Deepen your understanding of Parallelism (Parallel Structure) and related English skills with these resources:
Keep lists, comparisons, and paired constructions in the same grammatical form - fix faulty parallelism like a pro.
Parallelism means matching grammatical form in items that belong together. In advanced writing, this applies not only to simple lists but also to paired structures and correlative conjunctions such as not only...but also, either...or, neither...nor, both...and, and whether...or. When the first element is a gerund, the others should usually be gerunds; when one element is a noun phrase, the others should be noun phrases. The same principle applies to verbs, infinitives, clauses, and prepositional phrases. Faulty parallelism often sounds smooth at first glance because the sentence is grammatically understandable, but the structure is uneven. For example, She values honesty, hard work, and to be punctual mixes nouns with an infinitive. A parallel version would be She values honesty, hard work, and punctuality. In correlative pairs, the balance must be especially clear: She is not only intelligent but also works hard is unbalanced because the first part is an adjective phrase and the second is a verb phrase. Better: She is not only intelligent but also hardworking, or She not only thinks critically but also works diligently. Advanced test items often disguise the error with long modifiers or inserted phrases. To check parallelism, isolate the linked elements and compare their forms, ignoring extra words in between. • Keep the grammatical form consistent across all linked items. • After correlative conjunctions, match what follows each partner structurally, not just logically.
• She enjoys reading, writing, and painting. (all gerunds) • The proposal was clear, concise, and convincing. (all adjectives) • He wanted to finish the report, submit the budget, and attend the meeting. (all infinitive phrases) • Either the manager or the assistant will handle the complaint. (parallel noun phrases) • Not only did she meet the deadline, but she also improved the design. (parallel clauses) • We value both innovation and integrity. (parallel nouns)
Test each linked item by reading only the repeated structure after and, or, or the correlative pair. If one item sounds like a different part of speech, rewrite the whole set to match. Use the same grammatical pattern from beginning to end: noun with noun, verb with verb, clause with clause.
Parallelism also governs larger sentence patterns, especially comparisons and contrasted clauses. In comparisons using as...as, than, or rather than, the two sides should be logically and grammatically balanced. A sentence like She is as talented as she is hardworking is parallel because both parts are clauses with she is. By contrast, I prefer reading to run is faulty because reading is a gerund and run is a base verb. The balanced form is I prefer reading to running or I would rather read than run. Parallelism across clauses is crucial in sentences that present ideas in equal weight: What you promise and what you deliver will determine your reputation. The repeated clause pattern signals equality of thought and structure. This is especially important in academic and professional writing, where imbalance can weaken clarity or make an argument seem careless. Writers often create faulty parallelism when they insert different structures after paired markers: Because she is disciplined and she works carefully is less elegant than Because she is disciplined and careful, or Because she is disciplined and works carefully. Balanced contrast can sharpen meaning and style. Antithesis, a rhetorical device that places contrasting ideas in parallel form, depends on exact symmetry for impact. • Compare like with like: clause with clause, phrase with phrase, form with form. • In contrastive writing, parallel grammar creates emphasis and memorability.
• She is as thoughtful as she is decisive. (balanced comparison) • I would rather negotiate than litigate. (parallel verbs) • What the team needs and what the client expects are different. (parallel noun clauses) • The more carefully you edit, the more clearly your message reads. (parallel comparative structure) • He came to listen, to learn, and to respond. (parallel infinitives) • We admired not only her expertise but also her integrity. (parallel nouns)
In comparisons, ask whether both sides answer the same grammatical question. If not, reshape one side to match the other. For strong style, keep contrasted ideas in the same pattern so the meaning, not the grammar, creates the tension.
Advanced parallelism becomes especially important in resumes, thesis statements, executive summaries, and formal essays, where grammatical balance contributes to authority and readability. Bullet points in resumes, for instance, should use one consistent pattern: managed projects, coordinated schedules, and improved efficiency, not managed projects, schedule coordination, and improved efficiency. The same principle applies to thesis statements and topic sentences, where parallel structure helps organize arguments clearly. Writers also need to recognize subtle mismatches involving infinitives versus gerunds, noun phrases versus verb phrases, and adjectives versus nouns. A sentence such as The study aims to explain behavior, improving policy, and the effects of stress combines three different structures and weakens precision. A parallel revision would be The study aims to explain behavior, improve policy, and analyze the effects of stress. In rhetorical writing, balanced sentences and antithesis depend on symmetry: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times works because the structure is carefully mirrored. To diagnose faulty parallelism, identify the coordinating word, correlative pair, or comparative marker, then bracket each item and compare forms. If one element is a clause and another is a phrase, or if one begins with an action verb and another with a noun, revise the sentence so the elements match. • In formal writing, parallelism improves both clarity and credibility. • In rhetorical writing, parallelism strengthens rhythm, contrast, and memorability.
• Resume: Designed training materials, led workshops, and evaluated outcomes. (parallel verbs) • Thesis statement: The policy protects workers, reduces costs, and improves compliance. (parallel verbs) • Faulty: She is responsible for recruiting, training, and to retain staff. (mixed forms) • Corrected: She is responsible for recruiting, training, and retaining staff. (all gerunds) • Faulty: The course emphasizes research, critical reading, and to write clearly. (mixed forms) • Corrected: The course emphasizes research, critical reading, and clear writing. (parallel noun phrases)
When revising, choose one structure and repeat it. In professional writing, that usually means keeping bullet points and resume items in the same verb tense and grammatical form. If a sentence feels uneven or hard to read aloud, check for a hidden shift from phrase to clause or from noun form to verb form.