 |
||||
|
||||
|
|
||||
 |
Parallel structure requires a writer to use equivalent grammatical structures for ideas or facts of equivalent importance.
This sentence identifies two results of accidents; both should be written in the same grammatical structure.
Accidents can be either personal injury producing or property damage.
The revision could be any of the following versions.
Accidents can either produce personal injury or damage property.
Accidents can result in either personal injury or property damage.
Accidents can either injure people or damage property.
In the next example, the parallel error is in the subject of the sentence.
Minimizing displacement of existing structures and avoidance of water bodies must be considered, or the cost of the roadway will increase.
Because the sentence has a compound subject, each part of the subject must have the same structure.
Minimizing displacement of existing structures and avoiding water bodies must be considered, or the cost of the roadway will increase.
Minimize displacement of existing structures and avoid water bodies, or the cost of the roadway will increase.
The last example shows that items in a list should be parallel. The following sign was posted in a shop to remind workers of safety guidelines.
ALWAYS OBSERVE SAFETY RULES:
|
The items in any list should adhere to the same grammatical form. Because the sign instructs workers to follow guidelines, the items can all be in imperative mood, as the revision illustrates.
ALWAYS OBSERVE SAFETY RULES:
|