Recipe

Check a list or comparison for parallel structure

Use when: a sentence lists two or more items joined by commas, and, or or, or compares two things with than or as...as

Goal: every item (or both sides of the comparison) in the same grammatical form, and both sides of a comparison naming the same kind of thing

Taught in Parallel Structure

1. 1

   Circle every comma and and/or that joins the list's items, or the than or as...as in a comparison.

   Why: each marker is where a new item begins, so it's where a change of form would show up.

2. 2

   Say what kind of word or phrase starts each item: a noun, an adjective, a gerund (-ing), an infinitive (to + verb), or a full clause.

   Example

   The new hire was friendly, a fast learner, and worked hard. After was: friendly, an adjective. Next: a fast learner, a noun phrase. Last: worked hard, a verb. Three items, three forms.

   Why: parallel means matching forms, so you need the forms named before you can compare them.

3. 3

   Pick the form most items already share, and rewrite the others into it.

   Example

   She likes hiking, swimming, and to bike. Two gerunds and one infinitive. Match the majority: She likes hiking, swimming, and biking.

   • a list — rewrite the odd items: friendly, quick to learn, and hardworking.
   • a comparison that uses two different forms — match them: more about building good habits than about memorizing rules.
   • a comparison that sets unlike things side by side — make both sides name the same thing: Her salary is higher than a teacher's.

   Why: rewriting the fewest items keeps the sentence closest to what the writer meant.

4. 4

   Put the words that lead into the list in front of each item on its own: was friendly, was quick to learn, was hardworking.

   Why: if every item fits the same slot, the list is parallel. An item that doesn't fit (was worked hard) is the one still broken.