Grammar Forms
,r.,
Parallelism means that each item in a list has the same grammatical structure. Parallelism can occur
in sets of words, phrases, and clauses. Use parallelism with items before and after coordinating
conjunctions. Use it with:
1. words The official languages of Switzerland are German, French, ltalian, and
Romansh . (nounsl
Wild pearls, which grow naturally inside oysters, are rare and
(adjectivesl
Gardenino, fishing, and bowling are popular hobbies in the United States.
(gerundsl
2. ph rases Most people brush their teeth twice a day, In the morning and at night.
(p repos iti o na I ph ra sesl
Shakespeare's character Hamlet said, "To be or not to be, that the
question." (infi n itivesl
3. cla uses Scientists can predict when a hurricane will arrive and how strong it will be.
lnoun clausesl
Reptiles are animals that have cold blood and (that) live on land.
(adjective clausesl
More and more young people are taking a year off after they graduate
from high school and before they start college. (adverb clausesl
Note
When there are three or more parallel items, place a comma before and.
To lose weight, one should avoid excess suga t, fal, and carbohydrates.
,r.,
Correlative conjunctions are used with two items that are equal in importance or weight. The
structures before and after correlative conjunctions need to be parallel.
[Link]...and Shoes with very high heels are both uncomfortable and unsafe.
2. either . or ln national parks, the best time to photograph animals is either
in the early morning or in the late afternoon.
3. neither . nor The Jordan River is neither deep nor wide.
146 UNIT 11 Using Parallel Structure
,r.,
Use parallelism with items in comparisons. Use it with:
[Link]. as Taking the train across the United States can be as expensive as flying.
2. more / less than The cost of buying a new house is often more than the cost of remodeling
an old one.
The cost of remodeling an old house is often less than the cost of buving
a new one.
ACTIVITY 1
Underline the parallel elements in each [Link] label each conjunction with a C.
1. The traditional Mexican drink horchata contains rice, milk, water, vanilla, cinnamon, and
sugar.
2. The character Superman has appeared in films, on television, and in comic books.
3. Many lines on the NewYork City subway system have both express and local trains.
4. ln dry climates, gardens should be planted after the summer heat ends and before the fall
rains begin,
5. At the age of five months, babies can neither walk nor talk.
6. An applicant for a passport needs to fill out an application, show proof of citizenship, show
lD, submit a photo, and pay a fee.
7. No one can predict where a tornado will strike or how powerful it will be.
8. The liver is the organ that cleans the blood and that produces bile, which helps the body
digest fat.
9. Throughout history, people have used horses for riding, for carrying heavy loads, and for
pulling wagons and carriages.
10. Male singing voices are usually classified as either tenor (high) or bass (low).
Grammar Forms 147
Common Uses
,'t.o
Parallel structure in a sentence makes ideas balanced and clear. lt is used in:
1. topic sentences and thesis statements Tablets are preferable to laptop computers
. Thesis statements often include three parallel items because of their cost, ease of use, and portability.
that will be discussed.
2. lists of related items Juneau, the capital of Alaska, can be reached !y
sea and by air, but not by land.
3. a series of actions The three events in a typical triathlon are
swimming, cycling, and running.
4. paired conjunctions (such as both... and; The scores of students in Group A were greater
either... or], or comparisons (especially with than the scores of students in Group B.
than and as . as) ln S5o Paolo, Brazil, November is as hot as
o Comparisons must be between similar items. December.
Juneau can be reached either by sea or by air.
ACTIVITY 2
Circle the letter of the choice that correctly forms a sentence with parallel structure.
1. Physiologists recommend a physical workout that combines stretching, , and cardlo training.
a. lift weights b. lifting weights c. to lift weights
2. Some professors give students the choice to work , in pairs, or in groups.
a. individual b. by themselves c. themselves
3. This study tracked the dental health of patients who brushed their teeth manually compared to
electric toothbrushes.
a. patients who used b. they used c. using
4. Consumer Reports compared over 30 packaged cereals in terms of nutrition, package size, and
a. cost b. how much it cost c. what it cost
5. For many people, adding and subtracting mentally is faster than a calculator.
a. using b. to use c. use
148 UNIT 11 Using Parallel Structure
6. ln general, high-tech jobs require more education than
a. manufacturing b. manufacture the jobs c. ma n ufactu ring jobs
7. Registered nurses must both from nursing school and pass a difficult licensing exam.
a. they graduate b. graduation c. g rad uate
8. Tourists who want to visit China must do three things: fill out a visa application, get passport photos,
and an application packet to the Chinese embassy.
a. submitting b. submit c. to submit
Complete the sentences with parallel items. Use the kind of item in parentheses and your own ideas.
