Parallel Structure

Summary

This lesson teaches the importance of parallel structure in writing for clarity and sophistication. It explains that parallelism involves repeating grammatical forms for readability and balance. The video provides strategies to identify and correct non-parallel sentences, using conjunctions and correlative pairs as cues. Examples illustrate how to adjust sentence elements to achieve grammatical harmony, emphasizing the significance of parallelism in enhancing writing style and reader comprehension.

Takeaways

• 📚 Parallel structure enhances clarity and sophistication in writing by creating easily followable word patterns.
• 🔄 Parallelism involves the repetition of a grammatical form, ensuring each compared item or idea follows the same pattern.
• 🔍 Identifying conjunctions is crucial for spotting where items need to be in the same grammatical form for parallel structure.
• 🏷️ The acronym 'FANBOYS' (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) helps remember the coordinating conjunctions that require parallel structure.
• ⚖️ Parallel structure is used to show equal rank, quality, or significance of connected elements in a sentence.
• 🔑 To correct non-parallel sentences, identify the grammatical structure of the parts being joined and adjust them to match.
• 📝 When joining items in a list, ensure they are parallel to maintain coherence and readability.
• 🔄 Correlative conjunctions, such as 'not only...but also', require parallel structure to demonstrate a mutual relationship.
• 📉 Comparison words like 'than' or 'as' necessitate parallel structure to make clear and balanced comparisons.
• 🛠️ Steps for identifying and correcting non-parallel structure include determining what parts need balancing, assessing their grammatical form, and adjusting for consistency.
• ✍️ Revising sentences for parallel structure often involves creative thinking and can vary based on the context and desired tone of the writing.

Q & A

What is parallel structure in writing?

Parallel structure, also known as parallelism, is the repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence. It involves making each compared item or idea follow the same grammatical pattern, which increases readability and adds clarity and sophistication to writing.

How does parallel structure improve the readability of writing?

Parallel structure improves readability by creating word patterns that readers can easily follow. It helps in maintaining a consistent flow in sentences, making them more coherent and easier to understand.

What is the purpose of using conjunctions in parallel structure?

Conjunctions are used in parallel structure to join items that are of equal rank, quality, or significance. They help in creating balance in a sentence by ensuring that the elements being joined are in the same grammatical form.

Can you provide an example of a sentence that is not in parallel structure?

An example of a non-parallel sentence is 'Aaron likes skiing, the mall, and to go out to eat.' Here, the elements being joined (skiing, the mall, and to go out to eat) are not in the same grammatical form.

What is the acronym 'FANBOYS' used for in the context of parallel structure?

The acronym 'FANBOYS' stands for 'For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So' and is used to remember the coordinating conjunctions that are often used to create parallel structure in sentences.

How can you fix a sentence that is not in parallel structure?

To fix a non-parallel sentence, identify the elements being joined and ensure they are in the same grammatical form. This may involve changing verbs, nouns, or phrases to match the structure of the other elements in the sentence.

What are correlative conjunctions and how are they used in parallel structure?

Correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions used to show a mutual or corresponding relationship between elements in a sentence, such as 'not only...but also,' 'both...and,' 'either...or,' and 'neither...nor.' They are used to create parallel structure by joining elements of equal grammatical form.

Why is it important to maintain parallel structure when using correlative conjunctions?

Maintaining parallel structure with correlative conjunctions is important because it ensures that the elements being joined are balanced and correspond to each other in a clear and logical manner, which enhances the sentence's clarity and coherence.

Can you give an example of a sentence that incorrectly uses correlative conjunctions?

An example of incorrect use of correlative conjunctions is 'My dog not only likes to chase sticks, but also go on walks.' The error here is that 'likes to chase sticks' and 'go on walks' are not in the same grammatical form.

What steps should one follow to determine if a sentence is in parallel structure?

To determine if a sentence is in parallel structure, first identify the parts of the sentence being joined or compared. Second, determine the grammatical structure of these parts. Third, if they are not the same, adjust the sentence to bring all parts into the same grammatical pattern.

What is an elliptical clause and how does it relate to parallel structure?

An elliptical clause is a clause that omits certain elements that are understood from the context. It relates to parallel structure in that it allows for the omission of repeated elements, maintaining parallelism without redundancy, as in the sentence 'I would rather fly to Florida than drive,' where 'to Florida' is understood after 'than' and can be omitted.