The Writing Center
The Samuel Rudin Academic Resource Center
1
When creating a list in a sentence, make sure all elements of the list are the same, or parallel, to one another. This structure
will allow you to keep a consistent flow and order of the sentence. You can connect ideas to create parallel structure using:
• coordinating conjunctions such as “and,” “but,” or “or” for a list of 2 items
• commas and coordinating conjunction for a list of 3 or more items
• a pair of correlative conjunctions such as “either…or” or “not only…but also”
• a word introducing a comparison, usually “than” or “as”
Here are some ways to make a list in a sentence parallel:
• each item starts with the same part of speech
• the verb tense is consistent (when listing verbs)
• the verb voice (passive or active) is consistent. Verbs in the passive voice signify that the subject receives
the action (The pizza was eaten by me) while active verbs indicate that the subject performs the action (I
ate the pizza).
PARALLEL STRUCTURE
by Rachel Ansong
✗✓
The dictionary can be used to find definitions,
pronunciations, and look up synonyms.
Inconsistent parts of speech:
two nouns and a verb
The dictionary can be used to find definitions,
pronunciations, and synonyms.
Consistent parts of speech:
all nouns
✗ ✓
Most football players get a lot of sleep, will eat
moderately, and stretch before a game.
Inconsistent verb tense:
present, future, present
Most football players get a lot of sleep, eat
moderately, and stretch before a game.
Consistent verb tense:
present
✗✓
The salesman expected that he would present
his product at the meeting, show his slide
presentation, and questions would be answered.
Inconsistent verb voice:
two active verbs and one passive
The salesman expected that he would present
his product at the meeting, show his slide
presentation, and answer questions.
Consistent verb voice:
all active verbs
Examples
