1. Parallelism refers to writing equivalent ideas in similar grammatical form. Parallelism helps achieve balance in a sentence and tends to equalize the importance given to each of the items mentioned. Parallelism

2. This sentence lacks parallelism: Walking a beat, riding patrol cars, and the work of an undercover agent are all dangerous aspects of police work. Parallelism

3. Making it parallel makes it flow more smoothly and makes all three activities seem equal. Walking a beat, riding patrol cars, and working undercover are all dangerous aspects of police work. Parallelism

4. Consider this sentence: I love swimming, hiking and to ski. Parallelism

5. Making it parallel makes it flow more smoothly and makes all three activities seem equal. I love swimming, hiking and skiing. Parallelism

6. Consider this sentence: Whether tired or when he is rested, he reads the paper. Parallelism

7. Making it parallel makes it flow more smoothly and makes all three activities seem equal. Whether tired or rested, he reads the paper. Parallelism

8. Some sentence constructions require parallelism. Faulty Parallelism

9. Items in a series should be parallel. My neighbor is a novelist, a gardener, and he rides horses. Faulty Parallelism

10. Items in a series should be parallel. My neighbor is a novelist, a gardener, and a horseman. Faulty Parallelism

11. Items in a series should be parallel. The anthropologist traveled into heated jungles, along insect-infested rivers, and he ventured up steep mountain trails. Faulty Parallelism

12. Items in a series should be parallel. The anthropologist traveled into heated jungles, along insect-infested rivers, and up steep mountain trails. Faulty Parallelism

13. Alternatives joined by “and,” “or,” “but,” or “nor” should be parallel. The president of the club wondered whether he should pay the bills or to resign. Faulty Parallelism

14. Alternatives joined by “and,” “or,” “but,” or “nor” should be parallel. The president of the club wondered whether he should pay the bills or resign. Faulty Parallelism

15. Alternatives joined by “and,” “or,” “but,” or “nor” should be parallel. The man is either an idealist or foolish. Faulty Parallelism

16. Alternatives joined by “and,” “or,” “but,” or “nor” should be parallel. The man is either an idealist or a fool. Faulty Parallelism

17. Alternatives joined by “and,” “or,” “but,” or “nor” should be parallel. Deciding not to go skiing but taking a cruise was easy. Faulty Parallelism

18. Alternatives joined by “and,” “or,” “but,” or “nor” should be parallel. Deciding not to go skiing but to take a cruise was easy. Faulty Parallelism

19. Comparisons should be parallel. I prefer to attend small dinners than going to big banquets. Faulty Parallelism

20. Comparisons should be parallel. I prefer to attend small dinners than big banquets. Faulty Parallelism

21. Opposing or complementary ideas should be parallel. I admire the songs of Diana Ross, formerly a member of the Supremes, but who is now on her own. Faulty Parallelism

22. Opposing or complementary ideas should be parallel. I admire the songs of Diana Ross, formerly a member of the Supremes, but now a solo singer. Faulty Parallelism

23. Opposing or complementary ideas should be parallel. John did not doubt that after death there was a paradise for good people and a hell for people who had been bad. Faulty Parallelism

24. Opposing or complementary ideas should be parallel. John did not doubt that after death there was a paradise for good people and a hell for bad people. Faulty Parallelism

25. Opposing or complementary ideas should be parallel. To err is human; forgiving is divine. Faulty Parallelism

26. Opposing or complementary ideas should be parallel. To err is human; to forgive divine. Faulty Parallelism

27. Expressions joined by “either... or,” “both... and,” neither... nor,” or “not only... but also” should be parallel. Either you should diet or the amount of exercise needs to be increased. Faulty Parallelism

28. Expressions joined by “either... or,” “both... and,” neither... nor,” or “not only... but also” should be parallel. Either you should diet or exercise. Faulty Parallelism

29. Expressions joined by “either... or,” “both... and,” neither... nor,” or “not only... but also” should be parallel. Charles Dickens is not only humorous, but also a writer of great originality. Faulty Parallelism

30. Expressions joined by “either... or,” “both... and,” neither... nor,” or “not only... but also” should be parallel. Charles Dickens is not only humorous, but original. Faulty Parallelism

31. Place correlative conjunctions immediately before the parallel terms. The President must not only represent his own party, but the entire American people. Faulty Parallelism

32. Place correlative conjunctions immediately before the parallel terms. The President must represent not only his own party, but the entire American people. Faulty Parallelism

33. Repeat any article, preposition or pronoun necessary to make your meaning clear. After the celebration, we were introduced to the president and master of ceremonies. Faulty Parallelism

34. Repeat any article, preposition or pronoun necessary to make your meaning clear. After the celebration, we were introduced to the president and to the master of ceremonies. Faulty Parallelism

35. Repeat any article, preposition or pronoun necessary to make your meaning clear. Winning the Westinghouse Scholarship was as great a pleasure to the teacher as the student. Faulty Parallelism

36. Repeat any article, preposition or pronoun necessary to make your meaning clear. Winning the Westinghouse Scholarship was as great a pleasure to the teacher as to the student. Faulty Parallelism