1. Three popular activities among college students are
, and (gerundsl
2. The ideal manager is , and
(adjectivesl
3. The ideal employee works and
(adverbsl
4. , and
are popular pets for people who live in apartments . (nounsl
5. To pass the time on long train or bus rides, passengers can
or (verbsl
6. These days, many people use cell phones
and (inf initivesl
7. Many people enjoy drinking coffee either or
. (prepositional phrases of time)
8. An employee who commutes long distances needs a car and
. (adjective clausesl
Common Uses 149
Common Errors
Gommon Error 11.1 Are items parallel before and after a conjunction?
revising
Writingwellrequiresplanning,composing,and@.
REMEMBER: ltems before and after conjunctions should have the same grammatical structure.
Acnvtw 4 Gommon Error 11 .1
There is one parallelism error in each sentence. Underline and correct the error.
1. College students can live at home, in a campus dormitory, or renting an apartment.
2. Two-thirds of the people surveyed said they thought married people were happier, healthier, and they
were more fulfilled than unmarried people.
3. The most common advice for treating a cold is to rest, drink hot liquids, and taking vitamin C.
4. Scientific experiments on animals can be justified if they will save human lives, end human suffering,
and there will be contributions to science.
5. A snake moves in a serpentine (S-shaped) movement by contracting its muscles, thrusting its body
from side to side, and it creates a series of curves.
6. For years, mountain gorlllas in Uganda have been threatened by habitat loss, disease, and there is
illegal hunting.
7. High ticket prices, noisy patrons, and the fact that there is limited parking are three reasons why
many people have stopped going to movie theaters.
8. Cinnamon is useful for flavoring food, lowering blood sugar, covering up bad smells, and even
eliminate ants.
Common Error11.2 Are items after each part of a correlative conjunction parallel?
ae apainter
LeonardodaVinciwasfamousnotonlyasan|nventorbutalSo{.@ftter.
REMEMBER: ltems following each part of a conjunction should have the same grammatical structure.
150 UNIT 11 Using Parallel Structure
ACTlVlw5 Gommon Error 11.2
Fill in the blank with the word or phrase that makes the sentence parallel.
1. Cloning human beings is both unethical and (ir ts risky / risky /
a riskl .
2. ln the Maldives and other low-lying islands threatened by rising sea levels, residents must either
(move / moving / to movel to higher ground or emigrate to
other countries.
3. Researchers say that spending too much time online both decreases a person's productivity and
(it disrupts / disrupts / is disruptivel family relationships.
4. Musicians flying with valuable instruments can either buy an extra ticket and carry the instrument on
board or (checking / check / they can checkl the instrument as
--_---
baggage.
5. The word "glocal" is applied to business practices and products that are neither global nor
(local / they are local / are they loca[|. Rather, they are a
combination of the two. For example, McDonald's includes some Japanese dishes on its menus in
Japan.
6. Experts believe that global warming will bring more rain both to areas that are normally wet and
(to areas that are normally dry / areas that are normally dry /
areas they are normally dryl .
7. Chlorine bleach can be used to kill bacteria and (it whitens
clothes / whitens clothes / to whiten clothesl .
8. High school students can earn college credits either by passing Advanced Placement tests or
(they take / by taking / taking) college courses along with their
high school classes.
Gommon Error11.3 Are items in a comparison parallel?
the populai,ion of Canada
According to recent statistics, the population of California is greater than €anada.
REMEMBER: ln a comparison, the items before and after than and as should have the same
grammatical structure. Comparisons must be between similar items.
Common Errors 151
ACTlvlw 6 Gommon Error 11.3
Each sentence has an error with parallel comparison. Underline the items that are compared. Edit
the sentence to make the sentence parallel. For some sentences, more than one answer is possible.
1. Working in the garden can burn as many calories as a jog.
2. Flying a short distance often takes more time than to drive.
3. ln the past, it was unusual for a husband's income to be smaller than his wife.
4. The number of exams in undergraduate courses is usually greater than graduate courses.
5. Generally, a nurse's income is smaller than a doctor.
5. The pronunciation of the letter B in Spanish is the same as ltalian.
7. Since 2013, the cost of housing in the United States has risen faster than food, transportation, or
health care.
8. The cost of living inTokyo is higher than Los Angeles.
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152 UNIT 11 Using Parallel Structure