Things to watch out for

Rule

Wrong

Revised

Mixing tenses

The same tense should be used throughout a parallel structure. Either rewrite the sentence to use the same tense or separate the sentence according to tense.

The new chocolate factory would save money on shipping, increase nut production in the area and has proved its worthiness through its candy-coated business plan.

The new chocolate factory would save money on shipping and increase nut production in the area. The factory has also proved its worthiness through its candy-coated business plan.

Mixing Voices

Stick to either the active or passive voice in a series.

Millions were shocked by Pauline's discovery of the gate to the Land of Imagine That, and the discovery was the first of its kind.

Pauline's discovery of the new gate to the Land of Imagine That was the first of its kind and shocked millions.

Mixing Verbals

You should not use different types of verbals in a parallel structure, even if they are performing the same grammatical function

The general idea is to scream as loud as you can, run as fast as you can and eating as much as you can.

The general idea is to scream as loud as you can, to run as fast as you can and to play as hard as you can.

Mixing verbals and nominals

Nominals are nous derived from verbs. They usually end with -ance, - ence, -ion or -ment. Verbals and nominals should not be mixed in a parallel structure

We decided going to Neverland ourselves and the execution of our master pirate plan there would be best.

We decided going to Neverland ourselves and executing our master pirate plan there would be best.

Mixing different types of noun clauses

Two main types of noun clauses are wh-clauses (starting with who, what, where, when, whether or how), and that-clauses (starting with that). They should not be mixed in the same series.

Paulie Parrot decided on what sea-salt crackers were best and that pecking on peg-legs should be frowned upon.

Paulie Parrot decided that the Fisherman’s sea-salt crackers were best and that pecking on peg-legs should be frowned upon.

Mixing prepositions

Mistakes in parallel structure often occur when prepositions are thrown into the mix. More often than not, two or more items will share the same preposition but another item will require a different one. When a word is wrongly linked to two or more words when its use is only grammatically correct with one, it is called a zeugma. An easy way to avoid this kind of mistake is making sure you repeat the preposition for each item unless they all use the same preposition.

He looked for the super-secret-do-not-push-me red button on the control panel, the roof and within the inner depths of his very soul.

He looked for the super-secret-do-not-push-me red button on the control panel, on the roof and within the inner depths of his very soul.

Paired joining terms

The joining terms either-or, neither-nor, both-and, not only-but also, where-there, as-so and if-then   must connect grammatically parallel sentence elements.

He not only chased all the dragons from the lion’s lagoon, but he also drove away all the chinky chunkers.

He not only chased all the dragons from the lion’s lagoon, but also drove away all the chinky chunkers.

Mixing clauses or phrases with sentences

Complete sentences (i.e. independent clauses) should not be mixed with noun clauses or phrases in a parallel structure. This occurs especially in lists.

Several causes led up to the demise of the ruler:

1. His lack of manners;

2. He was constantly eating peanut-butter sandwiches and thus was usually quite sticky;

3. The kingdom’s lack of lollipop Sunday fun days.

Several causes led up to the demise of the ruler:

1. His lack of manners;

2. The fact that he was usually quite sticky because of his constant eating of peanut-butter sandwiches;

2. The kingdom’s lack of lollipop Sunday fun days.

Using the same word in two or more different ways

He would go to work by intergalactic ferry by 6 a.m. Spooglefloogle planetary time.

He would take the intergalactic ferry to work by 6 a.m. Spooglefloogle planetary time.

Mixing words with different levels of generality of unrelated meanings

 Words in a parallel structure should all maintain the same level of generality.

Similarly, words should belong to the same general category in terms of meaning.

The super-duper awesome whatsit is being marketed in Ottawa, Toronto and Ontario.

Mr. Snuffles a mean, despicable and fat-bummed man.

Ontario is much more general than Toronto or Ottawa.

The super-duper awesome whatsit is being marketed in Ottawa, Toronto and other cities in Ontario.

Mean and despicable are personality traits, while fat-bummed is a physical attribute.

Mr. Snuffles a mean and despicable man. He is also fat-bummed.