What is Parallelism?

What is Parallelism?

Parallelism means being consistent in how you structure your sentences while speaking and writing. The whole point of parallelism is to treat similar information in a similar manner.  

For example, when writing sentences with lists or series, use parallel construction, which means putting the elements of the list or series in a grammatically equal form.

• I am fond of reading, listening to music and I love to play outdoor games. (Incorrect)
• I am fond of reading novels, listening to music and playing outdoor games. (Correct)

To ensure parallelism, make sure you are not mixing gerunds and infinitives. The sentences with the mixed verb forms will sound awkward and unbalanced.

• I would prefer to shop from a mall rather than buying things from small shops. (Incorrect, because we cannot mix infinitives and gerunds)
• I would prefer to shop from a mall rather than buy things from small shops. (Correct)

Similarly, active and passive voices cannot be mixed. 

• If his parents encourage and give liberty, his dreams can be fulfilled. (Incorrect)
• If his parents encourage and give liberty, he can fulfill his dream. (Correct)

Watch the video to understand the concepts and rules of parallelism better.