CORRECTING FAULTY PARALLEL CONSTRUCTION
In this module, you will learn to do the following:
 Recognize faulty parallel construction in a series (words, phrases,
and clauses)
 Correct faulty parallel construction in a series
 Recognize faulty parallel construction involving correlative
conjunctions
 Correct faulty parallel construction involving correlative conjunctions.
Introduction
Equally important ideas must be written in the same way--must be parallel in construction.
We use parallel construction when we present ideas of equal value in a series and with
correlative conjunctions.
Series
Any time we place two or more equal items in a row, we create a series. A series may be
formed with words, phrases, or clauses.
Words
In the sentence
"Murray collects valuable, old, Canadian coins,"
we have a series of three adjectives, valuable, old, and Canadian. Since valuable and old
and Canadian are equal in importance, they are presented in parallel form.
This example involved adjectives. But be aware that any of the other parts of speech may
also form a series.
Phrases
In the sentence
"Maureen loves reading poetry and writing novels,"
we have a series of two phrases, reading poetry and writing novels. Since reading poetry
and writing novels are equal in importance, they are presented in parallel form.
Clauses
In the sentence
"No one knew why he wrote the novel or when he wrote it,"
we have a series of two dependent clauses. Since why he wrote the novel and when he
wrote it are equal in importance, they are presented in parallel form.
Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions are important to us in this module because we must use parallel
construction with them. Here is a list of these conjunctions.
List:
Both, and; either, or; neither, nor; not only, but also; not, but; or.
It is important to remember that the same construction must follow both conjunctions in the
pair. However, with or, the same construction must precede and follow the conjunction.
Let's examine the correlative conjunctions in turn.
Both/and
Sentence:
"We must both wash the car and pack the suitcases today."
You have a set of correlative conjunctions: both/and. A verb+adjective+noun (wash the
car) follows "both"; so the same construction, verb+adjective+noun (pack the suitcases),
must follow the second conjunction, "and."
Either/or
Sentence:
"Either the man or his wife must produce identification."
You have a set of correlative conjunctions: either/or. An adjective+noun (the man) follows
"either"; so the same construction, adjective+noun (his wife), must follow the second
conjunction, "or."
Neither/nor
Sentence:
"Neither scolding them nor coaxing them did any good."
A gerund phrase follows "Neither," so a gerund phrase must follow "nor."
Not only/but also
Sentence:
"Not only when she left but also when she arrived must be recorded in the register."
A dependent clause follows "not only," so a dependent clause must follow "but also."
Not/but
Sentence:
"Not to be wealthy but to be happy should be one of our aims in life."
An infinitive phrase follows "not," so an infinitive phrase must follow "but."
Or
Sentence:
"Please ask Sally, Ahiya, or some other student to help with the ticket sales."
A noun precedes "or," so a noun (or an adjective+noun or an adjective+adjective+noun)
must follow "or."
Parallel flexibility is quite necessary to our writing. An adjective+noun (or any number of
adjectives+noun) is equal to a noun or any other combinations of adjectives and nouns.
Procedure
Let's try a few parallel construction problems. What we'll do is look at sentences and
outlines to determine whether or not we have a need for parallel construction. We'll identify
the items involved; then we'll correct the construction.
Sentence:
"Our girl scout troop often goes hiking, swimming, and we camp out."
1. Identify that you have a series.
We identify "hiking, swimming," and "we camp out" as items the troop often does. The
three items form a series of equally important activities.
2. Confirm the present construction is parallel.
"Hiking" is a gerund. "Swimming" is a gerund. "We camp out" is an independent clause.
The series, gerund, gerund, clause, is not parallel.
If the series is parallel, STOP here. If the series is NOT parallel, go on to Step 3.
3. Choose the construction you want.
Hiking, swimming, and we camp out.
Our first item, hiking, is a gerund. We'll use the first item as our guide. So the entire series
should be constructed of gerunds. Our second item, swimming, is also a gerund; so we
leave it as it is. Our third item, we camp out, is NOT a gerund. So we need to correct the
faulty parallel construction.
4. Construct the parallel item.
We construct the gerunds "camping" or "camping out"; both are acceptable.
Let's try another one.
