From the contact form on the
White House’s website
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What kind of error is in the above sentence?
1
From the contact form on the
White House’s website



RIGHT! Faulty Parallelism
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2
UWF WRITING LAB
RULES OF THUMB FOR
PARALLELISM
From Real Good Grammar, Too
by Mamie Webb Hixon
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This is PARALLELISM:

A sign inside an elevator:
4500 lbs or 2800 kg or 28 persons
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These sentences contain
unparallel items.


This is a report that Savanna researched, Pat wrote, and
the editing was done by Justin.
 Savanna researched
 Pat wrote
 the editing was done by Justin
Rather than arrive late for the show, she decided either
to cut short her previous engagement or that she should
reschedule it.
 to cut short her previous engagement
 that she should reschedule it
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These sentences contain unparallel items
(From Understanding English Grammar).



Not only did the financial experts underestimate the
economic downturn, but they delayed in taking action to
change its course.

Not only did the financial experts underestimate . . .

but they delayed . . .
I’ll either take the bus or a taxi.
 take the bus
 a taxi
Either they will fly straight home or stop overnight in
Vallejo.
 they will fly straight home

stop overnight in Vallejo
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PARALLELISM

The secret to
parallelism:
make sure
everything is
the same.
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Now, everything is the same.


This is a report that Savanna researched, Pat wrote, and
Justin edited.
 Savanna researched
 Pat wrote
 Justin edited
Rather than arrive late for the show, she decided
either to cut short her previous engagement or to
reschedule it.
 to cut short her previous engagement
 to reschedule it
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Now, everything is the same.



Not only did the financial experts underestimate the
economic downturn, but they also delayed in taking
action to change its course.

Not only did the financial experts underestimate . . .

but they also delayed . . .
I’ll take either the bus or a taxi.
 either the bus
 or a taxi
Either they will fly straight home or stop overnight in
Vallejo.
 they will either fly straight home

or stop overnight in Vallejo
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Everything must be the same.





Insert card.
Remove the nozzle.
Push button to
select fuel grade.
Begin fueling.
Return nozzle to the
pump.
10
Everything must be the same.


NO SMOKING,
DRINKING, OR
FOOD
NO SMOKING,
DRINKING, OR
EATING
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Everything must be the same.

Ask not what your
country can do for
you: ask what you
can do for your
country.

- JFK

Don’t ask, don’t tell.

Neither a borrower
nor a lender be, for
a loan oft loses both
itself and friend.
- The Bard of Avon
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If everything is not the same . . .

Jason is not only
captain of the soccer
team but president
of SGA.

He was black, gay,
and grew up in
poverty, but none of
these things
determined who he
was or limited what
he did.
13
Everything is the same.

Jason is not only
captain of the soccer
team but also
president of SGA.

He was black, gay,
and poor, but none
of these things
determined who he
was or limited what
he did.
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Parallelism = Balance

Watch for
parallelism in
sentences with two
or more items
(words, phrases,
clauses) connected
by a conjunction in a
series.

CAREERS – Nonparallel Items
accounting
medical and legal professionals
hair stylists
teaching
computer science

CAREERS
accountants
medical and legal professionals
hair stylists
teachers/educators
computer scientists

CAREERS
accounting
medicine and law
cosmetology
education
computer science
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Parallelism in Everyday Use
See it. Shoot it.
Send it.
(From a WEAR TV-3
News Ad)

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Parallelism in Everyday Use

Truth
Justice
and
The American Way
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Common Conjunctions in
Parallel Items








Coordinating
Conjunctions: fanboys
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So






Correlative
Conjunctions
Either . . . or
Neither . . . nor
Both . . . and
Not only . . . but also
Whether . . . or
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When you’re proofreading . . .


Look for the
conjunction: AND
Then match the left
and right side of the
conjunction:
Not a match: black, gay,
and grew up in poverty
A match: black, gay,
and poor

He was black, gay,
and poor, but none
of these things
determined who he
was or limited what
he did.
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When you’re proofreading . . .


Look for the
conjunction: OR
Then match the left
and right side of the
conjunction:
determined who he
was or
limited what he did

He was black, gay,
and poor, but none
of these things
determined who he
was or limited what
he did.
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Parallelism with words, phrases, clauses,
and sentences linked by conjunctions

The two team captains
were watching the
practice and finding
fault with every play.

