Parallelism, often referred to as parallel structure, is a stylistic and grammatical principle that involves using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This balance can occur at the level of words, phrases, or entire clauses, such as running, jumping, and swimming or to think, to speak, and to act. When a writer maintains consistent grammatical forms, the reader can follow the logic of the sentence more easily because the brain naturally seeks patterns and symmetry. Mastering this concept allows you to craft sentences that are not only grammatically correct but also rhythmically pleasing and rhetorically powerful, including phrases like by the people, for the people or easy come, easy go. Whether you are writing an academic essay, a business proposal, or a creative story, understanding how to align your verbs, nouns, and adjectives is essential for professional communication.
Table of Contents
- What is Parallelism? A Detailed Definition
- The Importance of Parallel Structure
- Structural Breakdown of Parallelism
- Parallelism at the Word Level
- Parallelism with Phrases
- Parallelism with Clauses
- Rules for Lists and Series
- Correlative Conjunctions and Symmetry
- Parallelism in Comparisons
- Verb Tense and Voice Consistency
- Extensive Example Tables for Mastery
- Advanced Usage Rules and Special Cases
- Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
- Advanced Topics: Rhetorical Parallelism
- Practice Exercises and Solutions
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Conclusion and Final Learning Tips
What is Parallelism? A Detailed Definition
Parallelism is the repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence. By making each item in a list or comparison follow the same grammatical structure, you create a sense of balance and clarity. If you start a list with an -ing word (gerund), every subsequent item in that list should also be an -ing word. If you start with an infinitive (to + verb), you should continue with infinitives.
At its core, parallelism is about logic. It signals to the reader that the items being grouped together are related in function and importance. In linguistics, this is often discussed under the umbrella of coordination. When we coordinate elements using conjunctions like “and,” “but,” or “or,” the elements being joined must be of the same syntactic category. For example, you cannot easily coordinate a noun with a full dependent clause without creating a “jarring” effect for the reader.
Functionally, parallelism serves as a roadmap. It allows the reader to anticipate what is coming next based on the established pattern. This reduces cognitive load, making the text more “readable.” In speech, parallelism often creates a musical or poetic quality, which is why it is a favorite tool of orators and politicians throughout history.
The Importance of Parallel Structure
Why should a writer care about parallelism? The first reason is clarity. When structures are mismatched, the reader may have to pause and re-read the sentence to understand the relationship between the ideas. This disruption can lead to confusion or a total loss of the writer’s intended meaning.
The second reason is impact. Parallelism is a key component of “flow.” A well-balanced sentence feels authoritative and polished. In contrast, a sentence with faulty parallelism often sounds amateurish or disorganized. For instance, notice the difference between “He likes hiking, swimming, and to ride a bike” versus “He likes hiking, swimming, and biking.” The latter is much smoother.
Lastly, parallelism is vital for emphasis. By repeating a structure, you draw attention to the content within that structure. This is particularly useful in persuasive writing. If you want three points to carry equal weight in your reader’s mind, presenting them in identical grammatical containers is the most effective way to achieve that goal.
Structural Breakdown of Parallelism
To understand how to build parallel sentences, we must look at the building blocks of English grammar. Parallelism can be applied to almost any part of speech, provided that the consistency is maintained across the coordinate elements.
The most common structures involved in parallelism include nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. However, it also extends to more complex structures like prepositional phrases, infinitive phrases, and noun clauses. The rule is simple: if the first element is a [Category A], the second and third elements must also be [Category A].
Consider the following breakdown of a parallel sentence: “The manager told the employees that they should arrive on time, that they should dress professionally, and that they should remain positive.” Here, we have three parallel “that-clauses.” Each clause functions as a direct object of the verb “told.” Because they all share the same structure, the sentence feels cohesive.
Parallelism at the Word Level
Parallelism at the word level is the simplest form to master. It involves ensuring that single words in a series belong to the same part of speech. If you are describing a person using three adjectives, all three must be adjectives. You should not mix an adjective with a noun or a verb.
