FAULTY

PARALLELISM
Arrange the following words/
phrases to form a sentence.
simplicity / accurately /
want / how / to write /
with / to learn / clarity /
I / and
Arrange the following words/
phrases to form a sentence.
to elect new members /
that we could plan for
the dance / and /
we called the meeting /
for raising money
 In writing, parallelism means “close
resemblance or similarity;” that is, when
two or more ideas in a sentence are
related and serve a similar purpose, they
are phrased in the same parts, similarly
put together. Parallelism aids the flow of a
sentence and emphasizes the relationship
of the ideas in the parallel elements.
Parallel sentence elements regularly
appear in lists or series, in compound
structures, in comparisons using than or
as, and in contrasted elements.
Faulty Parallelism is an error in
which two or more parts of a
sentence are parallel in meaning but
not parallel in form.

Faulty: I want to learn how to write

with simplicity, clarity, and accurately.

Parallel: I want to learn how to

write with simplicity, clarity, and
accuracy.
 Whenever you list a series of things,
actions, or ideas, they should be
similarly expressed to avoid faulty
parallelism.
Faulty: We called the meeting to
elect new members, for raising
money, and that we could plan for the
dance.
Parallel: We called the meeting
to elect new members, to raise
money, and to plan for the dance.
 Be careful to avoid faulty
coordination because when words,
phrases, or clauses are linked by and
are not similar, they sound confusing
and illogical.

He plays football and skillfully.

He does his homework and without

mistakes.
 NOTE: When two words or groups
are linked by and, they must have the
same grammatical function. Notice the
similarity of words, phrases, and
clauses linked by and in the following
sentences.

He enjoys reading plays and poetry.

(two nouns)
He blocks and tackles skillfully. (two
verbs)
He is a man who has worked hard
and whom we all respect. (two
dependent clauses)

I shall return to Purdue, and she

will return to Smith. (two
independent clauses)
 The most common kind of faulty
coordination is the and who or and
which sentence. This type of sentence
makes an illogical link between a
dependent and an independent
clause.
Faulty: My father is a lawyer and who
has been a judge.
Parallel: My father is a lawyer
who has been a judge. OR
My father, who is a lawyer and who
has been a judge, is retired.
 One other kind of faulty coordination
is the misuse of correlative
conjunctions. These are conjunctions
used in pairs (Examples: not only …
but also; both … and; neither … nor;
either … or). The construction that
follows the first half of the pair should
be exactly balanced by the
construction that follows the second
half of the pair.
 Faulty: Not only practicing at 6am
during the week, but the team also
scrimmages on Sunday afternoons.
Parallel: Not only does the team practice
at 6am during the week, but it also
scrimmages on Sunday afternoons.
Faulty: He is either a madman or he is
a fool.
Parallel: He is either a madman or a fool.
OR
Either he is a madman, or he is a fool.
When making a comparison using
the word than or as, be certain that
the things you compare are similar
logically as well as grammatically.
Faulty: The girls in Texas are more
beautiful than California. (This
sentence compares the girls to
states.)
Parallel: The girls in Texas are
more beautiful than the girls in
California.
The following sentence is written
in both a parallel and a non-
parallel. Notice the differences:
1. The boy, in great fear and
shaken by the ordeal, collapsed
after the rescue.
2. The boy, frightened beyond
measure and shaken by the
ordeal, collapsed after the
rescue.
Underline the parallel structures in
each sentence.
1. A person who gives to charity and
who helps others is rare indeed.
2. In his career he has been an
accountant, an expediter, and a
consultant.
3. Growing very slowly and then
bursting into glorious color is a
characteristic of that tropical plant.
4. I have had virtually no peace
since my daughter left and since
my oldest son returned.
5. After the accident, she sobbed,
whimpered, and collapsed.
6. Maggie always sings in the
shower, at the breakfast table,
and at most other times.
7. We try to jog daily and to hike
on weekends.
8. Her hobbies include refinishing
furniture, repairing clocks, and
constructing floral displays.
9. Ms. Ames, Mr. Paulson, and
Dr. Phillip will all present
seminars at the convention.
10. She was fascinated to learn
that Joel writes sonnets and that I
design mobiles.
1. A person who gives to charity
and who helps others is rare
indeed.
2. In his career he has been an
accountant, an expediter, and a
consultant.
3. Growing very slowly and then
bursting into glorious color is a
characteristic of that tropical
plant.
4. I have had virtually no peace
since my daughter left and since
my oldest son returned.
5. After the accident, she sobbed,
whimpered, and collapsed.
6. Maggie always sings in the
shower, at the breakfast table,
and at most other times.
7. We try to jog daily and to hike
on weekends.
8. Her hobbies include refinishing
furniture, repairing clocks, and
constructing floral displays.
9. Ms. Ames, Mr. Paulson, and
Dr. Phillip will all present
seminars at the convention.
10. She was fascinated to learn
that Joel writes sonnets and that I
design mobiles.
Read each sentence carefully and
write FP on the space before each
number if there is faulty
parallelism and C if the sentence
is correct.
_____1. Exercising every day, eating
the right foods, and to get enough
sleep can help a person stayhealthy.
_____2. My mother would rather
bake fresh bread than buying a
packaged loaf.
_____3. I expect to drive to
Providence, to see two friends,
and to return this evening.
_____4. My teacher prefers a
simple list of ideas to preparing a
complicated Harvard outline.
_____5. She would rather return
to our hotel than going to the
stadium.
Rewrite the sentences to
form parallel structure.
1. You can apply to the job by
filling this form or apply by
telephone.
2. She played basketball, had a
shower , and gone to school.
3. Mary wanted to paint her
office, to add some new
draperies, and the carpet needs
cleaning.
4. When Friday rolls around, do
you go to the mall, head for a bar,
or are you going to work?
5. Nancy likes playing the piano,
the trumpet and play the guitar.
1. You can apply to the
job by filling this form or
applying by telephone.
2. She played basketball,
took a shower , and went
to school.
3. Mary wanted to paint her
office, to add some new
draperies, and to clean the
carpet.
4. When Friday rolls around, do
you go to the mall, head for a
bar, or go to work?
5. Nancy likes playing the piano,
the trumpet and the guitar.