According to the polls,
Alvin Greene didn’t
have a chance, yet he
won by a landslide.

They were looking
for someone who
could run the
office but who
would “work for
peanuts.”
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Parallelism in Compounds
with Correlatives


Ora spent the entire
trip either arguing
with me or with
Virginia.
The proposed exam
will not only affect
curricula but provide
uniform standards of
assessment.

Ora spent the entire
trip arguing either
with me or with
Virginia.

The proposed exam
will not only affect
curricula but also
provide uniform
standards of
assessment.
22
Remember to use “not only”
with “but also,” not just “but.”


INCORRECT
I always liked going to church not only as an
obligation but as an opportunity to wear my
new clothes.
CORRECT
I always liked going to church not only as an
obligation but also as an opportunity to wear
my new clothes.
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Parallelism in Series



We need a plumber,
plasterer, and someone to
paint.

We need a plumber,
plasterer, and painter.

Our vacation included
camping, canoeing, and
bird-watching.

She described the
accident fully, accurately,
and succinctly.
Our vacation included
camping, canoeing, and to
watch birds.
She described the
accident fully, accurately,
and with succinctness.
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Parallelism in Outlines
Levels of English Usage
I. Standard
A. Informal English
1. Colloquialisms
2. Slang
3. Cliches
B. Formal English
1. Academic English
2. Business English
II.
Nonstandard English
A. Dialect
B. Misspoken forms
C. “Bad” English
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Parallelism with Words

WRONG:
This
proposal is profitable,
timely, and it helps us.

RIGHT: This proposal
is profitable, timely, and
helpful.
26
Parallelism with Phrases

WRONG:
A good
attitude, being on
time, and speaking
effectively are her
attributes.

RIGHT: Having a
good attitude, being on
time, and speaking
effectively are her
attributes.
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Parallelism with Clauses

WRONG:
Did
you know that you
have a purpose, that
you are needed, and
we love you?

RIGHT: Did you know
that you have a
purpose, that you are
needed, and that you
are loved?
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Parallelism may involve
REPETITION.

Warner graduated
from Harvard Law
School without
honors, without a
girlfriend, and without
a job.


Of the people, by the
people, and for the
people
- From Legally Blonde
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A FEW REMINDERS…


“Not only” NEEDS “but
also,” NOT JUST “but”
EXAMPLE:
Vitamin A is found not only in
vegetables but in eggs and
butter.
Vitamin A is found not only in
vegetables but also in eggs
and butter.
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A FEW REMINDERS…


“Either” NEEDS
“or,” NOT “nor.”
EXAMPLE:
The steaks at the
new restaurant are
either overcooked nor
undercooked.
The steaks at the new
restaurant are either
overcooked or
undercooked.


“Neither” NEEDS
“nor,” NOT “or.”
EXAMPLE:
Neither the victim’s
name or his condition is
known.
Neither the victim’s
name nor his condition is
known.
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A FEW REMINDERS…


EVERYTHING MUST
BE THE SAME.
Learn about your
community: its
strengths, its
challenges, its
organizations, and its
people.
32
LET’S PRACTICE!!!
Many gases are invisible, odorless, and
they have no taste.
 Many gases are invisible, odorless, and
tasteless.
 Mr. Foster is not only an excellent barber
but also sings well.
 Mr. Foster is not only an excellent barber
but also a good singer.

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LET’S PRACTICE!!!
Either I will meet you in the lobby or come
to your room.
 I will either meet you in the lobby or come
to your room.
 He said that he would arrive late and I
shouldn’t start the rehearsal without him.
 He said that he would arrive late and that I
shouldn’t start the rehearsal without him.

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LET’S PRACTICE A LITTLE
MORE!!!
Three of the steps in filing are coding, sorting,
and to store.
 Three of the steps in filing are coding, sorting,
and storing.
 Without federal taxes, we would have neither
an army or a navy.
 Without federal taxes, we would have neither
an army nor a navy.

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



His books are timely, well-written, and a real
challenge.
His books are timely, well-written, and
challenging.
The car needs to be tuned up, air in the tires,
and the oil needs to be changed.
The car needs a tune-up, air in the tires, and
an oil change.
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
The contamination of air continues, and it
threatens not only the comfort but the
existence of the earth’s inhabitants.

The contamination of air continues, and it
threatens not only the comfort but also the
existence of the earth’s inhabitants.
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