Parallelism

Parallelism applies to lists (including lists that are embedded in sentences or phrases).

When you make lists of any kind, the lists should be grammatically parallel.  They should...

  1. be in the same tense
  2. use the same prepositions
  3. be written with subject and verb in the same order

This problem is pretty easy to catch.  Whenever you see a sentence with a list, read each item carefully to see if they are written in the same way. All items in the list should “launch” from the same word. In other words, if the list starts with “to” as in “I like to dance, swim, and eat” then the words in the list launch from “to” and do not need to repeat it.  “I like to dance, swim and to eat” would be incorrect.

An example of correct parallelism:

The teacher has a long list of tasks to finish before she goes home: she must grade all of the students’ papers, put together a lesson for tomorrow, and assemble materials for the next project.

“Must” is the launch word.  The items in the list are: “grade all of the students’ papers,” “put together a lesson for tomorrow,” and “assemble materials for the next project.”

All of the items in that list start with a present tense verb.  These are parallel.

An example of incorrect parallelism:

The police officer arrested the youths on a range of charges; they were accused of breaking and entering an apartment, assault, and trying to steal a car.

“Of” is the launch word.  The items in the list are “breaking and entering,” “assault,” and “trying to steal a car.”  The first and last items start with verbs that end in “ing” (gerunds) and the middle item is a noun.  You must change the middle item to make a parallel sentence.  A better sentence would read:

The police officer arrested the youths on a range of charges; they were accused of breaking and entering an apartment, assaulting the owner, and trying to steal a car.

Practice Problems:

  • Parallelism Practice

    Circle the launch phrase and underline the beginning of each item in the list that follows. Are these items parallel? If not, fix them! 

    1. When finals week started, Joh needed to study for her Shakespeare test, write a history essay, and had geometry proofs to work through. 
    2. Grandma always makes the same Thanksgiving feast: her famous sweet potato casserole, buttery green beans, and she cooks the most succulent turkey in the world. 
    3. Good students study hard, read thoroughly, and practice relentlessly.
    4. The New Year's celebration will include a fantastic parade, fun raffles and games, and will even have a crab buffet. 
    5. Inside the La Brea Tar Pits, archaeologists have found remain of giant sloths, dire wolves, and bones from wooly mammoths. 
    6. Los Angeles has no professional football team, but is loyal to the Dodgers, loves the Kings, and the Championship winning Lakers.
    7. I think that there is snow in the mountains so we can take a ride up to play in the snow, do some sledding, and learn to ski.
    8. The charm of Lofting’s book lies in the humorous reversal of roles -- the animals guide, assist, and generally they take care of the helpless humans. 
    9. Inside famed actor Lily Langtry’s private railroad car were a drawing room with a piano, bath fixtures of silver, and there were draperies trimmed with Brussels lace. 
    10. An economical and efficient recycling center is accessible to the public, responsive to community needs, and complies with current federal regulations governing waste disposal. 

    Answer Key:

Test Prep Practice

  • Parallelism Test Prep

    1. Looking after the cat was mostly $\underset{\text{A}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{annoying;}}}}$ she begged to be fed every hour, $\underset{\text{B}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{slept too close to my face, }}}}$ snored loudly at night,  $\underset{\text{C}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{and she even threw up}}}}$  twice on $\underset{\text{D}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{two different pairs}}}}$ of my shoes. $\underset{\text{E}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{No error.}}}}$


       
    2. Everyday, my hardworking father drives $\underset{\text{A}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{forty miles to work,}}}}$ operates heavy machinery for five hours, $\underset{\text{B}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{restocks merchandise}}}}$ for another five hours, $\underset{\text{C}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{and drove }}}}$  back home to  $\underset{\text{D}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{his family}}}}$ close to midnight. $\underset{\text{E}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{No error.}}}}$


       
    3. Because muggings $\underset{\text{A}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{are so common}}}}$ among tourists in Europe, $\underset{\text{B}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{the travel agency}}}}$ advises its $\underset{\text{C}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{patrons}}}}$  to be aware of their surroudings, $\underset{\text{D}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{not being alone at night}}}}$, and to be watchful on public transit $\underset{\text{E}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{No error.}}}}$


       
    4. The group dynamics were quite surprising; $\underset{\text{A}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{Jaime paired up with Tim,}}}}$ Mia befriended Anna, $\underset{\text{B}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{Oliver and Karen became inseparable,}}}}$ and Genevieve helped Marcos $\underset{\text{C}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{understand the}}}}$  linguistically difficult $\underset{\text{D}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{reading materials}}}}$ $\underset{\text{E}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{No error.}}}}$


