Faulty Parallelism Examples

What Exactly is Parallelism?

Before we dive into the pitfalls, it's crucial to understand what parallelism, or parallel structure, actually means. In essence, it's about maintaining a consistent grammatical form for elements that are equal in function within a sentence. Think of it as a sense of balance and rhythm. When you have a series of items, phrases, or clauses that are connected by conjunctions like 'and,' 'but,' or 'or,' or that function as part of a comparison, they should all share the same grammatical structure. This could mean all nouns, all verbs in the same tense, all infinitive phrases, or all prepositional phrases. The goal is to make your writing clear, concise, and easy for the reader to follow. When parallelism is present, sentences flow smoothly, and the intended meaning is immediately apparent. Conversely, when it's absent, the reader can become momentarily confused, having to re-read or decipher the intended connection between ideas.

Common Types of Faulty Parallelism

Faulty parallelism can manifest in several ways, often stemming from a failure to maintain consistency in grammatical form. Let's explore some of the most frequent offenders.

1. Inconsistent Verb Forms

This is perhaps one of the most common types of faulty parallelism. It occurs when a sentence lists actions or states of being, but the verbs used to describe them are not in the same grammatical form. This often involves mixing gerunds (-ing forms used as nouns), infinitives (to + verb), or different tenses of verbs within a parallel structure.

Consider this example: Faulty: She enjoys hiking, to swim, and biking. Here, 'hiking' and 'biking' are gerunds, but 'to swim' is an infinitive. The grammatical forms don't match, creating an awkward rhythm.

Correcting Inconsistent Verb Forms

To fix this, all verbs in the series must adopt the same form. You can choose to make them all gerunds, all infinitives, or, in some cases, all finite verbs in the same tense, depending on the sentence's meaning and flow.

Here are the corrected versions of the previous example: Corrected (Gerunds): She enjoys hiking, swimming, and biking. Corrected (Infinitives): She enjoys to hike, to swim, and to bike. (Note: While grammatically correct, using infinitives after 'enjoys' is less common and can sound slightly stilted. Gerunds are generally preferred in this construction.)

2. Mixed Noun and Verb Phrases

Another common error is mixing a noun or noun phrase with a verb or verb phrase in a list. When you're presenting a series of ideas or items that should be grammatically equal, they need to be of the same 'word class' or phrase type.

Take a look at this: Faulty: The project requires careful planning, efficient execution, and that the budget is controlled. In this sentence, 'careful planning' and 'efficient execution' are noun phrases. However, 'that the budget is controlled' is a subordinate clause. The structure is inconsistent.

Correcting Mixed Noun and Verb Phrases

The solution here is to ensure all elements in the series are either noun phrases or clauses with a similar structure. Often, converting the clause into a noun phrase is the most elegant fix.

Here's the corrected version: Corrected: The project requires careful planning, efficient execution, and budget control. Now, 'careful planning,' 'efficient execution,' and 'budget control' are all noun phrases, creating a smooth, parallel structure.

3. Inconsistent Prepositional Phrases

While less common than verb or noun inconsistencies, faulty parallelism can also occur with prepositional phrases. If you're using a series of prepositional phrases to modify a noun or verb, they should ideally maintain a consistent structure, especially if they are meant to convey similar types of information.

Consider this sentence: Faulty: He spoke with confidence, with clarity, and was persuasive. Here, 'with confidence' and 'with clarity' are parallel prepositional phrases. However, 'was persuasive' is a verb phrase, breaking the pattern.

Correcting Inconsistent Prepositional Phrases

To rectify this, all elements should be either prepositional phrases or fit a consistent pattern. In this case, we can make 'was persuasive' into a prepositional phrase.

Here's the corrected version: Corrected: He spoke with confidence, with clarity, and with persuasiveness. Alternatively, if the intent was to list qualities, you might rephrase entirely: Alternative Correction: He spoke confidently, clearly, and persuasively.