Sentence:
"Last night, Isadore swept the floor, washed the dishes, and his homework was finished by
ten o'clock."
1. We identify swept the floor, washed the dishes, and his homework was finished as the
items in a series of equally important activities.
2. Swept the floor is a verb+adjective+noun. Washed the dishes is also a
verb+adjective+noun. His homework was finished is a subject+verb--an independent
clause.
The third item is not parallel to the first two.
3. Our third item must not have a subject+verb. To be parallel, the third item must contain
a verb +adjective+noun or a verb +noun (flexibility).
4. We construct "finished his homework" to use as the third item.
NOTE that "he finished his homework" would be incorrect because of the subject that is
present.
Now let's try some practice problems.
Practice
We'll use the first item in the series as our construction guide. Be on the lookout for
correlative conjunctions.
Sentence:
"New students will register on Monday; second-year students will register on Tuesday, and
on Wednesday the senior students."
Nonparallel item: on Wednesday the senior students.
Guide: new students will register on Monday.
Correct parallel construction: and senior students will register on Wednesday.
Sentence:
"The course consists of several lectures, write three reports, and two impromptu oral
presentations."
Nonparallel item: write three reports.
Guide: several lectures.
Correct parallel construction: three written reports (note the noun/adjective flexibility).
Outline:
1. Some independence
2. Have more spare time
3. Fewer interruptions
Nonparallel item: Have more spare time.
Guide: Some independence.
Correct parallel construction: More spare time.
Sentence:
"Mark, either do your homework or your chores before dinner."
Nonparallel item: your chores.
Guide: do your homework.
Correct parallel construction: do your chores.
Sentence:
"The Member of Parliament stated not only that he would enter the election but also win
the election."
Nonparallel item: win the election.
Guide: that he would enter the election.
Correct parallel construction: that he would win the election.
Instructions:
1. Hold in upright position.
2. Aim at fire base.
3. And you should spray in long bursts.
Nonparallel item: And you should spray in long bursts
Guide: Hold in upright position
Correct parallel construction: Spray in long bursts.
Exercises
Select the answer that has no parallel construction error. The answers appear after the
last question.
1.
A. Hamid was competent, self-reliant, and he was trained well.
B. Hamid was competent, self-reliant, and well trained.
C. Hamid was competent, was self-reliant, and well trained.
2.
A. Either wash the car or you can vacuum the inside.
B. Either wash the car or vacuum the inside.
C. Either you wash the car or vacuum the inside.
3.
A. Ruth said she would not only enter the contest but also win first prize.
B. Ruth said she would not only enter the contest but also would win first prize.
C. Ruth said she not only would enter the contest but also win first prize..
4.
A. Marcy admires Mark; Marcy needs Mark; Marcy says she loves Mark.
B. Marcy admires Mark; Marcy feels she needs Mark; Marcy loves Mark.
C. Marcy admires Mark; Marcy needs Mark; Marcy loves Mark.
5.
A. Neither hiring a tutor nor reviewing notes seemed to work for Tom.
B. Neither a tutor nor reviewing notes seemed to work for Tom.
C. Neither hiring a tutor nor notes seemed to work for Tom.
6.
A. She is an able person, a good manager; and, as a friend, she is reliable.
B. She is an able person, a good manager, and is reliable.
C. She is an able person, a good manager, and a reliable friend.
7.
A. Sharman hasn't decided whether to become a nurse or go into accounting.
B. Sharman hasn't decided whether to nurse or go into accounting.
C. Sharman hasn't decided whether to become a nurse or to become an accountant.
8.
A. Marylou loves singing, dancing, and to act.
B. Marylou loves to sing, to dance, and acting.
C. Marylou loves singing, dancing, and acting.
9.
A. On the stage or while she rehearsed, she was always good-tempered.
B. On the stage or at rehearsal, she was always good-tempered.
C. On the stage or while rehearsing, she was always good-tempered.
10.
A. Calgary has nice people, good weather, and numerous chinooks.
B. Calgary has nice people, good weather, and the chinooks are numerous.
C. Calgary has nice people, weather that is good, and numerous chinooks.
Answers
1, B. 2, B. 3, A. 4, C. 5, A. 6, C. 7, C. 8, C. 9, B. 10, A.