Helping English

Parallel Structure: Definition and Usage

Parallel Structure (also called parallelism) is a rhetorical and grammatical device where words, phrases, or clauses in a list or comparison follow the same grammatical pattern. Parallelism improves clarity, rhythm, and readability.

🔍 Definition

Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words or grammatical form to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.

✒️ Examples of Parallel Structure

✔ Correct:

• She enjoys reading, writing, and traveling.  

Parallel structure is created by:

• Using gerunds (verbs ending in -ing acting as nouns):
  → reading, writing, traveling

• He wanted to win, to celebrate, and to inspire others.

Parallel structure is created by:

• Repeating the infinitive form (to + base verb):
  → to win, to celebrate, to inspire

• The teacher said the exam would be long, difficult, and important.

Parallel structure is created by:

• Using a list of adjectives to describe the noun exam:
  → long, difficult, important

📚 Examples from Literature and Non-Fiction

Fiction Example:

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness...”
— Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
(Repeating "it was" ensures parallel structure.)

Non-Fiction Example:

“Government of the people, by the people, for the people...”
— Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address
(Each phrase follows the same pattern: preposition + "the people")

🧠 Exercise: Identify Errors in Parallel Structure

Instructions: Each sentence below may or may not have an error in parallel structure. Choose the part of the sentence that contains the error, or indicate if it is correct. Then check your answer with the key.

1.

The committee valued honesty, punctuality, and being respectful.

A) honesty
B) punctuality
C) being respectful
D) No error

2.

She wants to sing, dance, and to act on Broadway.

A) to sing
B) dance
C) to act
D) No error

3.

He is not only a great teacher but also inspires his students.

A) not only
B) a great teacher
C) inspires his students
D) No error

4.

The team trained hard, worked late, and were hoping to win the championship.

A) trained hard
B) worked late
C) were hoping
D) No error

5.

The new system will increase efficiency, reduce costs, and the satisfaction of customers.

A) increase efficiency
B) reduce costs
C) the satisfaction of customers
D) No error

6.

She was tired, frustrated, and ready to giving up.

A) tired
B) frustrated
C) ready to giving up
D) No error

7.

During the retreat, we meditated, journaled, and spent time hiking.

A) meditated
B) journaled
C) spent time hiking
D) No error

8.

The instructions asked students to read the article, annotate the text, and writing a response.

A) read the article
B) annotate the text
C) writing a response
D) No error

9.

He likes hiking, swimming, and to ride his bike.

A) hiking
B) swimming
C) to ride
D) No error

10.

The job requires excellent communication skills, a strong work ethic, and being on time.

A) excellent communication skills
B) a strong work ethic
C) being on time
D) No error

✅ Answer Key

1. C (should be respectfulness or respecting others)
2. C (use either all "to verb" or all base forms)
3. C (not parallel: noun vs. verb phrase — use but also a great inspirer or but also teaches)
4. C (should match tense and form: hoped or were hoping all the way through)
5. C (breaks the verb pattern — use increase, reduce, and satisfy)
6. C (should be ready to give up)
7. D (Correct)
8. C (should be write a response)
9. C (should be riding his bike)
10. C (should be punctuality or arriving on time)