4. Faulty Comparisons

Parallelism is particularly crucial in comparisons, especially those using 'than' or 'as.' The elements being compared must be grammatically equivalent. If you compare a noun to a verb, or an infinitive to a gerund, the comparison becomes illogical and confusing.

Observe this faulty comparison: Faulty: I would rather read a book than watching a movie. Here, 'read a book' is an infinitive phrase, while 'watching a movie' is a gerund phrase. They are not parallel.

Correcting Faulty Comparisons

Ensure that both parts of the comparison share the same grammatical structure.

Here's the corrected version: Corrected: I would rather read a book than watch a movie. Both 'read a book' and 'watch a movie' are now infinitive phrases (the 'to' is implied after 'than' in this construction), creating a clear and parallel comparison.

5. Mixed Sentence Beginnings

When a sentence uses correlative conjunctions (like 'not only... but also,' 'either... or,' 'neither... nor,' 'both... and'), the structure following each part of the conjunction must be parallel. This is a very common area for errors.

Examine this example: Faulty: The team was not only praised for its effort but also for winning the championship. 'Praised for its effort' is a passive verb phrase, while 'winning the championship' is a gerund phrase. They are not parallel.

Correcting Mixed Sentence Beginnings

The key is to ensure that whatever grammatical form follows 'not only' is mirrored by the form following 'but also'.

Here's the corrected version: Corrected: The team was praised not only for its effort but also for winning the championship. Now, 'for its effort' and 'for winning the championship' are both prepositional phrases functioning in parallel.

The Importance of Parallelism in Different Writing Contexts

Mastering parallel structure isn't just about avoiding grammatical errors; it significantly enhances the quality and effectiveness of your writing across various contexts. In academic writing, clear and parallel sentences help convey complex ideas logically and persuasively. When presenting research findings, for instance, using parallel structures for lists of variables or results makes the data easier to digest and compare. In professional communication, such as reports or presentations, parallelism lends an air of professionalism and precision, ensuring your message is understood without ambiguity. Even in creative writing, a consistent rhythm created by parallel structures can enhance the musicality and impact of prose.

• Review lists of three or more items for consistent grammatical form (all nouns, all verbs, all phrases of the same type).
• Check comparisons using 'than' or 'as' to ensure the elements being compared are grammatically equivalent.
• Verify that phrases following correlative conjunctions (e.g., 'not only... but also') maintain parallel structure.
• Read your sentences aloud to catch awkward phrasing or a lack of rhythm, which often signals a parallelism issue.
• When in doubt, simplify the sentence structure or rephrase to achieve clarity.

A Practical Example in Action

When Strict Parallelism Might Not Be Necessary (Caveats)

While parallelism is a powerful tool for clarity, there are rare instances where strict adherence might feel forced or unnatural. Sometimes, a slight deviation can be acceptable if the meaning remains crystal clear and the sentence still flows well. For example, in a complex sentence with multiple clauses, forcing perfect parallelism on every single element might make it overly rigid. The primary goal is always clear communication. If a sentence is perfectly understandable and sounds natural without absolute grammatical mirroring of every single item, it might be acceptable. However, this is a nuanced area. For most students and professionals, aiming for consistent parallelism is the safest and most effective approach to improve writing quality. Always prioritize clarity and readability. If you're unsure, err on the side of more consistent parallelism.

Conclusion: The Power of Balanced Sentences

Faulty parallelism can subtly sabotage even the most well-intentioned writing, leading to confusion and a loss of impact. By understanding the principles of parallel structure and recognizing common errors—from inconsistent verb forms and mixed phrases to faulty comparisons and mismatched sentence beginnings—you can significantly enhance the clarity, flow, and professionalism of your work. Regularly reviewing your sentences for this grammatical balance, especially in lists and comparisons, will train your ear for rhythm and precision. Mastering parallelism is a key step toward crafting more effective, engaging, and polished prose.