Writing with Parallel Structure
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Directions: Parallel Structure is a way of joining similar ideas and giving them emphasis through repetition. It
is also a way of making your writing “flow” more smoothly. You can make a sentence parallel by lining up all its
prepositional phrases, nouns, verbs, pronouns, phrases.
Prepositional Phrases:
Parallel: The housekeeper looked inside the drawers, on top of the bookcase, and under the bed.
NON-parallel: The maid looked inside the drawer, the bookcase, and under the bed.
Nouns:
Parallel: These gifted boys could name the types of trees, flowers, and birds in the forest.
NON-parallel: These gifted boys could name the types of trees, flowers, and some kinds of
birds in the forest.
Mixtures of Verbs:
Parallel: Carlos took pictures, developed the pictures, and sent them to the company.
NON-parallel: Carlos took pictures, develops the pictures, and sent them to the company.
Pronouns:
Parallel: We left for vacation without our credit cards, our money, and our clothes.
NON-parallel: We left for vacation without our credit cards, money, and our clothes.
Parallel Phrases:
Parallel: Three important reasons for the economic recovery in Mexico are the growth of
tourism, expanded free trade with NAFTA nations, and the increased value of the peso.
NON-parallel: Three important reasons for the economic recovery of Mexico are the growth of
tourism, the fact that we expanded free trade with NAFTA nations, and the increased value of the
peso.
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Rewrite each of the following sentences so that each one is parallel in structure. If the sentence does not
need correction, simply write “C.”
1. After he inherited the business from his aunt, he was thinking about expanding its size.
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2. The driver never acknowledged the problem or to find ways of getting help.
3. By day, the average cat is quietly lazy, but quite energetic describes how it is by night.
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4. Marianna lived for two years in Los Angeles and who went to school in there.
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5. Wayne searched under the bed, the couch, and the bathroom for the snake.
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6. Our Thanksgiving dinner consisted of turkey, dressing, and included some sweet potatoes.
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7. Jasmine had to leap over the fence getting to the finish line.
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8. Phyllis and Ray spent the day baking, and afterwards, eat the fresh cookies.
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9. The bull stared angrily and to start to attack the matador.
10. There are only three ways to exit this building: the back door, up the ceiling to the roof, or the side
window.
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