For example, in the phrase “The movie was long, boring, and a disappointment,” the parallelism is broken. “Long” and “boring” are adjectives, but “a disappointment” is a noun phrase. To fix this, you could say, “The movie was long, boring, and disappointing.” Now, all three words are adjectives ending in -ing (or acting as such).
This rule applies to nouns as well. “We need to buy bread, milk, and to get some eggs” is incorrect because “bread” and “milk” are nouns, while “to get some eggs” is a phrase. The correct version is “We need to buy bread, milk, and eggs.”
Parallelism with Phrases
Phrases are groups of words that function as a single unit but do not contain a subject-verb pair. Common types of phrases include gerund phrases, infinitive phrases, and prepositional phrases. Maintaining parallelism across these phrases is a frequent challenge for intermediate writers.
Gerund phrases are those that begin with a verb ending in -ing. If you say, “I enjoy reading books, listening to music, and going for walks,” you are using parallel gerund phrases. If you changed the last part to “and to go for walks,” the parallelism would be lost.
Infinitive phrases begin with “to” followed by the base form of a verb. For example, “She wanted to travel the world, to see the sights, and to meet new people.” Note that in a series of infinitives, you can often omit the “to” after the first mention (e.g., “to travel, see, and meet”), but the verb forms themselves must remain consistent.
Parallelism with Clauses
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb. Parallelism with clauses occurs when a sentence contains two or more clauses with the same grammatical structure. This is often seen in complex or compound-complex sentences.
Consider the famous quote: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” Both clauses follow the pattern [Imperative Verb] + [Noun Clause]. This creates a powerful rhetorical effect. If the second half were “ask about your potential contributions to the nation,” the impact would be significantly diminished.
Noun clauses often begin with words like “that,” “which,” “who,” or “how.” If you have a list of noun clauses, ensure they all start the same way. “The teacher explained how we should study and that the test would be hard” is non-parallel. “The teacher explained that we should study and that the test would be hard” is parallel.
Rules for Lists and Series
When creating a list, the items must be in the same form. This applies to bulleted lists in professional documents as well as lists within a standard sentence. A common error occurs when a writer provides a list of “to-do” items and mixes imperatives with nouns.
For example, a list of instructions should consistently use the imperative mood: 1. Clean the floor. 2. Wash the windows. 3. Paint the walls. It would be incorrect to say: 1. Clean the floor. 2. Windows need washing. 3. Painting the walls. The lack of consistency makes the list harder to process as a set of instructions.
In a series within a sentence, the use of the Oxford comma (the comma before “and”) is often debated, but regardless of your punctuation style, the grammatical forms must match. Whether you have two items or ten, the pattern established by the first item must be maintained until the end of the series.
Correlative Conjunctions and Symmetry
Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words that join equal sentence elements. The most common pairs are either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also, and both…and. These pairs require strict parallelism.
The rule is that whatever follows the first part of the pair must match what follows the second part. If you say, “He is not only talented but also he is hard-working,” the parallelism is slightly off. A better version is “He is not only talented but also hard-working,” where both words are adjectives. Alternatively, “Not only is he talented, but he is also hard-working” uses two full clauses.
Misplacement of these conjunctions is a frequent error. “He either is crazy or a genius” is non-parallel because “is crazy” (verb + adjective) follows “either,” while “a genius” (noun phrase) follows “or.” The correct version is “He is either crazy or a genius,” where “crazy” and “a genius” are both complements of the verb “is.”
Parallelism in Comparisons
When you compare two things using words like “than” or “as,” the things being compared must be in the same grammatical form. This is often called “logical comparison.” If you compare an action to a noun, the sentence becomes illogical.
For example, “Driving a car is faster than to walk” is non-parallel. You should say “Driving a car is faster than walking” (gerund vs. gerund) or “To drive a car is faster than to walk” (infinitive vs. infinitive). Similarly, “Her hair is longer than Sarah” is illogical because you are comparing hair to a person. It should be “Her hair is longer than Sarah’s [hair].”
