Parallelism: The secret to great writing

Summary

This video lesson by Rebecca from engVid explains the concept of 'Parallelism' or 'Parallel Structure' in writing and speaking. It emphasizes the importance of using parallelism to create balanced, clear, and impactful communication, particularly in academic and business settings. Through examples, the lesson demonstrates how to properly structure sentences by aligning verbs, nouns, adjectives, or adverbs consistently. Viewers learn how parallelism improves rhythm, style, and clarity, and are guided through common mistakes with tips on correcting them to enhance both writing and speaking skills.

Takeaways

• 😀 Parallelism or parallel structure helps improve communication both in speaking and writing.
• 💼 It's particularly important in academic and business settings for effective communication.
• ✍️ Parallelism involves balancing different parts of a sentence, ensuring that similar items have the same grammatical form.
• 📝 Using parallel structure makes sentences more clear, balanced, and impactful, enhancing style and rhythm.
• ⚠️ Failing to use parallelism in formal writing can lead to weaker sentences and even lower grades in academic contexts.
• 👀 Examples of parallelism include: using verbs with verbs, adjectives with adjectives, and nouns with nouns in a list.
• ❌ A common error in parallelism is mismatching forms, like mixing gerunds with infinitives or different verb tenses.
• 🔄 Correcting faulty parallelism involves ensuring consistency, such as 'to fly is better than driving' should be 'flying is better than driving'.
• 📚 Parallelism is especially powerful when used in lists of three, enhancing the impact of the sentence.
• 🌐 For further practice, viewers are encouraged to take quizzes on the website or explore more lessons on improving English skills.

Q & A

What is parallelism or parallel structure?

Parallelism is a writing or speaking technique that involves balancing different parts of a sentence to make communication more powerful. It ensures that similar elements in a sentence, such as verbs, nouns, or adjectives, are in the same form.

Why is parallelism important in academic and business writing?

Parallelism is essential in academic and business writing because it improves clarity, balance, and emphasis. In academic circles, failing to follow parallel structure rules can be seen as weak or poor writing, which can lead to lower grades or poor professional perception.

What are the benefits of using parallel structure in sentences?

Using parallel structure makes sentences more balanced, rhythmic, clear, stylish, and emphatic. It enhances the overall impact of communication, making it more effective and powerful.

Can you provide an example of a correctly structured parallel sentence?

An example of a correctly structured parallel sentence is: 'Janet sings and dances.' Both verbs 'sings' and 'dances' are in the same form, making the sentence balanced and parallel.

What happens when parallel structure is not followed?

When parallel structure is not followed, sentences can become awkward or confusing. For example, 'Janet sings and is dancing' is incorrect because the verbs are in different forms (present simple vs. continuous), disrupting the balance of the sentence.

How can you fix the sentence: 'She wants to speak to the manager, return the cellphone, and to get a refund'?

One way to fix the sentence is by removing the extra 'to': 'She wants to speak to the manager, return the cellphone, and get a refund.' Another way is to add 'to' before each verb: 'She wants to speak to the manager, to return the cellphone, and to get a refund.'

What is an example of parallelism in three elements, and why is it powerful?

An example is: 'The reasons for my view are political, cultural, and social.' Using three elements in parallel structure is especially effective because it adds rhythm and emphasis, making the writing more powerful and memorable.

How would you correct the sentence: 'To fly will be better than driving'?

To correct the sentence, both elements should be in the same form. The correct sentence is: 'Flying will be better than driving.'

What is wrong with the sentence: 'She wanted love, happiness, and to be secure'?

The sentence is not parallel because 'love' and 'happiness' are nouns, but 'to be secure' is not. To make it parallel, you can say: 'She wanted love, happiness, and security.'

How can long sentences maintain parallelism, as in the example 'The job demands professional qualifications, the ability to manage others, and experience working around the globe'?

To maintain parallelism, the sentence can be revised to ensure that all elements follow the same structure. For example: 'The job demands professional qualifications, managerial ability, and global experience.' This balances the adjectives and nouns throughout the sentence.