Sentence Skills Part 9 Sentence Parallelism

1. What Is Parallelism My first grade teacher was an elderly woman. She was tall. And she had a friendly manner. elderly, tall, friendly My first grade teacher was an elderly, tall, and friendly woman.

Parallelism Structure: parallel element + parallel element Meaning: Sentence elements having the having the same grammatical function using the same grammatical form, usually joined by coordinating conjunctions or correlative conjunctions. Types: parallel words, phrases, clauses, sentences

Almost any sentence element can appear in a parallel form: Parallel words: Recommended exercise includes running, swimming, and cycling. Parallel phrases: Exercise helps people to maintain healthy bodies and to handle mental pressures. Parallel clauses: Many people begin to exercise because they want to look healthy, because they need to have stamina( 体力）, and because they hope to live longer. Parallel sentences: A long journey tests a horse’s strength; a long acquaintance shows a man’s heart.

2. What Is the Value Of Parallelism Smooth, coherent, rhythmic, balanced, forceful Nonparallel: His novels reveal his knowledge of the state’s history and that he admires the people who first settled there. Parallel: His novels reveal his knowledge of the state’s history and his admiration for the people who first settled there. [The parallel phrases make the sentence smoother and more coherent.]

a. Ambition in a man is praised; ambition in a woman is denounced ( 谴责 ) as unfeminine. b. Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. (antithesis to make the writing balanced, rhythmic and forceful)

We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds. We shall fight in the fields and in the streets. W shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender. (anaphora to make the writing emphatic and forceful)

3. How to Achieve Parallelism 3.1 Express similar ideas in similar grammatical forms Nonparallel: The composition is quite good as far as the use of language is concerned, but its content is poor. Parallel: The composition is quite good in language but poor in content. Parallel: The language of the composition is quite good, but its content is poor.

3.2 Arrange parallel elements in climactic order This is a cause ( 事业 ) that means something to thousands, to a people, to a nation, to humanity, to God. The dean threatened me with the los of a parking space for my car, with failure in the course, and with expulsion.

3.3 Use parallel forms with coordinating conjunctions This government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth.

3.4 Use parallel forms with correlative conjunctions Writing permits us to understand not only the world but also the self. This is a time not for words, but for actions

3.4 Use parallel forms with correlative conjunctions Writing permits us to understand not only the world but also the self. This is a time not for words, but for actions

3.5 Repeat certain words to begin parallel elements They thought it was better to agree than quarrel. They thought it was better to agree than to quarrel. For the handicapped, getting an education is often a tribulation, necessity, and victory. For the handicapped, getting an education is often a tribulation, a necessity, and a victory.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way. — Charles Dickens

3.6 Use parallelism in making lists and outlines Americans now rely on the automobile because: (1) Cities are sprawling, public transport is poor. (2) Prestige ( 声望 ). (3)The cheapness of gasoline for so long. Americans now rely on the automobile because: (1) Cities are sprawling and public transport is poor. (2) The automobile bestows prestige on its owners. (3) Gasoline was cheap for a very long time.

4. How to Avoid Faulty Parallelism 4.1 Avoid faulty use of non parallelism with correlative conjunctions Nonparallel: Most men who fought in the Civil War were neither heroic nor were they cowardly. Parallel: Most men who fought in the Civil War were neither heroic nor cowardly.

4.2 Avoid faulty omission of certain necessary words Ambiguous: My mother shows her love by cooking and serving her family. Clear: My mother shows her love by cooking and by serving her family.

4.3 Avoid unnecessary repetition of certain words The runner was praised for his strength and for endurance. The runner was praised for his strength and endurance. She kept herself busy by taking a pie, by reading a magazine, and by writing a letter She kept herself busy by taking a pie, reading a magazine, and writing a letter.

4.4 Avoid nonparallel comparisons and contrasts Nonparallel: The new library was larger than the old one, more beautiful than any other building on campus, and it cost too much money. Parallel: The new library was larger than the old one, more beautiful than any other building on campus, and more expensive to build than anyone had imagined.

4.5 Avoid nonparallel modifiers Nonparallel: Walt Whitman, influenced by Emerson and whom many loved, was the first great American poet to praise cities in his verse. Parallel: Walt Whitman, influenced by Emerson and loved by many, was the first great American poet to praise cities in his verse. Parallel: Walt Whitman, whom Emerson influenced and (whom) many loved, was the first great American poet to praise cities in his verse.