write a short paragraph on the topic good writing using parallel structure
Answers
Answer:
Parallel structure (also called parallelism) is the repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence. By making each compared item or idea in your sentence follow the same grammatical pattern, you create a parallel construction. Example Not Parallel: Ellen likes hiking, the rodeo, and to take afternoon naps.
Answer:
What exactly is parallel structure? It’s simply the practice of using the same structures or forms multiple times: making sure the parts are parallel to each other. Parallel structure can be applied to a single sentence, a paragraph, or even multiple paragraphs. Compare the two following sentences:
Yara loves running, to swim, and biking.
Yara loves running, swimming, and biking.
Was the second sentence a smoother read than the first? The second sentence uses parallelism—all three verbs are gerunds—whereas in the first sentence two are gerunds and one is an infinitive. While the first sentence is technically correct, it’s easy to trip up over the mismatching items. The application of parallelism improves writing style and readability, and it makes sentences easier to process.
Compare the following examples:
Lacking parallelism: “She likes cooking, jogging, and to read.”
Parallel: “She likes cooking, jogging, and reading.”
Parallel: “She likes to cook, jog, and read.”
Once again, the examples above combine gerunds and infinitives. To make them parallel, the sentences should be rewritten with just gerunds or just infinitives. Note that the nonparallel example, while inelegantly worded, is grammatically correct: “cooking,” “jogging,” and “to read” are all grammatically valid conclusions to “She likes.”
Lacking parallelism: “The dog ran across the yard and jumped over the fence, and down the alley he sprinted.”
Parallel: “The dog ran across the yard, jumped over the fence, and sprinted down the alley.”
The nonparallel example, is grammatically valid; “down the alley he sprinted” is an entirely separate clause. However, it is not parallel. You may find that the parallel example sounds much better to your ears.
Parallelism can also apply to names. If you’re writing a research paper that includes references to several different authors, you should be consistent in your references. 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.