Parallel ideas with coordinating conjunctions (#em#and, but#/em#, etc.)

Coordinating conjunctions link ideas of equal importance. When those ideas are closely parallel in content, they should be expressed in parallel grammatical form.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: At Lincoln High School, vandalism can result in suspension of even being expelled from school. Revised sentence: At Lincoln High School, vandalism can result in suspension of even expulsion from school. Explanation: The words

The revision balances the nouns suspension and expulsion.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: Many states are reducing property taxes for home owners and extend financial aid in the form of tax credits to renters. Revised sentence: Many states are reducing property taxes for home owners and extending financial aid in the form of tax credits to renters. Explanation: The word

The revision balances the verb reducing with the verb extending.

Exercise: Identifying parallel structure

Exercise: Parallelism 1

Exercise: Parallelism 2

Exercise: Parallelism 3

Exercise: Parallelism 4

coordinating conjunction and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet; used to join elements of equal grammatical form.