Parallelism in comparisons ensures that you are comparing “apples to apples” rather than “apples to oranges.” This applies to qualities, actions, and even abstract concepts. If you are comparing the “beauty of the sunset” to something else, that something else should also be a noun phrase describing a quality.
Verb Tense and Voice Consistency
While parallelism usually refers to the structure of phrases and clauses, it also encompasses the consistency of verb tenses and voices within a sentence or a paragraph. Shifting from the active voice to the passive voice in the middle of a list can disrupt the parallel flow.
Consider: “The chef prepared the meal, set the table, and the wine was poured by him.” The first two verbs are active, but the third is passive. To maintain parallelism, it should be: “The chef prepared the meal, set the table, and poured the wine.”
Similarly, shifting tenses can break parallelism. “She likes to swim, to hike, and she enjoyed skiing” is problematic. The first two are infinitives suggesting a general preference, while the last is a past-tense clause. The parallel version is “She likes to swim, to hike, and to ski.”
Extensive Example Tables for Mastery
To truly grasp parallelism, it is helpful to see many examples side-by-side. The following tables demonstrate how to convert non-parallel structures into parallel ones across various categories.
Table 1: Parallelism with Nouns and Adjectives
This table focuses on ensuring that single-word descriptors and objects maintain the same part of speech within a series or comparison.
| Non-Parallel Example | Parallel Correction | Grammatical Form Used |
|---|---|---|
| The puppy was cute, playful, and a ball of energy. | The puppy was cute, playful, and energetic. | Adjectives |
| He likes football, basketball, and playing tennis. | He likes football, basketball, and tennis. | Nouns |
| The room was dark, cold, and smelled bad. | The room was dark, cold, and smelly. | Adjectives |
| She is a doctor, a mother, and she writes. | She is a doctor, a mother, and a writer. | Nouns |
| The water was clear, blue, and it was cold. | The water was clear, blue, and cold. | Adjectives |
| We need honesty, integrity, and to be brave. | We need honesty, integrity, and bravery. | Abstract Nouns |
| The cake was sweet, moist, and a delight. | The cake was sweet, moist, and delightful. | Adjectives |
| He is smart, funny, and has wealth. | He is smart, funny, and wealthy. | Adjectives |
| The movie was exciting, scary, and a thrill. | The movie was exciting, scary, and thrilling. | Adjectives |
| She bought a shirt, pants, and getting a hat. | She bought a shirt, pants, and a hat. | Nouns |
| The job requires patience, skill, and being hard-working. | The job requires patience, skill, and diligence. | Nouns |
| The city is large, busy, and a noise. | The city is large, busy, and noisy. | Adjectives |
| The garden was colorful, fragrant, and a beauty. | The garden was colorful, fragrant, and beautiful. | Adjectives |
| He wanted power, money, and to be famous. | He wanted power, money, and fame. | Nouns |
| The weather was rainy, windy, and a chill. | The weather was rainy, windy, and chilly. | Adjectives |
| She is kind, helpful, and a person who gives. | She is kind, helpful, and generous. | Adjectives |
| The car is fast, reliable, and an expensive one. | The car is fast, reliable, and expensive. | Adjectives |
| We value truth, justice, and being free. | We value truth, justice, and freedom. | Nouns |
| The task was difficult, long, and a bore. | The task was difficult, long, and boring. | Adjectives |
| He is a scholar, a teacher, and he researches. | He is a scholar, a teacher, and a researcher. | Nouns |
Table 2: Parallelism with Verbs and Phrases
This table illustrates how to maintain consistency when using different verb forms, such as gerunds (-ing) and infinitives (to…).
