Parallelism Needed Words Misplaced Modifiers Sentence Style Parallelism Needed Words Misplaced Modifiers

Parallelism Parallel structure means using the same patter of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. (These are usually joined by coordinating conjunctions such as “and” or “or.”)

In a series… Children who study music also learn confidence, discipline, and they are creative. Children who study music also learn confidence, discipline, and creativity.

-ing (gerund) Mary likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling. Parallel Mary likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling. Not Parallel Mary likes hiking, swimming, and to ride a bicycle.

Infinitive phrases Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle. Or Mary likes to hike, swim, and ride a bicycle.

Adverbs Parallel The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly. Not Parallel The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurate, and in a detailed manner.

Phrases Parallel The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation. Not Parallel The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and his motivation was low.

Clauses Parallel The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and that they should do some warm-up exercises before the game. OR The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, not eat too much, and do some warm-up exercises before the game. Not Parallel The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and to do some warm-up exercises before the game.

Lists after a colon Parallel The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and irregular verbs. Not Parallel The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and looking up irregular verbs.

Needed Words Add words needed to complete compound structures (avoid ambiguity) Whom…have purchased (who) Has…accept (accepted) Believe…by (in)

Add the word “that” if there is any danger of misreading without it. “That” may be omitted when it introduces a subordinate clause. The value of a principle is the number of things [that] it will explain. In his famous obedience experiments, psychologists Stanley Milgram discovered that ordinary people were willing to inflict physical pain on strangers. He didn’t discover ordinary people, he discovered that they were willing to inflict pain.

Add words needed to make comparisons logical and complete. Comparisons should be made between items that are alike. To compare unlike items is illogical and distracting. The forests of North America are much more extensive than those of Europe. Forest must be compared with forests, not with all of Europe.

Avoid ambiguity Ken helped me more than my roommate. (Who is helping whom?) Ken helped me more than he helped my roommate. Ken helped me more than my roommate did.

Add the articles a, an, and the where necessary for grammatical completeness. Articles are sometimes omitted in recipes and other instructions that are meant to be followed while they are being read. In nearly all other forms of writing –formal or informal—such omissions are inappropriate. A computer An antivirus program

Problems with modifiers Place limiting modifiers in front of the words they modify. Only, even, almost, nearly, just It almost took six centuries to complete the St. Vitus Cathedral. It took almost six centuries to complete the St. Vitus Cathedral.

Place phrases and clauses so that readers can see at a glance what they modify. The soccer player returned to the clinic where he had undergone emergency surgery in 2009 in a limousine sent by Adidas. Where did the soccer player undergo surgery? In a limo? Traveling in a limousine sent by Adidas, the soccer player returned to the clinic where he had undergone emergency surgery in 2009.