What Is Faulty Parallelism?

The Core Idea: What is Parallelism?

Before we tackle what's faulty about parallelism, let's establish what parallelism itself is. In grammar, parallelism, also known as parallel structure, refers to the use of the same pattern of words or phrases to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. Think of it like a balanced scale; each side needs to carry equal weight. When you list items, compare things, or connect clauses, using a consistent grammatical form for each element creates a pleasing rhythm and makes your meaning crystal clear. For instance, a sentence like 'She likes to read, to write, and to paint' uses parallel infinitive phrases. The structure is 'to + verb' for each item in the list. This is grammatically sound and easy to follow.

This principle extends beyond simple lists. It applies to clauses, phrases, and even single words when they are presented as a group. The goal is to create a sense of balance and order. When this balance is disrupted, we run into the problem of faulty parallelism.

Identifying Faulty Parallelism: The Imbalance

Faulty parallelism, then, is simply the failure to maintain this consistent grammatical structure when presenting a series of items or comparing two things. When one element in the series is a noun, the others should also be nouns. If one is an infinitive phrase ('to + verb'), the others should be infinitive phrases. If one is a gerund ('verb + -ing'), the others should be gerunds. When this pattern is broken, the sentence can sound awkward, confusing, or even nonsensical. It’s like trying to walk on a staircase where some steps are higher than others – it’s jarring and difficult to navigate.

Consider this common error: 'The new employee was intelligent, hardworking, and a quick learner.' Here, 'intelligent' and 'hardworking' are adjectives describing the employee. However, 'a quick learner' is a noun phrase. The list mixes descriptive adjectives with a descriptive noun phrase, creating an imbalance. The reader has to mentally re-adjust the structure, which interrupts the flow of information.

Why Does It Matter? The Impact on Your Writing

You might wonder if this is just a minor stylistic quibble. In reality, faulty parallelism can have a significant impact on the effectiveness of your writing. Firstly, it compromises clarity. When grammatical structures don't match, readers can struggle to understand the intended relationships between ideas. They might have to pause and re-read, trying to figure out what you meant. This is particularly problematic in academic and professional contexts where precision is crucial.

Secondly, it affects credibility. A sentence riddled with grammatical errors, including faulty parallelism, can make the writer appear careless or uneducated. For students submitting essays or professionals sending reports, this can unfortunately detract from the perceived quality of their ideas, regardless of how brilliant those ideas might be. Polished writing signals attention to detail.

Finally, it disrupts the rhythm and flow of your prose. Parallel structures create a natural cadence that makes sentences pleasing to read and easy to follow. When this rhythm is broken, the writing can feel choppy and disjointed, making it less engaging for the reader.

Common Scenarios Where Faulty Parallelism Appears

Faulty parallelism can pop up in various sentence constructions. Understanding these common scenarios will help you spot and fix them more easily.

• Lists of items: This is perhaps the most frequent place you'll find the error. When you list three or more things, ensure they share the same grammatical form.
• Comparisons using 'than' or 'as': When comparing two things, both sides of the comparison should be grammatically equivalent.
• Elements connected by coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or): Similar to lists, items joined by these conjunctions should maintain parallel structure.
• Phrases following prepositions: If you have multiple phrases that all modify the same noun and begin with a preposition, keep their structure consistent.
• Clauses: When using correlative conjunctions (e.g., 'either...or', 'neither...nor', 'not only...but also'), the elements following each part of the conjunction must be parallel.

How to Fix Faulty Parallelism: A Practical Approach

Correcting faulty parallelism usually involves revising the sentence to make all the elements in the series or comparison grammatically consistent. The key is to identify the intended grammatical form for the group of words and then adjust the other elements to match.

• Identify the series or comparison: Pinpoint the group of words or phrases that should be parallel.
• Determine the grammatical form of the first element: Look at the first item in the series or one side of the comparison. Is it a noun, a gerund, an infinitive, an adjective, a clause?
• Check the other elements: Examine the subsequent items. Do they match the grammatical form of the first element?
• Revise to match: Change the inconsistent elements to match the established grammatical form. Sometimes, you might need to change the first element to match the others if that makes more sense.
• Read aloud: Often, reading the sentence aloud will help you catch awkward phrasing that indicates a parallelism error.

Specific Examples of Faulty and Corrected Parallelism

Let's look at a few more common types of errors and their fixes.

• Faulty: She enjoys hiking, swimming, and to ride her bike. Correct: She enjoys hiking, swimming, and riding her bike. (All gerunds) Correct: She enjoys to hike, to swim, and to ride her bike. (All infinitives)
• Faulty: The manager was responsible for hiring staff, to train them, and supervising their work. Correct: The manager was responsible for hiring staff, training them, and supervising their work. (All gerunds)
• Faulty: He not only likes to play soccer but also enjoys watching it. Correct: He not only likes playing soccer but also enjoys watching it. (Both gerunds) Correct: He not only likes to play soccer but also to watch it. (Both infinitives)
• Faulty: The report was detailed, accurate, and it was well-organized. Correct: The report was detailed, accurate, and well-organized. (All adjectives)
• Faulty: I would rather go to the movies than to a concert. Correct: I would rather go to the movies than a concert. (Comparing nouns/noun phrases, not infinitives. The 'to' before 'a concert' is implied from 'to the movies' but is omitted for parallelism.)

When Parallelism Might Seem Tricky

Sometimes, determining what constitutes 'parallel' can be a bit nuanced. For instance, when you have a list of actions, using gerunds (verb + -ing) is often the most natural choice. However, if the actions are distinct, separate events, using infinitives ('to + verb') might also work, though it can sometimes sound more formal or deliberate. The key is to choose one form and stick with it.

Another point of consideration is when a sentence structure might seem parallel but isn't. For example, 'He is interested in history and in art.' This is parallel because both 'history' and 'art' are nouns and follow the preposition 'in'. However, if you were to write 'He is interested in history and art,' it's still correct because 'history' and 'art' are both nouns, and the preposition 'in' applies to both. The potential for error arises when you start mixing forms, like 'He is interested in history and in collecting stamps.' Here, you'd need to decide: 'He is interested in history and collecting stamps' (noun and gerund, which can work if viewed as two distinct interests) or, more strictly parallel, 'He is interested in history and in stamp collecting' (two noun phrases).

Final Thoughts on Polished Prose

Mastering parallel structure is a fundamental step toward writing with clarity, precision, and elegance. It's a grammatical convention that, when followed, significantly enhances the readability and impact of your message. By understanding what faulty parallelism is, recognizing its common forms, and applying simple revision techniques, you can ensure your sentences are grammatically sound and effectively communicate your ideas. Regularly reviewing your work for these imbalances will lead to more polished, professional, and persuasive writing.