| Non-Parallel Example | Parallel Correction | Grammatical Form Used |
|---|---|---|
| I like to run, to swim, and surfing. | I like to run, to swim, and to surf. | Infinitives |
| He spent his time reading, writing, and he exercised. | He spent his time reading, writing, and exercising. | Gerunds |
| To eat healthy and exercising are important. | Eating healthy and exercising are important. | Gerunds |
| She decided to quit her job and starting a business. | She decided to quit her job and start a business. | Infinitives |
| The goal is to learn, to grow, and succeeding. | The goal is to learn, to grow, and to succeed. | Infinitives |
| Hiking, camping, and to fish are fun. | Hiking, camping, and fishing are fun. | Gerunds |
| He was told to sit down, stay quiet, and listening. | He was told to sit down, stay quiet, and listen. | Infinitives |
| She enjoys painting, singing, and to dance. | She enjoys painting, singing, and dancing. | Gerunds |
| They came to see, to hear, and for learning. | They came to see, to hear, and to learn. | Infinitives |
| Working hard and to play hard is his motto. | Working hard and playing hard is his motto. | Gerunds |
| He likes to cook, to clean, and gardening. | He likes to cook, to clean, and to garden. | Infinitives |
| Singing and to play piano are her talents. | Singing and playing piano are her talents. | Gerunds |
| The cat likes sleeping, eating, and to play. | The cat likes sleeping, eating, and playing. | Gerunds |
| To be or not being, that is the question. | To be or not to be, that is the question. | Infinitives |
| He finished the report, sent the email, and calling the boss. | He finished the report, sent the email, and called the boss. | Past Tense Verbs |
| She is responsible for hiring, training, and the payroll. | She is responsible for hiring, training, and managing payroll. | Gerund Phrases |
| I prefer traveling by train than to fly. | I prefer traveling by train to flying by plane. | Gerunds |
| He wants to study law and becoming a judge. | He wants to study law and become a judge. | Infinitives |
| The man was accused of lying, stealing, and he cheated. | The man was accused of lying, stealing, and cheating. | Gerunds |
| We must act quickly, decisively, and with care. | We must act quickly, decisively, and carefully. | Adverbs |
Table 3: Parallelism with Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions require the elements they link to be perfectly balanced. This table shows common fixes for these tricky pairs.
| Non-Parallel Example | Parallel Correction | Conjunction Pair |
|---|---|---|
| Either you stay or going. | Either you stay or you go. | Either…or |
| Neither the heat nor it was raining stopped us. | Neither the heat nor the rain stopped us. | Neither…nor |
| Not only was he late but also rude. | He was not only late but also rude. | Not only…but also |
| Both the teacher and the one who is a student agreed. | Both the teacher and the student agreed. | Both…and |
| She is either in the library or she is at home. | She is either in the library or at home. | Either…or |
| He not only plays the guitar but also the drums. | He plays not only the guitar but also the drums. | Not only…but also |
| Neither her parents nor her friends knew. | Neither her parents nor her friends knew. (Correct) | Neither…nor |
| Whether you win or if you lose doesn’t matter. | Whether you win or lose doesn’t matter. | Whether…or |
| I want both to go to the park and the beach. | I want to go to both the park and the beach. | Both…and |
| Not only did he fail but also he was discouraged. | He was not only failing but also discouraged. | Not only…but also |
| Either clean your room or you will be grounded. | Either clean your room or face being grounded. | Either…or |
| Neither the cat nor the dog wants to go outside. | Neither the cat nor the dog wants to go outside. (Correct) | Neither…nor |
| He is both a scholar and he is an athlete. | He is both a scholar and an athlete. | Both…and |
| She not only likes to sing but also dancing. | She likes not only singing but also dancing. | Not only…but also |
| Either we go now or staying here all night. | Either we go now or stay here all night. | Either…or |
| Neither the red one nor the blue is available. | Neither the red one nor the blue one is available. | Neither…nor |
| Both the speed and how accurate it was were impressive. | Both the speed and the accuracy were impressive. | Both…and |
| Not only is she smart, but also she is kind. | She is not only smart but also kind. | Not only…but also |
| Whether by car or if we take the bus, we’ll be late. | Whether by car or by bus, we’ll be late. | Whether…or |
| He either wants to sleep or eating. | He either wants to sleep or to eat. | Either…or |
Advanced Usage Rules and Special Cases
While the basic rules of parallelism are straightforward, there are several nuances that advanced writers should keep in mind. One such rule involves the repetition of function words. Function words include prepositions (in, on, at), articles (a, an, the), and the infinitive marker “to.” To maintain perfect parallelism, you should either repeat the function word before every item in a list or use it only before the first item.
