7.3 puzzle time what did one dog say to the other dog

7.iii Parallelism

Learning Objectives

1. Identify sentences that are parallel and not parallel.
2. Identify ways to create parallelism in writing.
3. Write and revise sentences using parallelism.

Earlier in this affiliate, nosotros learned that increasing sentence multifariousness adds interest to a slice of writing and makes the reading process more than enjoyable for others. Using a mixture of judgement lengths and patterns throughout an essay is an important writing technique. However, it is equally of import to avoid introducing variation within individual sentences. A strong sentence is composed of balanced parts that all have the aforementioned construction. In this department, we will examine how to create a balanced sentence structure by using parallelism.

Using Parallelism

Parallelism is the use of similar structure in related words, clauses, or phrases. Information technology creates a sense of rhythm and rest within a sentence. Every bit readers, nosotros often right faulty parallelism—a lack of parallel construction—intuitively because an unbalanced sentence sounds bad-mannered and poorly constructed. Read the post-obit sentences aloud:

Faulty parallelism: Kelly had to atomic number 26, do the washing, and shopping before her parents arrived.

Faulty parallelism: Driving a motorcar requires coordination, patience, and to take good eyesight.

Faulty parallelism: Ali prefers jeans to wearing a adjust.

All of these sentences incorporate faulty parallelism. Although they are factually correct, the construction is clunky and disruptive. In the start example, three different verb forms are used. In the second and third examples, the writer begins each sentence past using a noun (coordination, jeans), but ends with a phrase (to take skilful eyesight, wearing a suit). Now read the same 3 sentences that have correct parallelism.

Correct parallelism: Kelly had to exercise the ironing, washing, and shopping before her parents arrived.

Right parallelism: Driving a auto requires coordination, patience, and good eyesight.

Correct parallelism: Ali prefers wearing jeans to wearing a suit.

When these sentences are written using a parallel construction, they sound more aesthetically pleasing because they are balanced. Repetition of grammatical construction also minimizes the amount of work the reader has to do to decode the sentence. This enables the reader to focus on the principal idea in the sentence and not on how the sentence is put together.

Tip

A simple way to check for parallelism in your writing is to make sure you have paired nouns with nouns, verbs with verbs, prepositional phrases with prepositional phrases, and and then on. Underline each element in a sentence and check that the corresponding element uses the same grammatical form.

Creating Parallelism Using Analogous Conjunctions

When you connect ii clauses using a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, then), make sure that the aforementioned grammatical construction is used on each side of the conjunction. Accept a expect at the following example:

Faulty parallelism: When I walk the dog, I like to mind to music and talking to friends on the phone.

Correct parallelism: When I walk the dog, I like listening to music and talking to friends on the phone.

The commencement sentence uses two different verb forms (to listen, talking). In the second sentence, the grammatical construction on each side of the coordinating conjunction (and) is the same, creating a parallel sentence.

The same technique should exist used for joining items or lists in a series:

Faulty parallelism: This committee needs to decide whether the company should reduce its workforce, cut its benefits, or lowering workers' wages.

Correct parallelism: This committee needs to decide whether the company should reduce its workforce, cut its benefits, or lower workers' wages.

The outset sentence contains 2 items that use the same verb structure (reduce, cut) and a third item that uses a different verb form (lowering). The 2nd sentence uses the aforementioned verb construction in all iii items, creating a parallel structure.

Exercise ane

On your own sheet of newspaper, revise each of the following sentences to create parallel structure using coordinating conjunctions.

1. Mr. Holloway enjoys reading and to play his guitar at weekends.
2. The doctor told Mrs. Franklin that she should either swallow less or should exercise more than.
3. Breaking out of the prison compound, the escapees moved carefully, quietly, and were quick on their feet.
4. I accept read the book, but I accept not watched the movie version.
5. Deal with a total inbox first affair in the morning, or by setting aside brusque periods of time in which to answer email queries.

Collaboration

Delight share with a classmate and compare your answers.

Creating Parallelism Using Than or As

When you are making a comparison, the two items existence compared should have a parallel structure. Comparison ii items without using parallel construction can lead to confusion about what is being compared. Comparisons frequently apply the words than or as, and the items on each side of these comparison words should exist parallel. Take a look at the following example:

Faulty parallelism: Swimming in the ocean is much tougher than a puddle.

