Parallelism Use the same pattern of words to

Parallelism Use the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same importance: • • Words and phrases Forms Clauses Lists

Parallelism: Words connected by “and” must be of the same part of speech: This report will discuss road repairs in terms of efficiency, of them being reliable, and if the repairs are costly. vs. This report will discuss road repairs in terms of efficiency, reliability, and cost.

Parallelism: Phrases With the -ing form (gerund) of words: Example: The construction manager established a protocol that includes reviewing plans every morning, asking questions at stated intervals, and summarizing work at the end of the day. With infinitive phrases: Example: A daily protocol was established to review plans, (to) field questions, and (to) summarize work.

Parallelism: Forms Do not mix forms: Not Parallel: The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and in a detailed manner. Parallel: The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly. OR The production manager was asked to write a detailed report quickly and accurately.

Parallelism: Clauses A parallel structure that begins with clauses must continue using clauses. Not Parallel: The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and to do some warm-up exercises before the game. Parallel: The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and that they should do some warm-up exercises before the game.

Parallelism: Lists Be sure to keep all the elements in a list in the same form. Not Parallel: The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and looking up irregular verbs. Parallel: The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to look up word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and irregular verbs.

Practice Examples Sample Revision: In Indiana, some common techniques for Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) rehabilitation are overlay, crack-and-seat with overlay, break-and-seat with overlay, and total reconstruction. Which alternative is selected depends on the type of pavement and its condition. The most common technique of PCC rehabilitation is HMA overlays on rubblized PCC. In this technique, the concrete PCC slab is reduced in place to approximately the size of aggregate base material. (68 words)

Where to Go to Get More Help Purdue University Writing Lab Heavilon 226 Web: http: //owl. english. purdue. edu/ Phone: (765) 494 -3723 Email: owl@owl. english. purdue. edu

The End CONCISENESS OF LANGUAGE: FURTHER APPLICATIONS Adapted by Allen Brizee and Dr. Linda Bergmann from the “Little Red Schoolhouse” by Dr. Joseph Williams (U of Chicago) and Dr. Gregory Colomb (U of Virginia) Brought to you in cooperation with the Purdue Online Writing Lab