For example, “He was interested in history, in science, and in art” is parallel. “He was interested in history, science, and art” is also parallel. However, “He was interested in history, science, and in art” is considered non-parallel because the pattern of prepositions is inconsistent. Consistency in these small words helps maintain the rhythm of the sentence.
Another special case involves “than” and “as” in comparisons. When comparing two actions, ensure the verb forms match. “She would rather dance than sing” is correct because both are base forms of the verb. “She would rather dance than singing” is incorrect. This rule also applies to noun phrases in comparisons. “The climate in Florida is better than the climate in Alaska” is better than “The climate in Florida is better than Alaska,” which technically compares a climate to a state.
Parallelism also applies to clauses starting with “that” or “who.” If you are providing multiple pieces of information about a subject using relative clauses, keep the structure the same. “The man who won the race and who broke the record was cheered” is formal and clear. While you can sometimes omit the second “who,” keeping it often adds clarity, especially in long, complex sentences.
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
The most common mistake in parallelism is the “mixed bag” list. This happens when a writer begins a list with one grammatical structure and then shifts to another. Usually, this occurs because the writer is focusing on the meaning of the items rather than their form.
Mistake 1: Mixing Gerunds and Infinitives
Incorrect: “I like swimming and to hike.”
Correct: “I like swimming and hiking” OR “I like to swim and to hike.”
The fix is to choose one form and stick with it throughout the sentence.
Mistake 2: Mismatched Correlative Conjunctions
Incorrect: “The program is not only educational but also it is fun.”
Correct: “The program is not only educational but also fun.”
In the incorrect version, an adjective follows “not only” while a full clause follows “but also.” The correction ensures two adjectives are used.
Mistake 3: Faulty Comparisons
Incorrect: “The instructions for the new software are more complex than the old software.”
Correct: “The instructions for the new software are more complex than the instructions for the old software.”
You cannot compare “instructions” to “software.” You must compare “instructions” to “instructions.”
Mistake 4: Shifting Verb Voice
Incorrect: “First, preheat the oven, and then the cookies should be placed on the tray.”
Correct: “First, preheat the oven, and then place the cookies on the tray.”
The shift from active (preheat) to passive (should be placed) is jarring. Keeping both in the imperative active voice is much clearer.
Advanced Topics: Rhetorical Parallelism
Beyond simple grammar, parallelism is a powerful rhetorical device used in literature and oratory. This is often referred to as isocolon (parallel structures of similar length) or tricolon (a series of three parallel words or phrases). These structures create a sense of completeness and memorability.
Consider Julius Caesar’s famous line: “Veni, vidi, vici” (I came, I saw, I conquered). This is a perfect example of parallelism. Each item is a single, first-person, past-tense verb. The symmetry makes the statement feel inevitable and powerful. In modern speechwriting, parallelism is used to build momentum. Abraham Lincoln’s “of the people, by the people, for the people” uses parallel prepositional phrases to define the essence of democracy.
Another advanced technique is antithesis, which uses parallel structure to contrast opposing ideas. For example, “Setting foot on the moon may be a small step for a man, but it is a giant leap for mankind.” Here, “small step for a man” is perfectly balanced against “giant leap for mankind.” The grammatical symmetry highlights the conceptual contrast between the individual and humanity.
Practice Exercises and Solutions
Test your knowledge of parallel structure with the following exercises. Try to identify the error in each sentence and rewrite it to be parallel.