Correct parallelism: Swimming in the sea is much tougher than swimming in a pool.

In the showtime sentence, the elements before the comparison word (than) are non equal to the elements after the comparison word. It appears that the author is comparing an action (pond) with a noun (a pool). In the second sentence, the writer uses the aforementioned grammatical construction to create a parallel structure. This clarifies that an action is being compared with another activeness.

To right some instances of faulty parallelism, it may be necessary to add or delete words in a sentence.

Faulty parallelism: A brisk walk is as benign to your wellness equally going for a run.

Correct parallelism: Going for a brisk walk is every bit beneficial to your wellness as going for a run.

In this example, information technology is necessary to add together the verb phrase going for to the sentence in gild to analyze that the act of walking is existence compared to the act of running.

Exercise ii

On your ain canvas of paper, revise each of the following sentences to create parallel structure using than or as.

1. I would rather work at a second task to pay for a new motorcar than a loan.
2. How you look in the workplace is merely every bit important as your behavior.
3. The firewoman spoke more of his childhood than he talked near his job.
4. Indian cuisine is far tastier than the nutrient of Groovy Britain.
5. Jim's opponent was equally tall every bit Jim and he carried far more weight.

Collaboration

Please share with a classmate and compare your answers.

Creating Parallelism Using Correlative Conjunctions

A correlative conjunction is a paired conjunction that connects ii equal parts of a sentence and shows the relationship betwixt them. Common correlative conjunctions include the following:

• either…or
• non only…merely also
• neither…nor
• whether…or
• rather…than
• both…and

Correlative conjunctions should follow the aforementioned grammatical structure to create a parallel sentence. Take a expect at the post-obit example:

Faulty parallelism: We can neither wait for something to happen nor can nosotros take evasive action.

Right parallelism: We can neither wait for something to happen nor take evasive action.

When using a correlative conjunction, the words, phrases, or clauses following each part should exist parallel. In the first sentence, the construction of the second part of the sentence does not match the structure of the start part. In the 2d sentence, omitting needless words and matching verb constructions create a parallel structure. Sometimes, rearranging a judgement corrects faulty parallelism.

Faulty parallelism: It was both a long pic and poorly written.

Right parallelism: The movie was both long and poorly written.

Tip

To come across examples of parallelism in use, read some of the great historical speeches by rhetoricians such every bit Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. Notice how they use parallel structures to emphasize important points and to create a shine, easily understandable oration.

Here is a link to text, audio, video, and the music of Martin Luther King's speech "I Have a Dream": http://www.mlkonline.net/dream.html.

Writing at Piece of work

Speechwriters use parallelism non but within sentences but besides throughout paragraphs and beyond. Repeating particular central phrases throughout a voice communication is an effective way of tying a paragraph together as a cohesive whole and creating a sense of importance. This technique tin can be adapted to whatsoever piece of writing, but information technology may be specially useful for creating a proposal or other type of persuasive workplace document.

Note that the spelling and grammar checker on most word processors volition not draw attention to faulty parallelism. When proofreading a document, read it aloud and listen for sentences that audio awkward or poorly phrased.

Exercise 3

On your ain sheet of paper, revise each of the following sentences to create parallel structure using correlative conjunctions.

1. The cyclist owns both a mountain bike and has a racing bicycle.
2. The motion-picture show not only independent lots of action, but also it offered an important lesson.
3. My current task is neither exciting nor is information technology meaningful.
4. Jason would rather listen to his father than be taking advice from me.
5. We are neither interested in ownership a vacuum cleaner nor do we desire to use your carpet cleaning service.

Collaboration

Please share with a classmate and compare your answers.

Practice 4

Read through the post-obit excerpt from Alex's essay and revise whatever instances of faulty parallelism. Rewrite the sentences to create a parallel structure.

Central Takeaways

• Parallelism creates a sense of rhythm and balance in writing by using the same grammatical structure to express equal ideas.
• Faulty parallelism occurs when elements of a sentence are not balanced, causing the sentence to audio clunky and awkward.
• Parallelism may be created by connecting two clauses or making a list using coordinating conjunctions; by comparison two items using than or as; or by connecting ii parts of a judgement using correlative conjunctions.

clintonforcive.blogspot.com

Source: https://open.lib.umn.edu/writingforsuccess/chapter/7-3-parallelism/

Share this post