Parallel structure is a way to achieve better readability. It’s a way to make communications easier to process.
Parallel structure is achieved when one uses similar grammatical structure.
Example of a sentence that lacks parallel structure:
I like to read, cycle, and sleeping.
What I’ve done is use a mix of grammatical structures, namely 2 infinitives and a gerund. To achieve parallel structure, all we have to do is use all infinitives, or all gerunds.
The following sentences use parallel structure:
I like to read, cycle, and sleep. (all infinitives)
I like reading, cycling, and sleeping. (all gerunds)
Example of a bulleted list. This list maintains parallel structure by introducing each bullet with a verb.
Health recommendations during a pandemic is to:
Alternatively, this list could have been written using the passive voice, starting every bullet with a noun:
During a pandemic, the instructions are easy to follow:
Tip. A simple way to check for parallelism in your writing is to make sure you have paired nouns with nouns, verbs with verbs, prepositional phrases with prepositional phrases, and so on.
Parallel structure is achieved when one uses similar grammatical structure.
Example of a sentence that lacks parallel structure:
I like to read, cycle, and sleeping.
What I’ve done is use a mix of grammatical structures, namely 2 infinitives and a gerund. To achieve parallel structure, all we have to do is use all infinitives, or all gerunds.
The following sentences use parallel structure:
I like to read, cycle, and sleep. (all infinitives)
I like reading, cycling, and sleeping. (all gerunds)
Example of a bulleted list. This list maintains parallel structure by introducing each bullet with a verb.
Health recommendations during a pandemic is to:
- Keep your distance
- Wash your hands
- Wear a mask
Alternatively, this list could have been written using the passive voice, starting every bullet with a noun:
During a pandemic, the instructions are easy to follow:
- Distance must be kept
- Hands must be washed
- Masks must be worn
Tip. A simple way to check for parallelism in your writing is to make sure you have paired nouns with nouns, verbs with verbs, prepositional phrases with prepositional phrases, and so on.
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