At night, the litter and desperation disappeared as the citys glittering lights came on. Your writing will be clearer if the ideas within each sentence are written in a similar way. The sentences in this exercise will give you practice in using parallel structures effectively. One item in each of the groups is not parallel to the others. Change the other items to match theoriginal non parallel one. Dont mix phrases with complete sentences, or statements with questions. Sometimes a paragraph may include a list that is either clunky to read or just doesnt make sense. Examples of parallel words examples of parallel phrases examples of parallel clauses the examples below show how to repair faulty parallelism.
Faulty parallelism is one of the major grammatical sins in the english language. The previous sentence is an example of correct parallelism, but more on that below. When you make the list, arrange the items in order of importance, write them in parallel form, and all the items should be numbered. In the spring, summer, or winter, we will go to germany. A list is more legible and more useful when all the items follow the same grammatical pattern. In the spring, summer, or in the winter, we will go to germany. Lists of words, phrases and clauses when ideas are presented in a series or a list, the same parts of speech should be used to ensure parallel structure. Often, parallel structures can be very subtle, so it is easy to slip up when it comes to identifying faulty parallelism. Parallelism is when closely related parts of a sentence fit together using similar grammatical form.
By night, the litter and desperation disappeared as the citys glittering lights came on. However, since fans could be the antecedent for them, the reference is not entirely clear. Faulty parallelism can also happen if you are writing a list. It is a truism that to give is more rewarding than getting. The town was small, quiet, and the atmosphere was peaceful. Faulty parallelism exercises with answers owlcation.
In the waiting room, we read old magazines, ate stale. Because a faulty parallel construction relates to grammar and style construction to support the choice of the best words to convey meaning, the chapter includes the definition of writing and parallelism, and the aim of parallelism, then the definition of faulty parallel structure and its effect that can be ranged from subtle. The words run, hunt and hike are the words or phrases in other cases in the series. If the sentence has correct parallelism, select the answer correct. Here parallel sentence openings and participial clauses link examples. In the spring, in the summer, or in the winter, we will go to germany. Your salary cant be smaller than a sweeper, but it can be smaller than that of a sweeper. Following are three examples of faulty parallelism each example is followed by a corrected sentence and an explanation of the problem in the example.
Parallelism, including correlative conjunctions and. Correct the faulty parallelism in the following sentences to make them clear, concise, and easy to read. Rewrite the following sentences so that each has a list using the same verb or noun form. My uncle julius likes eating bagels, eating lox, and eating chicken salad. Parallelism helps to create coherence by adding rhythm and flow to sentences and lines of text. Repetition repeated use of the same word or phrase. We think she is dedicated and resourceful, and we recommend her for the job. As you work on the overall style or flow of your writing, consider using parallelism to strengthen the relationship among sentences. Cross it out, and then substitute it with an item that is parallel with the rest of the group.
Check the rules for parallel structure and check your sentences as you write and when you proofread your work. Samantha likes to run, jumping around in the backyard and played with her friend jorge yesterday correct. Examples of aerobic exercises are distance running, swimming, cycling, and walking. The previous sentence is an example of correct parallelism. Try to leave items in lists, so you are correcting parallelism, not eliminating it. Mike likes to listen to rock music and read mystery novels. Formerly, science was taught by the textbook method. Faulty parallelism many sentences contain parallel thoughts, for example, lee had a great time scubadiving and waterskiing on her vacation. The use of parallel structure is essential for good writing, helping to add clarity and strength to your writing. Parallelism, is a balance within one or more sentences of similar phrases or clauses that have the same grammatical structure, like things in a list. For these lists to be logical and coherent, the items in these lists must be parallel with each. When you are making a comparison, the two items being compared should have a parallel structure. With four distinct seasons, we are lucky to be able try to snowboard in the winter, gathering maple syrup in the spring, sailing in the summer, and to pick apples in the fall.
Practice in correcting errors in parallel structure thoughtco. Have you ever had a teacher say, that sentence starts one way and ends another. The bus driver is a careless person, and he was pulled over by the police several times last week. For example, all verbs should be in the same tense and form. In this example, the infinitive provides the more elegant solution. Writing clear sentences worksheet 1 parallel structure.
Sometimes, we simply lose our train of thought when we write, and we literally start a sentence one way and end it another, as illustrated in the following. Parallel structure parallel structure or parallelism is the rule that words or phrases in a series should be in the same from. The clauses or phrases joined by the conjunctions should have similar grammatical structures to ensure that your reader can follow the logic of your sentence and to avoid awkwardness. Faulty parallelism occurs when writers do not use a parallel structure to communicate a series of ideas. We spent the hour in the waiting room reading old magazines, eating stale cookies, and we wiggled on the hard plastic chairs. The crowd that had gathered outside the court was loud and angry.
Of course, these examples of faulty parallelism are fairly simple, especially compared to the sort of garbled syntax i encounter in student writing and in the work of other careless writers. Once you discover a non parallel item ina sentence, you have two solutions. Samantha likes running and jumping around in her backyard. Parallelism, including correlative conjunctions and comparisons, worksheet 1, 9 exercises. Parallelism the repetition of similar grammatical structures, words, phrases, or sentences. Julia is in charge of stocking the shelves, writing orders, and to sell computers.
When you come across faulty parallelism, it clangs off the ear, destroys written sentences, and muddies any intention the author may have had. Look out for faulty parallelism whenever you use one of the following constructions. Rhetorical question a question asked for effect or to emphasize a point that does not require a reply. Most likely, them refers to peanuts since it is highly unlikely that the writer of this sentence intends to pack away the fans. Comparing two items without using parallel structure can lead to confusion about what is being compared. Here is another example of faulty pronoun reference. Please share with a classmate and compare your answers. My uncle julius likes eating bagels, lox, and chicken salad. In this article, we will talk about what faulty parallelism is and the main types of errors associated with it. For this sentence the form of the words is present tense verb. How to avoid faulty parallelism in academic writing. Correcting faulty coordination faulty coordination occurs when two coordinate clauses have unequal ideas and these two clauses are mistakenly treated as though they should be given equal emphasis. Sentence structure is parallel when a series of similar items all share the same grammatical structurefor example, all are nouns or verbs or.
Decide on a correction by choosing the best answer from the given choices. Writers use parallelism to help readers see connections between ideas and to emphasize particular points. Use parallel structure with elements in lists or in a series. Parallelism is the term used to refer to the repetition of similar grammatical constructions in a sentence or over successive lines of prose or poetry. By expressing both of them with ing words, the sentence emphasizes this parallelism.
Sharons grade point average is much higher than her brother. Faulty parallelism in a sentence is when you are writing a list of things and mix up verb forms to run, jumping, played. Rewrite each of the following examples to correct faulty parallelism. Use a parallel structure when you connect two words, phrases, or clauses with a comparison word, including than or as. Write one sentence which answers each of the following questions. Mike likes to listen to rock music and reading mystery novels. Let me show you what faulty parallelism looks like in realworld examples, drawn from the essays of college students. In grammar, it is also called parallel structure or parallel construction. When you make comparisons, the things that you compare should be in parallel structures.
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