1. Parallel Structure Keeping Sentences in Tune

2. What is parallel structure? Amy Benjamin defines parallel structure, also called parallelism, as follows: Two or more of the same grammatical structures that are coordinated—given equal weight— within a sentence, and between sentences within a paragraph.

3. Examples Steve received a wool sweater and a pocket calculator for his birthday. Susan raised her hand and snapped her fingers. The old man is extremely kind and generous.

4. Parallel Structure Steve received a wool sweater and a pocket calculator for his birthday. noun + and + noun

5. Parallel Structure Susan raised her hand and snapped her fingers. verb + object + and + verb + object

6. Parallel Structure The old man is extremely kind and generous. adjective + and + adjective

7. Chorus Think about parallel structure as a chorus. Each singer has his own voice, but all the voices blend to produce one song.

8. Chorus

9. A chorus would sound bad if one person sang differently than the rest.

10. Parallel Structure So edit your sentences carefully to make certain that all the parts sing the same song.