Exercise 1: Identifying and Fixing Errors
| Question | Sentence to Correct | Correct Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | She likes to cook, to sew, and playing the guitar. | She likes to cook, to sew, and to play the guitar. |
| 2 | The job was difficult, stressful, and a challenge. | The job was difficult, stressful, and challenging. |
| 3 | He either wants to go to the movies or staying home. | He either wants to go to the movies or to stay home. |
| 4 | The teacher told us to open our books and that we should start reading. | The teacher told us to open our books and to start reading. |
| 5 | Success is not only about working hard but also having luck. | Success is not only about working hard but also about having luck. |
| 6 | The air was cold, damp, and it was misty. | The air was cold, damp, and misty. |
| 7 | I would rather buy a new car than repairing the old one. | I would rather buy a new car than repair the old one. |
| 8 | The kittens were small, cute, and they were frisky. | The kittens were small, cute, and frisky. |
| 9 | Neither the manager nor the ones who work there were happy. | Neither the manager nor the employees were happy. |
| 10 | He spent his vacation hiking in the mountains and to swim in the lake. | He spent his vacation hiking in the mountains and swimming in the lake. |
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Choose the sentence that demonstrates correct parallel structure.
- A) To succeed is to work hard and having a good attitude.
B) To succeed is to work hard and to have a good attitude. - A) He is talented, brave, and a leader.
B) He is talented, brave, and a natural leader. (Wait, still non-parallel!)
C) He is talented, brave, and charismatic. - A) Smoking is bad for your health and expensive.
B) Smoking is bad for your health and it costs a lot. - A) Not only did he lose his keys, but he also lost his wallet.
B) Not only did he lose his keys, but also his wallet was lost. - A) The company is looking for someone who is creative and has motivation.
B) The company is looking for someone who is creative and motivated.
Answers: 1-B, 2-C, 3-A, 4-A, 5-B
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Does parallelism only apply to lists of three or more?
A: No, parallelism applies to any coordination of two or more elements. Even a simple pair of words joined by “and” should be parallel (e.g., “fast and furious” vs. “fast and with fury”).
Q: Can I mix tenses if the actions happened at different times?
A: Yes. Parallelism is about grammatical structure, not necessarily identical timeframes. However, within a single list of actions occurring in the same context, keeping the tense consistent is usually the best choice for clarity.
Q: Is “to” required for every verb in a list of infinitives?
A: It is not required, but it must be consistent. You can say “to run, to jump, and to swim” or “to run, jump, and swim.” You should not say “to run, jump, and to swim.”
Q: Why does faulty parallelism sound so “wrong” to native speakers?
A: Human brains are wired for pattern recognition. When a pattern is established (e.g., Adjective, Adjective…), the brain expects it to continue. Breaking that pattern creates a “cognitive hitch” that feels awkward or confusing.
Q: Is parallelism important in creative writing?
A: Absolutely. While creative writers sometimes break rules for effect, parallelism is a primary tool for creating rhythm, mood, and emphasis in prose and poetry.
Q: Does parallelism apply to bullet points in a resume?
A: Yes, this is one of the most practical applications. If your first bullet point starts with a past-tense verb (e.g., “Managed a team”), all subsequent bullet points in that section should also start with past-tense verbs.
Q: Can I use parallelism with different types of clauses?
A: Generally, no. If you start with a “that-clause,” you should follow with a “that-clause.” Mixing a “that-clause” with a “wh-clause” (like “how” or “why”) can be grammatically correct but often lacks the elegance of true parallelism.
Q: What is the difference between parallelism and repetition?
A: Repetition is using the exact same word or phrase multiple times. Parallelism is using the same grammatical structure with different words. They are often used together for rhetorical effect.
Conclusion and Final Learning Tips
Mastering parallelism is one of the most effective ways to elevate your writing from basic to professional. It ensures that your ideas are presented logically, clearly, and with a pleasing rhythm. Remember that parallelism applies at every level of language, from single words like bright, shiny, and new to complex clauses and comparisons. To improve, get into the habit of proofreading your lists and comparisons specifically for structural consistency. Ask yourself: “Does every item in this group look the same grammatically?” If you start with a noun, end with a noun. If you start with a gerund, end with a gerund. With practice, creating parallel structures will become second nature, allowing you to communicate your thoughts with greater precision and impact. Keep your structures balanced, and your readers will thank you for the clarity and flow of your work.
