MAINTAIN PARALLELISM A sentence may contain a series of words, phrases, or clauses. To make it parallel, be consistent within the series: use nouns with nouns, verbs with verbs, subordinate clauses with subordinate clauses, and so on. Not Parallel: | He bought a tie, a shirt, and purchased a scarf. | Parallel: | He bought a tie, a shirt, and a scarf. |
The first sentence contains a series that is not consistent. The first two
items are nouns, but the third—purchased a scarf—contains a verb. In
the second sentence, all three items—tie, shirt, and scarf—are
nouns. USING PARALLELISM TO CREATE COMPARISONS AND CONTRASTS Always compare like things; otherwise, your sentence won't be parallel. Not parallel: | The mountains of the West are younger than the East. |
[This sentence compares things that are not alike: the mountains and the East.] You can correct this problem in two ways: Parallel: | The mountains of the West are younger than the mountains of the East. | Parallel: | The mountains of the West are younger than those of the East. |
CREATING PARALLELISM WITH CORRELATIVES Some pairs of words can help make sentences parallel. These are correlatives: either . . . or; neither . . . nor; and not only . . . but also. When you use these pairs, remember to join the same kinds of elements. Not Parallel: | In December, the weather is either cool, or we get a warming trend with rain. | Parallel: | In December, the weather is either cool or warm and rainy. |
NOTE: | In the first sentence, either introduces an adjective—cool—but or introduces a clause—we get a warming trend with rain. In the second sentence, or also introduces adjectives—warm and rainy. |
USING THAT TO CREATE PARALLELISM You can use the relative pronoun that to introduce a subordinate clause. But be consistent if you use more than one subordinate clause. Make sure each is introduced the same way. Not Parallel: | I knew that I wouldn't get there and my friends would be worried. | Parallel: | I knew that I wouldn't get there and that my friends would be worried. |
NOTE: | In the first example, one subordinate clause is introduced by that; the other isn't. In the second example, both subordinate clauses are introduced by that; the sentence is parallel. |
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