UWF WRITING LAB

RULES OF THUMB FOR

PARALLELISM

From Real Good Grammar, Too

by Mamie Webb Hixon

Created by April Turner

 PARALLELISM

 The secret to
the parallelism
test: make
sure
everything is
the same.
 WRONG: Did  RIGHT: Did you know
you know that you that you have a
have a purpose, that purpose, that you are
you are needed, and needed, and that you
we love you? are loved?
 WRONG: A good  RIGHT: Having a
attitude, being on good attitude, being on
time, and speaking time, and speaking
effectively are her effectively are her
attributes. attributes.
 WRONG: This  RIGHT: This proposal
proposal is profitable, is profitable, timely, and
timely, and it helps us. helpful.
A FEW REMINDERS…
 “not only” NEEDS “but
also” NOT JUST “but”
 EXAMPLE:
 Vitamin A is found not only in
vegetables, but eggs and
butter have it.
 Vitamin A is found not only in
vegetables, but also in eggs
and butter.
A FEW REMINDERS…
 “either” NEEDS  “neither” NEEDS
“or” NOT “nor” “nor” NOT “or”
 EXAMPLE:  EXAMPLE:
 The shirt must be  I found neither his
either red nor black. bongo playing or his
 The shirt must be glockenspiel practicing
either red or black. objectionable.
 I found neither his
bongo playing nor his
glockenspiel practicing
objectionable.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 Does anyone
have any
questions
regarding
parallelism?

 PLEASE
ASK!!!
 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.
 LET’S PRACTICE A LITTLE
MORE!!!
 Three of the steps in filing are to code, to
sort, and storing.
 Three of the steps in filing are to code, to
sort, and to store.
 Without federal taxes, we would have neither
an army or a navy.
 Without federal taxes, we would have neither
an army nor a navy.