Parallel
Structure
Structures of Equal Rank;
correcting Faulty Parallelism
Parallelism in sentence structure exists when two or more sentence elements of equal rank are similarly expressed. Stating equal and closely related ideas in parallel constructions often adds clarity and smoothness to writing.
KINDS OF PARALLEL STRUCTURE
15a. Express parallel ideas in the same grammatical form.
There are three sentence elements which commonly require parallel treatment: coordinated ideas, compared and contrasted ideas, and correlative constructions. A sentence reads smoothly when the writer has taken the trouble to put parallel ideas in the same form.
Coordinate Ideas
Coordinate ideas are equal in rank. They are joined by coordinate connectives. The coordinate connectives most often used in parallel structure are and, but, or, nor.
To express parallel ideas in the same grammatical form, pair one part of speech with the same part of speech, a verbal with the same kind of verbal, a phrase with a phrase, a clause with a clause. Do not pair unlike grammatical forms.
PARALLEL: The committee studied all aspects of the problem—humane, political, and financial. [All three coordinate elements are adjectives.]
FAULTY: The math exam tested our knowledge of exponential functions, the quadratic formula, and solving linear equations. [two nouns paired with a phrase]
PARALLEL: The math exam tested our knowledge of exponential functions, the quadratic formula, and linear equations. [three nouns]
FAULTY: According to my teacher, my composition revealed exceptional creative ability but that I make too many spelling errors. [noun paired with clause]
PARALLEL: According to my teacher, my composition revealed exceptional creative ability but too many spelling errors. [noun paired with noun]
PARALLEL: According to my teacher, my composition revealed that I have exceptional creative ability but that I make too many spelling errors. [clause paired with clause]
Compared or Contrasted Ideas
PARALLEL: Water-skiing no longer interests me as much as scuba diving. [gerund paired with gerund]
PARALLEL: To water-ski no longer interests me as much as to scuba dive. [infinitive paired with an infinitive.)
FAULTY: Her novel was praised more for its style than for what it had to say. [noun paired with a clause]
PARALLEL: Her novel was praised more for its style than for its ideas. [noun paired with a noun]
Correlative Constructions
Correlative constructions are formed with the correlative conjunctions both . . . and, either . . . or, neither . . . nor, not only . . . but (also).
PARALLEL: At the gate they tried both persuasion and force. [noun paired with a noun]
FAULTY: The new clerk soon proved herself to be not only capable but also a woman who could be trusted. [adjective paired with a noun]
COMPLETED PARALLELISM
15b. Place correlative conjunctions immediately before the parallel terms.
STANDARD: Captain McGlue is president not only of the National Bank but also of the Chamber of Commerce.
NONSTANDARD: The team both felt the satisfaction of victory and the disappointment of defeat.
STANDARD: The team felt both the satisfaction of victory and the disappointment of defeat.
15c. In parallel constructions repeat an article, a preposition, or a pronoun whenever necessary to make the meaning clear.
Note that the omission or inclusion of a word in the paired sentences below changes the meaning.
Before the meeting I talked with the secretary and the treasurer. [This sentence indicates that I talked with two persons.]
The weather was a greater handicap to the invading army than their enemy. [This sentence means that the invaders would rather fight the enemy than the weather.]
The weather was a greater handicap to the invading army than to their enemy. [This sentence means that the invaders had the harder job.]
We feel certain that she is capable, she will succeed, and you will be proud of her. [In a series of parallel that clauses, the meaning is usually clearer if the introductory word is repeated in each clause. Omission of the introductory that from the clauses may give the impression that this is a run-on sentence, the first sentence ending with capable.]
We feel certain that she is capable, that she will succeed, and that you will be proud of her.
EXERCISE 1. Improve the following sentences by putting parallel ideas into the same grammatical form. Correct any errors in the placement of correlatives and in the omission of a necessary article, preposition, or pronoun.
