Writing with Concord: Parallel Structure Review A Review B

Parallel structure Expressing related ideas in similar forms keeps writing on track. Like railroad tracks, these similar forms are said to be parallel. Parallel structure is the arrangement of similar parts of a sentence, or group of sentences, in similar grammatical forms.

“Give me liberty, or I would rather die!” Parallel structure Many famous quotations and sayings have parallel structure. When Patrick Henry addressed the Virginia House of Burgesses, he did not say “Give me liberty, or I would rather die!” “Give me liberty, or give me death!” Instead, he used parallel structure.

Parallel structure Many familiar sayings are memorable in part because they use parallel structure. ? Not parallel All work without playing makes Jack a dull boy. noun + adjective prepositional phrase All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. Parallel noun + adjective noun + adjective

Parallel structure Here is a famous saying of Benjamin Franklin’s written without parallel structure. Going to bed early and to rise early makes a man healthy, have wealth, and in possession of wisdom. What makes the original saying parallel? Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. early (adverb) + infinitive adjectives

Parallel structure On Your Own Identify which structures are parallel in the following sayings and proverbs. Be prepared to explain how they are parallel. The end justifies the means. Good fences make good neighbors. 3. To err is human; to forgive, divine. If there is no struggle, there is no progress. [End of Section]

Review A Find five other examples of parallel structure in proverbs, nursery rhymes, slogans, poems, and songs.

Review B Now, write three of your own sayings, making sure that each is parallel in structure.

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