to create balance and clarity in your writing. When you have a list or a series of items in a sentence, making sure they follow the same grammatical structure can make your writing smoother and easier to understand.

Why is it Important?

Clarity: It helps readers understand your ideas more easily.
Conciseness: It streamlines your writing, making it more concise and effective.
Emphasis: It emphasizes the relationship between ideas.

Examples:

Non-Parallel Structure:
"She likes hiking, swimming, and to ride bikes."

Parallel Structure:
"She likes hiking, swimming, and biking."

Rules for Parallel Structure:

1. Use the Same Part of Speech:
   Incorrect: She enjoys hiking, to swim, and biking.
   Correct: She enjoys hiking, swimming, and biking.
2. Maintain Consistent Verb Tenses:
   Incorrect: She walked, eats, and will jump.
   Correct: She walked, ate, and jumped.
3. Keep Phrases Consistent:
   Incorrect: He is responsible for cooking, managing the kitchen, and to make grocery lists.
   Correct: He is responsible for cooking, managing the kitchen, and making grocery lists.

Conclusion:

Mastering parallel structure takes practice, but it significantly improves your writing style. By ensuring consistency in your sentences, you can make your ideas more understandable and engaging for your readers.