Use Parallelism to Eliminate Wordiness

1
Use Parallelism to Eliminate Wordiness
Language Usage Skill 45
2
What rule or idea do I need to know?

• Sentences will flow better and be clearer if all
  of the structures that are similar in content and
  function are also balanced in form. This is
  called parallelism or parallel construction.

3
Why do I need to know this?

• Parallel construction makes meaning clearer
  because the wording is balanced.
• It is important to effectively eliminate
  wordiness in sentences and to combine shorter
  sentences.
• Effective use of parallel construction helps the
  writer produce clear and balanced ideas that
  flow better within the larger context of the
  piece.

4
What might cause mistakes for this concept?

• Creating longer sentences from shorter ones and
  forgetting to change words with similar content
  or function to forms.
• Eliminating words you actually need when editing
  for wordiness or for sentence combining.

5
What might cause mistakes for this concept?

• Incomplete knowledge of parts of speech or parts
  of sentences.
• Note Even if this is true, a writer can read a
  sentence aloud and often hear the differences in
  structure that need to be changed for this rule.

6
What strategy can I use to edit my own work?

• 1. Recognize similar structures in your
  sentences. The conjunctions and, or, but, for
  instance, connect words, phrases, or clauses
  whose structures should be similar in form.
• Not parallel I enjoy biking and a walk.
• Parallel I enjoy biking and walking.

7
What strategy can I use to edit my own work?

• 2. Recognize words in a series and make each of
  those words similar.
• Not parallel I love chocolate cake, cherry pie,
  or making pudding for dessert.
• Parallel I love chocolate cake, cherry pie or
  pudding for dessert.

8
What strategy can I use to edit my own work?

• 3. Recognize when more than one similar structure
  like a verb phrase or a prepositional phrase is
  used and keep these parallel.
• Not parallel During home construction, trees are
  often damaged by trenching, blacktopping,
  changing the grade, and heavy machinery too close
  to the roots.
• Parallel During home construction, trees are
  often damaged by trenching, blacktopping,
  changing the grade, and bringing heavy machinery
  too close to the roots.

9
What strategy can I use to edit my own work?

• 4. GRADE 9 10 Eliminate wordiness to create
  concise sentences. By recognizing which words
  need to be retained and using them in parallel
  structures before omitting them completely,
  meaning wont be lost.
• Not parallel Because the liquid, which was brown
  and poisonous, was dumped into the river, the
  company that was negligent had to shut down.
• Parallel Because the brown, poisonous liquid was
  dumped into the river, the negligent company had
  to shut down.

10
What strategy can I use to edit my own work?

• 5. GRADE 11 Enhance the flow of ideas and
  increase the style level by combining sentences.
  Before combining shorter sentences, recognize
  which words need to be retained and which words
  need to be eliminated to create one correct,
  parallel-structured sentence.
• Not parallel The director is concerned about
  problems. Typical problems may occur with
  lighting and sound. Props can also be a problem.
• Parallel The director is concerned about typical
  problems with lights, sound, and props.