Parallel Construction Basics

Parallel ideas must be presented in parallel grammatical form. Parallel grammatical form means that each
part of a sentence uses the same grammatical structure.

Parallel Construction in a Series

Example 1:

X Norah enjoys running, hike, and to camp.

Norah enjoys running, hiking, and camping.

Now, the series has parallel elements (running, hiking and camping are all in the same form.

Example 2:

X I finished my paper and submit it to Blackboard

I finished my paper and submitted it to Blackboard

Now, verbs are in the same tense.

Example 3:

X I baked a cake, cookies, and made lasagna.

I baked a cake and cookies, and made lasagna.

Now, the list contains two verbs

(I baked/made cakes, cookies, and lasagna.)

The list contains three nouns.

Example 4:

X This paper will address No Child Left Behind, how to teach effectively, and instructing with
multimedia aids.
This paper will address No Child Left Behind benchmarks, effective teaching strategies, and
multimedia instructional aids.

Now, the series has parallel elements (benchmarks, strategies, and aids are all plural nouns.

Example 5:

X The students were unprepared, poorly behaved, and disrupted the class.
The students were underprepared, poorly behaved, and disruptive.

Now, the series has parallel elements (underprepared, behaved, and disruptive are all adjectives.

Parallel Construction in Correlations

Between and And
X We debated the difference betweenthe weather in Minnesota in the winterandhow hot it is in the
summer.
We debated the difference betweenthe weather in Minnesota in the winterandthe weather in
Minnesota in the summer.

Both and And

X The films were enjoyable to watch and discuss.
The films were enjoyable to watch and to discuss.

Neither and Nor; Either and Or

X Neither the responses to the questionnaire nor what we asked on the survey were answered.
Neither the responses to the questionnaire nor the responses to the survey were answered.

Not Only and But Also

X It was surprising not only that the house sold, but also it sold well over the asking price.
It was surprising not onlythat the house sold but also that it sold well over the asking price.