Uni-edit English Writing Tip: Parallel Structures Part A – What are
they?
Level of difficulty: Intermediate
Parallel Structures Part A – What are they?
This is a five part series about using parallel structures.
While editing English manuscripts, Uni-edit editors often need to
correct sentences for correct usage of parallel structures. Correct use
of parallel structures makes the writing easier to read and easier to
understand for native-speakers of English and for non-native speakers of
English.
The word 'parallel' means in the same direction. Two roads are parallel
if they run in the same direction. In language, a parallel structure
means the words are assembled using the same form. In language, using
parallel structures is critical for clear writing. To write using
parallel structures means that expressions of similar content and
function should be outwardly similar.
The similarity of form enables the reader to recognize more readily the
similarity of content and function. All items, phrases, or clauses used
in a sentence should be parallel.
Incorrect: The new regulations could cause problems for both the winners
and for those who lose. English corrected: The new regulations could
cause problems for both winners and losers.
Explanation: In the incorrect sentence, the items after 'both' are 'the
winners' and 'those who lose'; but, these phrases have different
structures. This confuses the reader. In the correct sentence, 'winners'
and 'losers' have the same structure. This is much easier to read.
Here is another example:
Incorrect: Formerly, science was taught by the textbook method, while
now the laboratory method is employed. English corrected: Formerly,
science was taught by the textbook method; now it is taught by the
laboratory method.
Explanation: The incorrect sentence gives the impression that the writer
is undecided or timid; he seems unable or afraid to choose one form of
expression and hold to it. The correct sentence shows that the writer
made a choice on how to structure the sentence. The repeated structure
is
Here is another example:
Incorrect: The doctor recommended a daily intake of 5 mg of antibiotic,
changing the diet plan, and exercising. English corrected: The doctor
recommended a daily intake of 5 mg of antibiotic, a change in diet, and
regular exercise.
And here is another example:
Incorrect: The eruption was slow, continued sporadically, and ended in a
catastrophe. English corrected: The eruption began slowly, continued
sporadically, and ended catastrophically.
Explanation: The incorrect sentence seems disjointed as different
structures are used. In the correct sentence, the consistent and
repetitive use of adverbs (that is, slowly, sporadically,
catastrophically) makes it much easier to understand. This also aids the
flow of the sentence.
Here is another example:
Incorrect: My professor has wit, charm, and she has an extremely
pleasant personality. English corrected: My professor has wit, charm,
and a pleasing personality.
How are parallel structures useful?
Parallel structure is especially useful for making detailed descriptions
and comparisons more readable. For example, if the different minerals in
a rock are always described with their features (such as modal
abundance, grain size, and habit) in the same order, then parallel
structures can be used to describe the features of each rock without
repeating the same names for each feature. This allows readers to
assimilate the information more easily. It may be helpful to construct
successive paragraphs in parallel, especially when discussing results in
a research paper.
END OF TIP
Uni-edit English Writing Tip: Parallel structures Part B — Using 'the'
in parallel constructions
Level of difficulty: Intermediate
Parallel structures Part B — Using 'the' in parallel constructions
This is the second part in a five part series about using parallel
structures. This part focuses on the user of ‘the in parallel
constructions.
While editing English manuscripts, Uni-edit editors often need to
correct sentences for correct usage of parallel structures. Correct use
of parallel structures makes the writing easier to read and easier to
understand for native-speakers of English and for non-native speakers of
English.
An article or a preposition applying to all the members of a series of
terms must be used: - only before the first term, or - repeated before
each term.
Here is an example:
Incorrect: We analyzed the French, the Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese
populations. English corrected A: We analyzed the French, the Italian,
the Spanish, and the Portuguese populations. English corrected B: We
analyzed the French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese populations.
Explanation: The first two items in the incorrect example use 'the'
before the terms, but the last two items do not. This is uncomfortable
for the reader. In the Correct A, every item in the list uses 'the'. In
the Correct B sentence, 'the' is used at the start of the list only.
Here is another example:
Incorrect: One can visit Tokyo in spring, summer, or in winter. English
corrected A: One can visit Tokyo in spring, summer, or winter. English
corrected B: One can visit Tokyo in spring, in summer, or in winter.
END OF TIP
Uni-edit English Writing Tip: Parallel structures Part C — both, and;
not, but; not only, but also; either, or; first, second, third etc.
Level of difficulty: Intermediate
Parallel structures Part C — both, and; not, but; not only, but also;
either, or; first, second, third etc.
