27 Parallelism

Parallel grammatical structures show up in many familiar phrases: sink or swim, rise and shine, shape up or ship out. If you look and listen for these structures, you will see parallelism in everyday use. Bumper stickers often use parallel grammatical structures to make their messages memorable (Minds are like parachutes; both work best when open), but the pleasing effects of parallel structures can benefit any kind of writing.

Editing for Parallelism

AT A GLANCE

  • Look for any series of three or more items, and make all of the items parallel in structure. (27a)
  • Be sure items in lists and in related headings are parallel. (27a)
  • Check for places where two ideas are paired in the same sentence. Often these ideas will appear on either side of and, but, or, nor, for, so, or yet, or after each part of both…and, either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also, whether…or, or just as…so. Edit to make the two ideas parallel in structure. (27b)
  • Check parallel structures to be sure that you have included all necessary words—prepositions, the to of the infinitive, and so on. (27c)