Parallel Construction

Parallel construction of sentences, lists, and even headings makes messages much easier for the reader to absorb. 

Compare the two following sentences:

• Yara loves running, to swim, and biking.
• Yara loves running, swimming, and biking.

Was the second sentence easier to read and comprehend than the first? The second sentence uses parallelism. All three verbs end in “ing,” while in the first sentence, two of the action words end in “ing” and one does not. While the meaning of the first sentence comes through, it’s easy to trip up over the mismatched action words (or verbs).

The application of parallelism improves writing style and readability, and it makes sentences easier to process.

Compare the following:

• Lacking parallelism: “She likes cooking, jogging, and to read.”
  • Parallel: “She likes cooking, jogging, and reading.”
  • Parallel: “She likes to cook, jog, and read.”
• Lacking parallelism: “He likes to swim and running.”
  • Parallel: “He likes to swim and to run.”
  • Parallel: “He likes swimming and running.”

Once again, the examples above combine different action words. To make them parallel, the sentences should be rewritten with the same types of action words. 

An easy way to think about this is to make your sentence into three separate sentences:

The dog likes to run.

The dog likes to play fetch.

The dog likes to go to the dog park.

To achieve parallelism, identify where the sentences start to be different. In the example above, the sentences change when you get to the action words, after the word “to.” Therefore, what comes after “to” is what your list should be made of in order to keep a parallel structure in your sentences. Then check your parallelism by making sure that each of the items represents the same part of speech. In this case, each item–“run,” “play,” “go”–is a present-tense verb, so the parallelism works.

The dog likes to

run,

play fetch, and

go to the dog park.

Here are a few more examples of parallelism in which the elements are all different lengths and types:

Jackson and Krista are cooking dinner, David and Rogelio are setting the table, and Ollie and Ron are picking up dessert. (The parallel elements of this sentence are independent clauses that could stand alone. We could make sentences out of each clause before the comma.)

Juana looked for her phone under the table, on top of the bookcase, and inside the cupboard. (The parallel elements are prepositional phrases, or words that indicate location, in this sentence.)

Mandy and Torrence watched American Fiction, The Boy and the Heron, and an episode of Storage Wars. (This may look tricky, but all of the elements in the list are nouns, or things, so the sentence is parallel.)

Parallelism can also apply to the way you talk about similar elements in general. If you’re writing a research paper that includes references to several different authors, you should be consistent in how you cite them. For example, if you talk about Jane Goodall and Henry Harlow, you should say “Goodall and Harlow,” not “Jane and Harlow” or “Goodall and Henry.” This is something that would carry on through your entire paper. You should use the same mode of address for every person you mention.

Maintaining parallelism can also keep you from unintentional bias. Referring to three physicians as Dr. Jameel Smith, Dr. Samuel Evans, and Kathy will probably not make Dr. Kathleen O’Rourke very happy. Using an informal way of addressing only one of three professionals can be interpreted as undermining her professional credibility and may perpetuate gender bias by not affording her the same respect and recognition as her male counterparts.

Parallelism is really helpful when you’re making lists, tables, or outlines. Think about the difference between these two versions of a list in an internal report:

Tasks to be completed before the end of the quarter: Compile quarterly and aggregate sales data We should ask HR for a salary audit Presenting findings to the board Jeff does more searching for office space

Tasks to be completed before the end of the quarter: Compile quarterly and aggregate sales data Request salary audit from HR Present findings to the board Continue office space search

Which one is easier to follow? Which is more professional in its look and feel? Essentially, any time you have a list—whether it’s within a single sentence or has a larger scope—you should use parallelism.

Emphasis

The correct amount of emphasis in business communications can help readers easily access the intended message. However, what is considered appropriate emphasis can differ drastically in this age of texting and social media. Remember that business communications are a part of a professional setting. 

Avoid	Try This Instead	Why
ABC Company loves the opportunity to fill your Pick n Pack order.	ABC Company appreciates the opportunity to fill your Pick n Pack order.	“Love” is an intense human emotion, not the emotion of a thing—a company.
Allied Sales is so sorry and apologizes for the trouble the late delivery caused your pets.	Allied Sales shipped the late order at its own expense with overnight delivery to make up for the delay.	Highlight the solution rather than increasing focus on what went wrong.
Your order is appreciated!!!	Your order is appreciated.	The exclamation mark is clearly a mark of personal enthusiasm. Overuse can make the writer seem immature in the workplace context.
Please see the corporate request. There are FIVE QUESTIONS TO ANSWER.	Please see the corporate request. There are five questions to answer.	Using all capital letters is construed as yelling at someone. This effect is further magnified when it comes in a downward message.
Recently, employees have erroneously entered wired rather than rewired on service orders.	Recently, employees have erroneously entered wired rather than rewired on service orders.	Use of italic font provides emphasis without the startling impact of all capital letters.
She wanted to be called Francesca, not Fran.	She wanted to be called Francesca, not Fran.	Use of bold font provides emphasis without the startling impact of all capital letters.
If a RX5 cable is shipped, an EU45 must be shipped at the same time.	If a RX5 cable is shipped, an EU45 must be shipped at the same time.	Use of underlined font provides emphasis without the startling impact of all capital letters.

In the examples above, notice how italic, bold, or underlined fonts all provide emphasis in a similar fashion. Any of the three are equally helpful, and the choice should be made based on what the organization or the writer prefers.