Adventures in Parallel Adventures in Parallel Structure… and also Structure… and also

schemes of repetitionschemes of repetition

Adventures in Parallel Adventures in Parallel Structure… and also Structure… and also

schemes of repetitionschemes of repetitionA random mismatch of useful A random mismatch of useful

strategies for reading and writing strategies for reading and writing betterbetter

Good writing is a highwire act– it requires balance and

coordination

I’m’a kill you, you

stupid bird!

No you’re not! I’m a visual metaphor

symbolic of the introduction of

unbalanced clauses into a

sentence structure!

Stupid metaphor!

Parallel (grammatically equal) sentence elements regularly appear in lists or in a series, in compound structures, in comparisons using than or as, and in

contrasted elements.

Democracy demands responsibility,

whereas tyranny demands obedience.

Subject Verb Object

Subject Verb Object

What is parallel– or balanced– in this sentence?

Words, phrases, clauses, and whole series of sentences within

paragraphs can be parallel.

For parallel structure, balance nouns with nouns, prepositional phrases with

prepositional phrases, main clauses with main clauses, and so on

The 1981 inaugural celebration was well

organized, with large public celebrations,

elaborate private parties, and intimate

gatherings. Noun Phrases!!

He pursued his dog through the woods, under

the bridge, and over the railroad tracks.

Prepositional Phrases!!!

After George is discharged from the Navy, he

plans to use the GI bill to go to college, to finish

in three years, and to then get a job on the East

coast. Infinitive Phrases!!!

Some rules of parallel construction (Correct the

sentences!)1) Do not mix forms! If you construct

your sentence using a certain type of phrase, keep it consistent!– Johnny likes to eat, to drink, and fighting.– The production manager was asked to write

quickly, accurately, and in a thorough manner.

– The teacher said the student failed because he waited until the last minute, cheated on the last test, and has low motivation.

2) A sentence that begins with clauses must consistently use clauses! Keep the voice consistent!• 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. • The salesman expected that he would present his

product at the meeting, that there would be time for him to show his slide presentation, and that questions would be asked by prospective buyers.

Some rules of parallel construction (Correct the

sentences!)

3) Lists after colons: Make sure all the elements in a list are in the same form!

• The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and looking up irregular verbs.

Some rules of parallel construction (Correct the

sentence!)

Closely related to parallelism is antithesis• Antithesis is a

type of parallelism where words, phrases, or clauses are juxtaposed for contrast.

When distance runners reach the state they call ‘the zone,’ they find themselves mentally engaged yet detached.

When distance runners reach the state they call ‘the zone,’ they find themselves mentally engaged with their physical surroundings yet detached from moment-to-moment concerns about their conditioning.When distance runners reach the state they call ‘the zone,’ they find that they are empirically engaged with their physical surroundings, yet they are completely detached from moment-to-moment concerns about their conditioning.

Rhetoricians from Lincoln to Martin Luther King use parallel constructions to create emotional suspense in their

speeches. “In a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground […] It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we have highly resolved that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this earth.”

Abraham Lincoln—November 19, 1863

Of course, parallel construction is just one syntactic technique authors can

use to create these effects!

Some common syntactic emphasis techniques:

Anaphora: Repetition of the same group of words at the beginning of successive clauses.

• Exercise builds stamina in young children; exercise builds stamina in teenagers and young adults; exercise builds stamina in old geezers.

Epistrophe: Repetition of the same group of words at the end of successive clauses.

• To become a top-notch player, I thought like an athlete, I trained like an athlete, I ate like an athlete.

Anadiplosis: Repetition of last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause.

• Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to the dark side!

Climax: Repetition of words, phrases, or clauses in order of increasing number or importance.

• Excellent athletes need to be respectful of themselves, their teammates, their schools, and their communities.