Module 3
Correspondence Mechanics

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Practice with Parallelism

There are many opportunities to use parallelism to add balance and symmetry to your writing. Unfortunately, there are just as many ways to create sentences and paragraphs that are not parallel. Practice parallelism by correcting each of the faulty sentences in the exercise that follows.

There are often several ways to resolve problems with parallelism. A suggested response is provided. Your revision may be different but still be correct. If you have doubts, check with your tutor.

Sentence 1 Earlier in her life, the new team assistant had been a waitress, a tour guide, a computer programmer, and taught school.
Your revision:

Earlier in her life, the new team assistant had been a waitress, a tour guide, a computer programmer, and a schoolteacher.
Sentence 2 We signed the contract, shook hands, and the deal was concluded.
Your revision:

We signed the contract, shook hands, and concluded the deal.
Sentence 3 The division chief told us that the report was timely, informative, and would hold our interest.
Your revision:

The division chief told us that the report was timely, informative, and interesting.
Sentence 4 Because of her money-saving idea, the department promoted her to program assistant, and she was also given a substantial salary increase.
Your revision:

Because of her money-saving idea, the department promoted her to program assistant and gave her a substantial salary increase.
Sentence 5 Both because of time and money, the project had to be cancelled.
Your revision:

Because of both time and money, the project had to be cancelled.
Sentence 6 This is a time not for words but action.
Your revision:

This is a time not for words but for action.
Sentence 7 Either you must agree to his request or suffer the repercussions.
Your revision:

Either you must agree to his request, or you must suffer the repercussions.

OR

You must either agree to his request or suffer the repercussions.
Sentence 8 My objections are, first, the injustice of the policy; second, that it is unconstitutional.
Your revision:

My objections are, first, the injustice of the policy; second, its unconstitutionality.

OR

My objections are, first, that the policy is unjust; second, that it is unconstitutional.
Sentence 9 The project team advises working more flexibly and to do more stakeholder consultations.
Your revision:

The project team advises working more flexibly and doing more stakeholder consultations.
Sentence 10 Tell us what color you want the office painted, how you want the furniture arranged, and the location of the pictures.
Your revision:

Tell us what color you want the office painted, how you want the furniture arranged, and where you want the pictures located.
Sentence 11 The purposes of the study are to determine what engineers think of the proposed project, evaluation of their general attitudes toward this type of project, and recommending actions on the basis of the findings.
Your revision:

The purposes of the study are to determine what engineers think of the proposed project, to evaluate their general attitudes toward this type of project, and to recommend actions on the basis of the findings.

OR

The purposes of the study are to determine what engineers think of the proposed project, evaluate their general attitudes toward this type of project, and recommend actions on the basis of the findings.

Note: the “to” is not mandatory in this case. It is preferred, because using it reinforces the parallelism.