October 12, 2009
Writing Tip of the Week
Parallelism
1. Items in a
series should be in parallel form to make a sentence easy to follow. Parallelism is achieved by
joining words with similar words: nouns with nouns, adjectives with adjectives,
adverbs with adverbs,
prepositions (or prepositional phrases) with prepositions, and so forth.
The
defense argued that the evidence was inconclusive, prejudicial,
and irrelevant. (adjectives)
The
defendant claims that on the day of the murder he was at home alone washing
his car, mowing his lawn, and bathing his dog. (gerund phrases)
The
witness told the police officer that the car rolled down the hill, over
the lawn, and into the swimming pool. (prepositional
phrases)
2. Use Parallel
Structure With Coordinating
Conjunctions. In general, use
the same grammatical
structure on both sides of any of the coordinating conjunctions—and, but,
or, nor, so, yet.
Nonparallel Louise
spent three years in
Parallel Louise spent three years in
3. Use Parallel
Structure With Correlative Conjunctions. Use the same structure after both parts of a correlative conjunction—either
. . . or, both . . . and, neither . . . nor, not . . . but,
not only . . . but also, just
as . . . so, whether . . . or.
Nonparallel I
told my father that my intentions were either
to study law or learning tenor saxophone.
Parallel I told my father that my intentions were either to study law or
to learn to play tenor saxophone.
Nonparallel The
purpose of the rule is to ensure that actual notice is provided either by
personal or constructive
service.
Parallel The
purpose of the rule is to ensure that actual notice is provided either by
personal or by
constructive service. Or
Parallel The purpose of the rule is to ensure that actual notice is provided
by either personal or constructive
service.
Adapted from:
The Legal Writing Handbook-- Oates, Enquist, and Kunsch
Prepared
by James Wright and Chris Dunn