Parallel Structure [OWL]

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What is Parallel Structure?

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Using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.

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Example of Parallel Structure: "Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle."

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This sentence uses parallel structure by maintaining the same grammatical form in the list.

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Example of Not Parallel Structure: "Mary likes hiking, swimming, and to ride a bicycle."

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This sentence breaks parallel structure because it mixes gerunds and an infinitive.

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Why is Parallel Structure important in writing?

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It enhances clarity and rhythm, making sentences easier to read and understand.

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Identify the structure: "The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, not eat too much, and do some warm-up exercises before the game."

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This sentence is an example of Parallel Structure.

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Identify the structure: "Listen to the sound of the items in a list or the items being compared. Do you hear a break in the sound?"

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This sentence is an example of Not Parallel Structure.

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What are the three levels where Parallel Structure can occur?

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Word level, phrase level, and clause level.

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Create a parallel structure: "I enjoy reading, writing, and to paint."

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Corrected: "I enjoy reading, writing, and painting."

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What is a common mistake in Parallel Structure?

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Mixing different forms of words, such as gerunds and infinitives.

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How can you check for Parallel Structure in a sentence?

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Listen for breaks in sound or rhythm when reading the list or comparison.