Write to the bone
Welcome to the Write to the Bone Web site. Write to the Bone aspires to inspire the writer inside of everyone.
    Home > Grammar > Grammar Rules > Parallelism

Site Map

Reading with the Panda

About this website

 

Parallelism

In grammar, parallelism is a balance of two or more similar words, phrases, or clauses. The application of parallelism in sentence construction improves writing style and readability. Parallelism may also be known as parallel structure or parallel construction.

Examples
Compare the following examples:

  • Lacking parallelism: She likes cooking, jogging, and to read.
  • Parallel: She likes cooking, jogging, and reading.

In the above example, the first sentence has two gerunds and one infinitive. To make it parallel, the sentence was rewritten with three gerunds instead.

  • Lacking parallelism: The dog ran across the yard, jumped over the fence, and down the alley he sprinted.
  • Parallel: The dog ran across the yard, jumped over the fence, and sprinted down the alley.
  • Lacking parallelism: Corey admires people with integrity and who have character.
  • Parallel: Corey admires people who have integrity and who have character.
  • Parallel: Corey admires people who have integrity and character.

From Wikipedia, Parallelism (Grammar)

Parallelism in writing style