This is the third part in a five part series about using parallel
structures. This part focuses on the use of commonly found words in
parallel structures.
While editing English manuscripts, Uni-edit editors often need to
correct sentences for correct usage of parallel structures. Correct use
of parallel structures makes the writing easier to read and easier to
understand for native-speakers of English and for non-native speakers of
English.
For sentences that use these commonly found words, parallel structures
are required to ensure clarity. Many violations of this rule can be
corrected by rearranging the sentence.
Incorrect: It was both a long ceremony and very tedious. English
corrected: The ceremony was both long and tedious.
Explanation: In the correct sentence, 'ceremony' is clearly the subject
that is being described. In the incorrect sentence, is the subject 'it'
or 'ceremony'? The subject is not clear, which makes the sentence
grammatically incorrect.
Another example is below. Pay attention to the use of 'for' in the
parallel structure.
Incorrect: It is a time not for words, but action. English corrected: It
is a time not for words, but for action.
Another example is below. Pay attention to the use of 'that' in the
parallel structure.
Incorrect: My objections are, first, the injustice of the measure;
second, that it is unconstitutional. English corrected: My objections
are, first, that the measure is unjust; second, that it is
unconstitutional.
END OF TIP
Uni-edit English Writing Tip: Parallel structures Part D — Making
comparisons
Level of difficulty: Advanced
Parallel structures Part D — Making comparisons
This is the fourth part in a five part series about using parallel
structures. This part focuses on marking comparisons in parallel
constructions.
While editing English manuscripts, Uni-edit editors often need to
correct sentences for correct usage of parallel structures. Correct use
of parallel structures makes the writing easier to read and easier to
understand for native-speakers of English and for non-native speakers of
English.
When making comparisons, the things you compare should be contained in
parallel structures. Using parallel structures is not always possible,
but it is possible most of the time.
Here is an example:
Incorrect: My income is smaller than my wife. English corrected: My
income is smaller than my wife's.
Explanation: In the incorrect sentence, it appears as though the size of
the income is compared to the size of the wife. This is very odd. In the
correct sentence, because of the usage of the possessive ('s), the
reader understands that means 'the wife's income'. This meaning is
clear. The parallel structure is 'my income' and 'my wife's income'.
Here is another example. Pay attention to the use of the possessive:
i.e., 's.
Incorrect: Paul's GPA is higher than Ralph. English corrected: Paul's
GPA is higher than Ralph's.
Explanation: Similar to the above example, the parallel structure is
‘Paul’s GPA’ and ‘Ralph’s GPA’.
Here is another example below. Pay attention to the use of 'to verb' and
the use of 'he'.
Incorrect: In English class, Mike learned to read poems critically and
he appreciated good prose. English corrected: In English class, Mike
learned to read poems critically and to appreciate good prose.
END OF TIP
Uni-edit English Writing Tip: Parallel structures Part E — Making
comparisons
Level of difficulty: Advanced
Parallel structures Part E — Making comparisons
This is the final part in a five part series about using parallel
structures. This part provides more examples regarding comparisons in
parallel structures.
While editing English manuscripts, Uni-edit editors often need to
correct sentences for correct usage of parallel structures. Correct use
of parallel structures makes the writing easier to read and easier to
understand for native-speakers of English and for non-native speakers of
English.
Incorrect: He wanted three things out of college: to learn a skill, to
make good friends, and learning about life. English corrected: He wanted
three things out of college: to learn a skill, to make good friends, and
to learn about life.
Explanation: One way to think about parallel structures is to separate
each item of the list into its own sentence. In this example, the
correct sentence can be separated as:
\- He wanted to learn a skill - He wanted to make good friends - He
wanted to learn about life.
In the incorrect example, the last item of the list would be separated
as “He wanted learning about life”. This is grammatically incorrect and
so the whole parallel structure is incorrect.
Below is another example:
Incorrect: We found the film repulsive, offensive, and we thought it was
embarrassing. English corrected: We found the film repulsive, offensive,
and embarrassing.
Below is another example:
Incorrect: Coach Espinoza was a brilliant strategist, a caring mentor,
and friend. English corrected: Coach Espinoza was a brilliant
strategist, a caring mentor, and a wise friend.
Incorrect: Professor Ali rewarded his students for their hard work on
the final project and going beyond the call of duty. English corrected:
Professor Ali rewarded his students for working hard on the final
project and going beyond the call of duty.
END OF TIP