This is the first part of a four-part series about parallel structure.
Your students can make their writing clearer by creating word patterns that readers can easily follow and increase readability.
There are a bunch of things we have to cover since we can use parallel structure with:
• Correlative Conjunctions
• Coordinating Conjunctions
• Phrases or Clauses of Comparison and Lists
Let’s start by giving our students a definition and writing it on the board.
Parallel structure, also known as Parallelism or parallel construction, is a balance within one or more sentences of similar phrases or clauses that have the same grammatical structure.
At this point, I don’t think that many students will be any wiser, so it’s time for some examples.
This is not Parallel:
Paul likes swimming, the cinema, and to take afternoon naps.
This is parallel:
Paul likes to swim, attend the cinema, and take afternoon naps.
Another option would be:
Paul likes swimming, attending the cinema, and taking afternoon naps.
Think of a few more examples and let your students think of some too… but for now, keep it simple.
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