1. Mr. Taylor’s Guide to Parallel Form
Methods for improving coherence, unity, and balance in writing.

2. Parallelism in Writing
Many students feel that parallel form is a concept that only a rocket scientist could understand; however, parallel form is actually quite easy once students learn the parts of speech and learn how to spot grammatical patterns.

3. Parallelism in Writing
Parallelism utilizes the same or similar grammatical form or structure to relate ideas of equal importance.
Parallelism increases coherence by breaking ideas into elements of similar grammatical form.

4. Parallelism in Writing
Is this sentence in parallel form?
She enjoys reading, to play piano, and hard work.
Before determining if it is parallel, the grammatical structure of each clause must be identified.
“reading” is a present participle.
“to play piano” is an infinitive + a noun
“hard work” is an adjective + a noun

5. Parallelism in Writing
Since parallelism has been defined as “the same or similar grammatical form or structure to relate ideas of equal importance,” it is clear that the sentence is not in parallel form.
In order to put the sentence in parallel form, each of the clauses must utilize the same grammatical elements.

6. Parallelism in Writing
So the sentence
She enjoys reading, to play piano, and hard work.
becomes
She enjoys reading, playing piano, and working hard. (participles) or
She enjoys to read, to play piano, and to work hard. (infinitives)
Review with the students what each part of speech in the sentence is and how it functions.

7. Parallelism in Writing
Use parallelism when listing items in a series.
Spock tried threats, pleading, and shouting but his brain would not cooperate.
Spock tried threats, pleas, and shouts, but his brain would not cooperate.
Spock tried threatening, pleading, and shouting, but his brain would not cooperate.
Explain to students why the first sentence isn’t parallel.

8. Parallelism in Writing
Use Parallel form with longer phrases and clauses.
He bought her flowers, had sent some candy, and played music, but she still tore his heart out.
He bought her flowers, sent her candy, and played her music, but she still tore his heart out.
Tear each phrase apart to determine the pattern of each phrase.
Then point out that the second sentence has clauses that have the same pattern.
Ask students to find another way to make the sentence parallel.

9. Parallelism in Writing
Whenever possible, parallel form should be used with all types of compound sentences which include:
compound or coordinate sentences (fonybas)
conjunctive adverbs
correlative conjunctions
than or as clauses

10. Parallelism in Writing
Remember that a compound sentence is balanced, so whenever possible use the same grammatical pattern on both sides of the coordinating conjunction.
Noun Verb Infinitive Verb Noun ccj Noun Verb Infinitive Verb Noun
Spock loves to read poetry, and he loves to drink cola.

11. Parallelism in Writing
Conjunctive Adverbs:
Noun Verb art Adjective Noun Conjunctive Noun Verb art
Adverb
Spock needed a quick boost ;hence, he found a
Adjective Noun
faster way.

12. Parallelism in Writing
Correlative conjunctions:
Correlative Noun Verb Subject Correlative Noun Verb art Subject
Conjunction Complement Conjunction Complement
Either Spock is crazy or Spock is a genius.

13. Parallelism in Writing
With “than” or “As”:
Noun Verb art Adjective Adjective Noun Noun Verb art
Spock is a better crossing guard than he is a
Adjective Adjective Noun
computer repair technician.

14. Parallelism in Writing
Whenever possible lists and outlines should be put in parallel form. Parallelism makes lists easier to understand and may help to avoid disputes caused by poor reading comprehension.

15. Parallelism in Writing
Not Parallel
some sugar
a box of Wheaties
green beans six cans
eggs
jug of milk
Parallel
two bags of sugar
one box of Wheaties
six cans of green beans
one dozen eggs
one gallon of milk

16. Parallelism in Writing
Often similar grammatical form isn’t enough to signal parallelism, repeating of key words can also help to make sentences more emphatic.
They fought to protect farms, crops, and wives.
Farms, crops, and wives are all plural nouns, but the sentence can be more emphatic.

17. Parallelism in Writing
They fought to protect their farms, their crops, and their wives.
By repeating the key word “their” the writer is reminding the reader that “they” are fighting for their own possessions. The sentence is also more emphatic because the parallelism has been increased from simply plural nouns to possessive pronoun + plural noun.

18. Parallelism in Writing
Whenever possible use parallel sentences in paragraphs and essays. This is best accomplished by the writer making a conscious decision to gravitate toward one particular type of sentence construction such as a present participle or an infinitive phrase.

19. Parallelism in Writing
Jason has an amazing ability to imitate others. When Jason began to walk, he would often stumble and hit his head on the coffee table. To get Jason to stop crying, my wife began to hit the coffee table and say, “Bad Table.” This worked well until one day grandma mentioned that Missy was a “Bad Dog.” When Jason heard this, he jumped to his feet, ran to Missy, and began to hit Missy with all his might and he started to shout “Bad Dog!”

20. Parallelism in Writing
Utilizing parallelism in writing helps to bring unity and coherence to writing. Remember to use parallelism with compound sentences, lists, outlines, and longer pieces of writing.
To increase parallelism in your writing
is a great way to increase your grade
in the course.

21. Parallelism in Writing
The End