parallelism in writing essays

In writing, parallelism refers to balance and equality. In order for the reader to understand what the writer means, the words must make sense in time and space. If you start talking about one thing one way, you can’t – mid-sentence – switch to talking about something else a different way. I will stop working on my speech and went to the movies. This sentence isn’t parallel because the verb tenses don’t make chronological sense. I stopped working on my speech and went to the movies. I will stop working on my speech and go to the movies. I stopped working on my speech, and I like to watch movies. The problem with this sentence involves both the verb tenses and the subject matter. The only way to deal with this is to write it as two sentences. I stopped working on my speech and went to a movie. I like to watch movies. Sharon needs to work on both grammar and she needs to learn to spell. The problem in this sentence is because everything hinges on both. If we separated the clauses into sentences, we’d see the problem: Sharon needs to work on grammar. Sharon needs to work on she needs to learn to spell. Obviously, the second sentence doesn’t work. The first sentence is alright, though, so we can use that as our template for the second clause. Sharon needs to work on both grammar and spelling. Mary likes to shop and jogging. Mary like shopping and jogging. Mary likes to shop and to go jogging. Faulty parallelism usually involves a problem with verb form, but you should look for nouns, adverbs, and adjectives, too. Public transit such as buses or a train can help reduce air pollution. Public transit such as buses or trains can help reduce air pollution. The chef swiftly and with efficiency rolled out the pizza dough and covered it with toppings. The chef swiftly and efficiently rolled out the pizza dough and covered it with toppings.
Writing Tips: Parallelism Parallelism 1. Parallelism: Introduction, Definition, Purpose, Examples Parallelism is the use of similar patterns of words (or grammatical forms) to express similar or related ideas or ideas of equal importance. Using parallel structures creates rhythm and balance and enables the writer to present ideas clearly, concisely, and smoothly.Perhaps even more importantly, parallelism can help a writer highlight or emphasize information or make a powerful point.Without parallelism, writing can become clunky, awkward, and needlessly confusing.With it, reading can become easy to understand, pleasing to the ear, and even persuasive. For an easy way to understand parallelism, take a quick look at two sentences written with structures that aren't parallel: Golf requires hand-eye coordination, flexibility, and to be able to concentrate. Jack is responsible for loading the trunk, cleaning the seat cushions, and the engine check. In both cases, you can see the basic function of parallelism at work - or more precisely, the lack of it.In the first example, the first two items of a three-item list are nouns, while the last item is a verb phrase.In the second example, the first two items are verb phrases, and the third is a noun.In neither case does the faulty parallelism actually create a factual error or alter the meaning of the sentence.But notice how the following two parallel versions not only attain parallelism - thus demonstrating control of the writing and gaining credibility with readers - but they also become much more smooth, rhythmic, and easy to follow: Golf requires hand-eye coordination, flexibility, and concentration. Jack is responsible for loading the trunk, cleaning the seat cushions, and checking the engine.  2. Some Famous Examples In the previous examples, a simple word change or two corrects the problem; we now have a sentence with.
Definition Parallelism refers to the use of grammatically equal elements in sentences and paragraphs.We may view parallelism as a matter of balance.When elements are balanced (parallel), the result is clear and smooth; when they are not balanced, the result is awkward and confusing. Principal Rules For parallel structure, balance nouns with nouns, prepositional phrases with prepositional phrases, participles with participles, infinitives with infinitives, clauses with clauses. Not parallel:  Our report covers the details of the plan and how much it costs. Parallel:  Our report covers the details of the plan and its costs. Not parallel:  Our goals were to collect information, analyzing the significance of the facts, and appropriate recommendations would be made. Parallel:  Our goals were to collect information, to analyze the facts, and to make appropriate recommendations.  [This would also be parallel with  to collect., analyze., and make. (omit the second and third uses of to).  But the repetition has its merits: see the next bulleted rule.] Not parallel:  We would appreciate your response, orally or in writing. Parallel:  We would appreciate an oral or a written response.   To emphasize and clarify parallel structure, repeat a preposition, an article, the to in an infinitive, or the introductory word of a phrase or clause: > The problem lies not in the plan itself but in the method of execution. > We are pleased that you have accepted our proposal and that you will be working with us on this important project. > We are writing to clarify our position, to prevent possible misunderstandings, and to establish a foundation for cooperation.   Use parallel structure with correlatives: either.. or; neither.. nor; not only.. but also; whether.. or; both.. and.  Not parallel:  Whether at home or when at work, he was always busy. Parallel:  Whether at.
I don’t know about you, but I was glued to the Olympics this year. And I’m not embarrassed to announce that I watched many hours of gymnastics, synchronized diving and synchronized swimming. You have to admire the athletes’ amazing precision, excellent balancing and graceful landings. If only writers were as precise, balanced and graceful as these medal winners. If they were, readers could happily wend their way down a logical, parallel path, enjoying elegant sentences whose parts match each other. Parallel elements have the same weight and are often the same part of speech. Noun, noun, noun. Check. Adjective, adjective, adjective. Yep. Verb, verb, verb. Parallelism is all about equality; parallelism creates a nice rhythm in your sentence; unparallelism, bad. Adjective, adjective, verb. Yikes. Noun, adjective, adjective. Insert sour-faced judge here. Learning to make sentences parallel is a difficult skill, perhaps as hard as learning to dive off a 10-meter platform without killing yourself. Making sure sentence elements are parallel is like making sure a subject agrees with a verb—only harder. Subject-verb agreement involves matching only one subject with one verb; parallelism can involve multiple elements. To become powerhouses of perfection, writers must study and practice their manuevers. What better way to encourage balanced sentence elements than to organize a new Olympic event: Synchronized Sentences. Writers will now care about parts of speech. Before writers can compete in this event, they must undergo a tough four-step training regimen. Step 1 is to identify sentences that contain like elements and then to practice identifying them until the author gets writer’s cramp. A simple sentence like this won’t concern our writers in training because it doesn’t contain elements that need to be parallel: “The swimmers were beautifully synchronized.” On the other.
Definition of Parallelism Parallelism is the use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same; or similar in their construction, sound, meaning or meter. Parallelism examples are found in literary works as well as in ordinary conversations. This method adds balance and rhythm to sentences giving ideas a smoother flow and thus can be persuasive because of the repetition it employs. For example, “Alice ran into the room, into the garden, and into our hearts.” We see the repetition of a phrase that not only gives the sentence a balance but rhythm and flow as well. This repetition can also occur in similar structured clauses e.g. “Whenever you need me, wherever you need me, I will be there for you.” Common Examples of Parallelism Like father, like son. The escaped prisoner was wanted dead or alive. Easy come, easy go. Whether in class, at work or at home, Shasta was always busy. Flying is fast, comfortable, and safe. Examples of Parallelism in Literature In literature, parallelism is used in different ways to impress upon the readers in order to convey messages or moral lessons. Let us analyze a few examples of parallelism in literature: Example 1 Antithesis is a kind of parallelism in which two opposite ideas are put together in parallel structures. Alexander Pope in his “An Essay on Criticism” uses antithetic parallel structure: “To err is human; to forgive divine.” Imperfection is a human trait and God is most forgiving. Through these antithetical but parallel structures, the poet wants to say that God is forgiving because his creation is erring. Example 2 We find parallelism in John Donne’s poem “Community”, “Good we must love, and must hate ill, For ill is ill, and good good still; But there are things indifferent, Which we may neither hate, nor love, But one, and then another prove, As we shall find our fancy bent.” Contrasting ideas of “good” and.