Parallelism WF Chapter 19 Parallelism Uses matching words
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Parallelism WF Chapter 19
Parallelism Uses matching words, phrases, or clauses to express equivalent ideas Adds unity, balance, and coherence to your writing Highlights the correspondence between items in a series, paired items, and elements in lists and outlines
Items in a Series Eat, drink, and be merry. I came; I saw; I conquered. Baby food consumption, toy production, and school construction are likely to decline as the US population grows older. Three factors influenced his decision to seek new employment: his desire to relocate, his need for greater responsibility, and his dissatisfaction with his current job.
Paired Items Because parallelism emphasizes their equivalence, paired ideas (words, phrases, or clauses) should be presented in parallel form: The thank you note was short but sweet. Roosevelt represented the United States, and Churchill represented Great Britain. The research focused on muscle tissue and nerve cells. Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. (John F. Kennedy, inaugural address)
Lists and Outlines Elements in a list should always be in parallel form: The Irish potato famine has four major causes: 1. The establishment of the landlord-tenant system 2. The failure of the potato crop 3. The reluctance of England to offer adequate financial assistance 4. The passage of Corn Laws Elements in a formal outline also should be parallel.
Revising Faulty Parallelism Faulty parallelism occurs when matching words, phrases, or clauses are not used to express equivalent ideas. Many people in developing countries suffer because the countries lack sufficient housing, sufficient food, and health-care facilities are also insufficient.
Revising Faulty Parallelism Sometimes sentences are clearer if certain key words are repeated in each element of a pair or a series. In the following sentence, repeating the preposition by makes it clear that not applies only to the first phrase: Computerization has helped industry by not allowing labor by costs to skyrocket, increasing the spread of production, and by improving efficiency.
Revising Faulty Parallelism 1. My job includes checking the inventory, initialing the orders, and to call the suppliers. 2. The game-show contestant was told to be cheerful, charming, and with enthusiasm. 3. Grandmother likes to read mystery novels, to do needlepoint, and surfing the internet.