1. Its large size, simple structure, and how readily available it is, make the common cockroach convenient to study.
2. Cockroaches have smooth leathery skin, long thin antennae, and they have a body that is thick and flat.
3. They are not only found in urban areas but in the tropics.
4. The Oriental cockroach is short-winged, while cockroaches from America have full wings.
5. North America boasts about sixty species, but only two in Great Britain.
6. Cockroaches may be dark brown, pale brown, or of a green color that is delicate.
7. Cockroach eggs are laid in small cases, carried on the female body, and then they deposit them in hidden crevices.
8. A typical cockroach lives as a nymph for about a year, and as an adult its life lasts about half a year.
9. The odors that attract cockroaches are sweet, but they emit disagreeable odors.
10. Cockroaches will eat anything, but they especially like sweet foods and foods that are starchy.
11. What a cockroach soils is far more than it consumes.
12. By day the average cockroach is quietly lazy, but busily energetic describes how it is by night.
13. We might not only view the cockroach with disgust but also interest.
14. The cockroach both is the most primitive living winged insect and the most ancient fossil insect.
15. We have as much to learn from the cockroach's evolution as there is to gain from extinguishing it.
15d. Include in the second part of a parallel construction all words necessary to make the construction complete.
Occasionally in your haste you may fail to include in one part of a parallel construction all the words necessary to make the construction complete.
COMPLETE: Linda always chose topics that were more difficult than those of the other students.
In the first of these sentences you feel that something has been omitted because the sentence compares topics with students.
EXERCISE 2. Correct the parallelism in each of the following sentences by inserting the words that have been omitted.
1. Professor Nagy’s lectures are easier to comprehend than Professor Fisher.
2. She is busy the entire day, since she gives half of each day to her work and to team practice.
3. A modern director's interpretation of Hamlet is very different from a nineteenth-century director.
4. A dog's ability to bear high-pitched sounds is much keener than humans.
5. How do your grades in English compare with science?
6. New cars this year are smaller than last year.
7. The biographical information in the encyclopedia is more detailed than the dictionary.
8. People have been more interested in reading the book than the movie version.
9. The view from the World Trade Center is even more spectacular than the Empire State Building.
10. The rate of interest paid by the Amalgamated Bank is higher than the Security Bank.
11. Radio reception on the top floor is usually clearer than the ground floor.
13. Some birds like to eat fruit as much as insects.
14. The damage caused by this year's natural disasters is greater than last year's.
15. For the past month the price of gold has risen more sharply than silver.
EXERCISE 3. The following sentences contain faulty parallelism. Rephrase the sentences so that the parallelism will be correctly and logically expressed. You will do well to review the various kinds of parallelism before doing the exercise.
5. She spoke about her experience in Australia and several pre- dictions about the country's future.
6. To the unthinking person, war may be a romantic adventure, but a foolish and dirty business is the way the wise person regards it.
7. The unexpected cooperation of China was a greater surprise to Russia than the United States.
8. The skipper had a harsh voice, a weatherbeaten face, and was very stocky in build.
9. We were not sure that our request for a raise was fair or it would be granted.
10. The speech of cultivated Britishers is not so different as it used to be from Americans.
11. The public's attention has been centered on the need for more teachers, adequate classrooms, and there isn't enough new equipment.
12, This was a much harder assignment for me than Luis.
13. The ambassador did not know whether the President had sent for him or the Secretary of State.
14. Her friends not only were shocked by her failure but they felt a great disappointment.
15. The players were annoyed not so much by the decisions of the officials as the hostile crowd.
16. The company announced a bonus for all five-year employees and that deserving new employees would be given additional benefits.
17. The headmaster insisted that all of us return by ten o'clock and the housemasters must check us in.
18. High school programs have been accused of being too closely tied in with college education and that they neglect the average teenagers
19. Pioneers came with hopes of being happy and free and to make their fortunes in the new world.
20. All delegates to the convention were advised that on their return they would both have to make a written and oral report.