How to Write a Parallelism
In order to use parallelism,
- Examine a normal sentence.
- Find phrases which can be written in a grammatically parallel way.
For a few examples, consider sentences without parallelism turned into sentences with parallelism:
Normal Sentence:
She enjoys knitting and sewing, and she also enjoys embroidering.
Although this sentence is grammatically correct, it is not grammatically parallel, as the subject-verb-object phrase “she also enjoys embroidering” interrupts the pattern formed by the gerunds “knitting” and “sewing.” In order to improve this sentence, turn “she also enjoys embroidering” into a gerund in order to match “knitting” and “sewing.”
Sentence with Parallel Structure:
She enjoys knitting, sewing, and embroidering.
The adjusted sentence has not lost its original meaning, but it has gained a greater balance and symmetry, improving the reader’s experience.
For a second example, consider this:
Normal sentence:
We prefer candidates are reliable, ambitious, and who show up on time.
The above sentence describes candidates who are “reliable” and “ambitious,” two adjectives, followed by the phrase “who show up on time.” In order to create a parallel structure, turn “who show up on time” into an appropriate adjective:
Sentence with Parallel Structure:
We prefer candidates who are reliable, ambitious, and punctual.
“Punctual” describes someone who shows up on time and creates a more balanced sentence.
For a last example, consider a more complicated construction:
Normal sentence:
I need you to first water the plants, then feed the dogs. For the last thing, I need you to put dinner in the oven.
This example lists three tasks in chronological order. In order to clarify this, find the parallel elements. There are two potential types of parallelism. First, the tasks are parallel: “water the plants,” “feed the dogs,” and “I need you to put the dinner in the oven.” Secondly, the timing is parallel with the time markers “first,” “then,” and “the last thing.” Adjust these phrases to be grammatically parallel:
Sentence with Parallel Structure:
I need you to first water the plants, then feed the dogs, and lastly make the dinner.
This usage of parallelism lists the tasks in a simpler and clearer way:
I need you to first (adverb) water the plants (verb and object), then (adverb) feed the dogs (verb and object), and lastly (adverb) make the dinner (verb and object).
When to use Parallelism
As can be seen in the previous examples, parallelism can be used in a wide variety of situations. It can be used for polishing speeches with repetition, creating lists of characteristics, and simplifying sentences with improved structure. Parallelism should be used in everyday speech for clarity and in formal writing for structure. It can also be used as an artistic element in poetry and prose, creating attractive rhythm and symmetry.