


The report card stated that the student often talked in class, that he bullied other students, and that he rarely finished his homework. The report card stated that the student often talked in class, that he bullied other students, and rarely finished his homework. Parallelism is also applicable to a series of clauses in a sentence. Her main duties were answering phone calls, filing records, and conducting visitor surveys. Her main duties were answering phone calls, filing records, and to conduct visitor surveys. Do not mix phrases based on an infinitive with phrases based on -ing verbs. Initial trials showed that exposure to the chemical caused memory problems, intermittent dizziness, and insomnia.Īs with a series of verbs, a series of verb phrases should use parallel forms. Initial trials showed that exposure to the chemical caused memory problems, intermittent dizziness, and deters sleep. Parallel structure should be used to balance a series of phrases with the same grammatical structure.įor example, avoid mixing noun phrases with verb phrases. The participants in the workshop learned about communicating, negotiating, and working collaboratively for the most effective outcome. The participants in the workshop learned how to communicate, negotiate, and work collaboratively for the most effective outcome. The participants in the workshop learned how to communicate, negotiate, and working collaboratively for the most effective outcome. For example, mixing an infinitive (a verb beginning with to) with a gerund (a verb form ending in -ing) breaks parallel structure. When a series is composed of verbs, do not mix forms. The company is looking for a candidate who is friendly, organized, meticulous, and punctual. The company is looking for a candidate who is friendly, organized, meticulous, and is going to arrive to work on time. On the word level, a noun should be grouped with other nouns, an adjective with other adjectives, and so on. These items are usually joined by commas or semicolons along with and or or. Use parallel construction when items in a series have an equal level of importance.
