PARALLELISM

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PARALLELISM

• By Mary Sinsabaugh

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Jean de La Bruyère 1645-1696 There are but three
events in a mans life birth, life and death. He
is not conscious of being born, he dies in pain,
and he forgets to live. - De lHomme
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How are they parallel?

• birth
• life
• death

• A balanced series of nouns

• He is not conscious of being born
• he dies in pain
• he forgets to live

A balanced series of independent clauses
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. . . to have and to hold from this day forward,
for better or for worse, for richer for poorer,
in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish
till death us do part . . . - Wedding Vows from
the Book of Common Prayer
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How are they parallel?
A balanced series of to verbs
to have and to hold to love and to cherish
for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer

in sickness, in health
A balanced series of phrases
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Francis Bellamy 1856-1931 I pledge allegiance to
the flag of the United States of America and to
the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible with liberty and justice
for all. - The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
(1892)
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How are they parallel?
to the flag to the republic
A balanced pair of phrases
liberty justice

• A balanced pair of nouns

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Student Theses and Essay Maps
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My reasons for liking the Mexican culture are the
following the Mexican culture has made great
history advances, has maintained its traditions,
and has sustained family unity. - Esmeralda Vela
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How are they parallel?

• has made great history advances
• has maintained its traditions
• has sustained family unity

A balanced series of verbs in the present perfect
tense
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I believe that teenagers should be paid the
minimum wage because they work just as hard as
the other employees, they need the money, and,
most importantly, they need to be treated
fairly. - Jose Chavez
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How are they parallel?

• they need to work just as hard as the other
  people,
• they need the money,
• they need to be treated fairly

A balanced series of independent clauses
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As an athlete, I strongly believe that athletes
should get paid for the following reasons
athletes make sports their part-time jobs, the
NCAA does not allow athletes to work during
school, and the school makes profits from sports.
-Everardo Ochoa
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How are they parallel?

• Athletes make sports their part-time jobs
• The NCAA does not allow athletes to work during
  school
• The school makes profits from sports

A balanced series of independent clauses
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Many arguments are brought to light on why
cellular phones should not be used. Three reasons
are that cell phones are distracting,
unnecessary, and dangerous. - Selena Rivera
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How are they parallel?

• distracting
• unnecessary
• dangerous

A balanced series of descriptive words