       
    5. Though she didn't realize it, the tell-tale $\underset{\text{A}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{symptoms of love}}}}$ were all present:  $\underset{\text{B}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{the sleepless nights,}}}}$ the racing heartbeat, $\underset{\text{C}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{thinking about him constantly,}}}}$  and the $\underset{\text{D}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{limitless energy}}}}$ when they were together.  $\underset{\text{E}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{No error.}}}}$


       
    6. $\underline{\text{The oppressive government of 1984, drug-dimmed consciousness of Brave New World, and}}$ $\underline{\text{Fahrenheit 451's anti-intellectualism,}}$ all reveal the mid 20th century's fears about increasing technology and modernization. 
      1. The oppressive government of 1984, drug-dimmed consciousness of Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451's anti-intellectualism,
      2. The oppressive government of 1984, druggily-dimmed consciousness of Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451's anti-intellectualism,
      3. The oppressive government of 1984, Brave New World's drug-dimmed consciousness, and Fahrenheit 451's anti-intellectualism,
      4. The oppressive government of 1984, drug-dimmed conciousness of Brave New World, and Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451's anti-intellectualism,
      5. The oppressive goverment of 1984, drug-dimmed conciousness of Brave New World, and anti-intellectualism of Fahrenheit 451,
    7. A person serving on a jury has to exercise great control over his or her face, not $\underline{\text{showing favoritism, exhibiting shock, playing with a phone or, most importantly, falling asleep}}$  while listening to testimony.
      1. showing favoritism, exhibiting shock, playing with a phone or, most importantly, falling asleep
      2. showing favoritism, exhibiting shock, playing with a phone or, most importantly, not falling asleep
      3. showing favoritism, exhibiting shock, playing with a phone or, not falling asleep
      4. showing favoritism, being shocked, playing with a phone or, most importantly, falling asleep
      5. showing favoritism, not exhibiting shock, playing with a phone or, most importantly, not falling asleep
    8. Large companies are now investing in multi-functional, cloud-based human resource solutions that $\underline{\text{facilitate a range of tasks from payroll to performance reviews, allow managers in alldifferent departments to administer}}$ $\underline{\text{ employee benefits, and provide transparency to employees, but sometimes are expected to displace technical personnel}}$ who were responsible for maintaining in-house systems. 
      1. facilitate a range of tasks from payroll to performance reviews, allow managers in all different departments to administer employee benefits, and provide transparency to employees, but sometimes are expected to displace technical personnel 
      2. facilitate a range of tasks from payroll to performance reviews, allow managers in all different departments to administer employee benefits, and provide transparency to employees, but displace technical personnel 
      3. facilitating a range of tasks from payroll to performance reviews, allow managers in all different departments to administer employee benefits, provide transparency to employees, but are expected to displace technical personnel 
      4. facilitated a range of tasks from payroll to performance reviews, allow managers in all different departments to administer employee benefits, and provide transparency to employees, but sometimes are expected to displace technical personnel 
      5. facilitate a range of tasks from payroll to performance reviews, allowing managers in all different departments to administer employee benefits, and provide transparency to employees, but sometimes are expected to displace technical personnel 
    9. NASA needed to figure out the best configuration for solar panels on its satelite, so that $\underline{\text{it received enough sun to maintain power, was keeping the panels from becoming}}$ $ \underline{\text{so overheated they melted, and functioned no matter where it was in its orbit.}}$  
      1. it received enough sun to maintain power, was keeping the panels from becoming so overheated they melted, and functioned no matter where it was in its orbit.
      2. it was receiving enough sun to maintain power, was keeping the panels from becoming so overheated they melted, and functioned no matter where it was in its orbit.
      3. it received enough sun to maintain power, was keeping the panels from becoming so overheated they melted, and was able to function no matter where it was in its orbit.
      4. it received enough sun to maintain power, kept the panels from becoming so overheated they melted, and functioned no matter where it was in its orbit.
      5. they received enough sun to maintain power, was keeping the panels from becoming so overheated they melted, and functioned no matter where it was in its orbit.
    10. $\underline{\text{The appearance of black mold, creeping stains, when plaster starts to crumble, and permanent dampness}}$  are all signs that your home may have a hidden leak or some kind of water seepage.
      1. The appearance of black mold, creeping stains, when plaster starts to crumble, and permanent dampness
      2. The appearance of disgusting black mold, creeping stains, when plaster starts to crumble, and permanent dampness
      3. The appearance of black mold, creeping stains, crumbling plaster, and permanent dampness
      4. The appearance of black mold, creeping stains, crumbling plaster, and when the dampness is permanent
      5. The appearance of black mold, stains that creep, when plaster starts to crumble, and permanent dampness

    Answer Key:

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