Parallel Structure

 

The above videos give an introduction about parallel structure and how to detect misuses in everyday communication. Using parallel structure makes sure all of the verbs and its surrounding words in your sentences have the same tense or form. When using parallel structure, the verbs that are alike in function should also be alike in construction. Parallel structure makes your sentences and communication sound more put together, and enables the audience to engage more with what you say. As stated in the videos, when the speaker fails to use parallel structure in his or her speech, the audience loses focus and degrades what the speaker says. People have difficulties with parallel structure because it can be hard to detect something wrong with the sentence if you have never learned about parallel structure. Parallel structure is important because not only does it make speech understandable, but it creates that a symmetry in speech that both the human eyes and ears  crave. This symmetry makes a work more catchy, memorable, and compelling. It also makes quotes more memorable.

There are 5 main rules when it comes to parallel structure, and they are as follows:

1.Use parallel structure with elements joined with a correlative conjunction.

Example 1:

Source: Towson University, (n.d.)

Example 2:

Incorrect: As children, we are not only told what to do but also how we should think.

Correct: As children, we are not only told what to do but also what to think.

 

Example 3:

Incorrect: Elyssa hoped not only to travel to Spain over the summer, but also dreamed of living there one day.

Correct: Elyssa hoped not only to travel to Spain over the summer, but also to live there one day.

 

2. Use parallel structure in a list of items.

Example 1:

Incorrect: I like running, swimming, and to dance.

Correct: I like running, swimming, and dancing.

Correct: I like to run, to swim, and to dance.

 

Example 2:

Incorrect: Elaina coughed, sneezed, and has the sniffles.

Correct: Elaina coughed, sneezed, and sniffled.

 

Example 3:

Incorrect: There were Mexican restaurants, Chinese, and American food.

Correct: There were Mexican restaurants, Chinese restaurants, and American restaurants.

Correct: There was Mexican food, Chinese food, and American food.

 

Example 4:

Incorrect:

• Made breakfast
• Dressing myself
• Brushing my teeth
• Made my bed
• Drive to school

Correct:

• Made my breakfast
• Dressed myself
• Brushed my teeth
• Made my bed
• Drove myself to school

Correct:

• Make my breakfast
• Dress myself
• Brush my teeth
• Make my bed
• Drive myself to school

Correct:

• Making my breakfast
• Dressing myself
• Brushing my teeth
• Making my bed
• Driving myself to school

 

Example 5:

Incorrect: My professor wants me to write the paper quickly, in a way that is accurate, and includes lots of details.

Correct: My professor wants me to write the paper quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.

 

3. Use parallel structure when comparing items.

Example 1:

Source: Towson University, (n.d.)

Example 2:

Incorrect: I like sausage pizza better than pepperoni.

Correct: I like sausage pizza better than pepperoni pizza.

Correct: I like sausage better than pepperoni.

 

Example 3:

Incorrect: She is better at running than her dance.

Correct: She is better at running than dancing.

Correct: Her race is better than her dance.

 

4. Use parallel structure with elements joined by a linking verb.

Example 1:

Incorrect: To succeed is communicating well.

Correct: To succeed is to communicate well.

Correct: Communicating well is succeeding.

 

Example 2:

Incorrect: To drive safely is wearing your seatbelt.

Correct: To drive safely is to wear your seatbelt.

Correct: Wearing your seatbelt is driving safely.

 

Example 3:

Incorrect: Being considerate is to be kind.

Correct: To be considerate is to be kind.

Correct: Being kind is being considerate.

 

5. Use parallel structure with coordinating conjunctions.

Example 1:

Incorrect: Your presence and what your potential is are of great use to this group.

Correct: Your presence and your potential are of great use to this group.

 

 

Some other examples of correct and incorrect parallel structure in famous quotes are:

 

“I came, I saw, I conquered.” -Julius Caesar 

This quote is a correct use of parallel structure because before each verb, Caesar used the word “I”.  If he would have said, “I came, I saw, and conquered,” that would be incorrect. However, if he said, “I came, saw, and conquered,” that would also be correct because he stated that he did the action, but did not include the word “I” in the rest of the list.

 

“That’s one step for man, one giant step for mankind.” -Neil Armstrong

This quote is a correct example of parallel structure because he restated the one..for.. structure within the sentence. However, this quote would be incorrect if he said, “That’s one step for man, and a giant step for mankind.”  This is because he interrupted the parallel structure in the one..for.. pattern.

 

“You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” -Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln used parallel structure in this quote in the same way Armstrong did in the previous quote. He used the pattern of people..time.. in all three phrases, utilizing parallel structure.

 

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…” -Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

Dickens uses a different type of parallelism in this opening line from his book, A Tale of Two Cities. Antithesis simply means “opposite.”  He uses this when stating best..worst.., wisdom..foolishness.. in the phrases.

 

Anaphora

Anaphora is another type of parallelism which repeats the same word at the beginning of each sentence. This is common in many forms of poetry, as well as in speeches.

Here are some examples:

Example 1: Be strong. Be kind. Be considerate.

Example 2: She has red hair. She has pale skin. She makes me laugh.

Example 3: There is a dog in the house. There is a cat in the house. There are two animals in the house.

 

Epistrophe

Epistrophe is a type of parallel structure where a series of sentences all end with the same word.

Here are some examples:

Example 1: When I am sad, I eat pizza. When I am happy, I eat pizza. I like to always eat pizza.

Example 2: When you lose, you must be compassionate. When you win, you must be compassionate.

 

In Conclusion…

In conclusion, using parallel structure in speech and writing creates a sense of repetition and rhyme that enhances its cognitive flow and makes the phrase more catchy and memorable. Parallel structure allows the audience to follow along while listening or reading a work.