Questions tagged [parallelism]
Parallelism is about balancing similar words, phrases, or clauses identified by similarity in its grammatical structure. The application of parallelism in sentence construction can sometimes improve writing style, clearness, and readability.
206
questions
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1answer
24 views
Is the error a misplaced modifier or a faulty parallel structu
A tall man dressed in a red suit, and draping a green bag from his shoulder, which hid his face from the CCTV device.
How should I correct this sentence.
Answer: A tall man dressed in a red suit, and ...
0
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2answers
37 views
can't help + gerund, can't help myself from, can't help but laugh at
Are all the three following sentences paraphrases of the sentence:
It's impossible for me not to laugh when he starts singing.
I can't help laughing when he starts singing.
I can't help myself from ...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
Confusion with parallelism in verb tenses
I came across a sentence: Rural hospitals across the US face financial losses and, as a result, have struggled to stay open.
My inclination is that this sentence is not quite correct because of the ...
1
vote
0answers
25 views
Omission of the noun in the second sentence of two sentences joined by a conjunction like “and”
First, I want to make clear that I'm not a native English speaker. So this question may seem too easy for native English speakers, but it is quite difficult to definitively answer for me.
I have seen, ...
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0answers
28 views
Using the oxford comma to separate two entities of which one has an article
Considering that I do not want to switch the positions of the italicized nouns in this sentence:
"Taken as examples are the Limboagan effect, and hysteria."
Will it be correct to use the ...
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0answers
58 views
Grammatical Rules of Construction. Conjunction-reduction
I'm struggling to understand the meaning of certain phrases that follow a particular pattern. Since I lack the vocabulary to define that pattern, I'll give some examples instead:
The pet-friendly ...
0
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1answer
44 views
parallelism in a sentence
A public authority was looking to improve productivity, transparency of information and better manage public funds
What would be the correct way to write the above statement?
A public authority was ...
0
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0answers
52 views
Parallel Structure in sentences
I was given three incorrect sentences and the task is to correct them. I've googled many examples and explanations of parallel structure, but I'm still unsure whether my solutions are correct:
...
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1answer
51 views
What do you make of the quoted paragraph below?
I pulled this paragraph from an English textbook written for beginner's level (A1 according to CEFR) English learners in my country (Vietnam). The question I want to ask is: Can you understand what ...
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0answers
20 views
Parallelism and comma
I have a parallelism question. I want to convey that Kenny wrote a book on Eric Cartman's life. Please see the two versions below and see whether my reasoning next to them makes sense.
In 2005, Kenny ...
0
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2answers
37 views
What is the right way to express a work relationship
I want to convey the idea that the actor worked in Quentin Tarantino's films in his early days --> early days of the actor, not Tarantino.
Which version is correct?
He worked in three other films ...
3
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3answers
59 views
Describing a requirement for patient autonomy in medical treatment
I am listing a set of desirable characteristics of a medical treatment in a certain setting -- essentially criteria for acceptability. Each section starts with a single word that identifies the ...
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3answers
104 views
Parallelism, Use of auxiliary verb
The below sentence was given as an example in chapter 12, of the SC GMAT Strategy Guide.
"At current prices, oil in the Antarctic may be worth drilling for, if wells can be dug there and ...
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1answer
43 views
Creative writing in intentionally archaic language: parallelism in abnormal contractions
I hope this is on topic here.
I am revising an original poem. No, I am not posting it or asking for a critique. I am intentionally using old-fashioned language. I would like to know if the concept of ...
0
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1answer
53 views
Parallelism in clauses?
Is it possible to have different tenses in the contrasting/comparative adverbial clauses and the main clause of the sentence OR do the verbs always have to be parallel according to parallelism?
ex: ...
1
vote
1answer
43 views
How can I paraphrase this in parallel writing style?
I'd really appreciate it if someone can show me how to better paraphrase the italicized part in the following sentence:
I always used to call him "Professor", so I will continue to refer to ...
6
votes
5answers
256 views
“Otherwise” after “where”
Here is a passage in a technical document I'm working on:
Simple vs. associative arrays
Where you need key-value pairs, use associative arrays.
Otherwise, use the simple ones.
As I felt, there was ...
0
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0answers
29 views
Do I need to repeat the preposition “for” to keep this sentence parallel?
Option A: Several Pentagon contractor firms are working on a new class of ventilator masks, not just for emergency and cleanup workers but to prepare for outbreaks of dangerous viruses and for still ...
0
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2answers
61 views
In the following sentence, the parallel construction of the infinitives “to acknowledge” and “to accept” have, at least temporarily, befuddled me
To acknowledge the equality of black folks would also, so it was believed, accept a lowered status for rural whites. OR
To acknowledge the equality of black folks would be also, so it was believed, ...
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0answers
37 views
Wording for post-graduation plans
I am sending announcements about my daughter’s graduation from college. I want to include a sentence about her post-graduation plans. Originally I wrote,
Rose will pursue her master of ...
0
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1answer
28 views
Are the following sentences parallel?
Not only was it raining all day at the wedding but also the band was late.
Not only will they paint the outside of the house but also the inside.
0
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0answers
15 views
When to use noun or pronoun? [question related to parallelism, noun, pronoun, idioms]
Take a look at the following examples.
The King and I
The other person and I
It's your fault, not the other person's.
The other person has left the room. I stay.
My person has ...
0
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0answers
51 views
Should the preposition “on” be used again in this sentence?
Notice the following:
I wondered if my going to this different place was as hard on him as it was me.
I remember being taught to occasionally repeat certain words in order to preserve parallelism. ...
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2answers
75 views
Usage of comma and parallel verbs in this sentence
Interestingly enough, a large number of the Facebook-based business ventures [have been formed][,]
and [are run] and [managed] by women,
which directly and indirectly contributes to women's ...
1
vote
2answers
96 views
Is the second “to” needed here? “I am going to listen and (to) read” [duplicate]
Which one is correct? Can I use both?
"I am going to listen and read."
"I am going to listen and to read."
1
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1answer
472 views
What to call the plane between Background and Foreground?
In a 2½-dimensional design system, where x and y are planar coordinates, but z is only a signed (±) stacking index, what do you call the main or basic plane (or layer or level or ground) ...
0
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1answer
137 views
“post offices can provide many of the same services OF banks”
The diverse array of successful portal banking systems around the world shows that post offices can provide many of the same services of banks.
This sentence is incorrect, and "of banks" should be ...
1
vote
1answer
153 views
Parallel structure with a negative
Would this sentence follow the rules of parallel structure?
In order to improve your country, you should take care of the environment, avoid throwing litter, help society, and don't use plastic.
I ...
0
votes
3answers
76 views
Parallelism with “have” and “have been” sounds wrong
I came across a sentence like this:
(A) Many have been buggy or poor experiences.
It sounds wrong and I would have written that like this:
(B) Many have been buggy or have poor experiences.
...
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2answers
69 views
Verb Parallelism
The fossils preserved in the rock strata of the Grand Canyon have accumulated for a billion years and provide an invaluable geologic record.
I wonder why “provide” is not “provided”. I think “provide”...
2
votes
1answer
165 views
How should an imperative sentence with multiple verb phrases and differing prepositions be worded?
The following are two version of a tagline.
Ask questions and share your unique knowledge about trains with the hobbyist community.
and
Ask questions about and share your unique knowledge on ...
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0answers
27 views
What determines how much of a repetition can be omitted for shortening?
Given two sentences with the same subject, we can merge them into one.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to capture ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Helps with practice question
Identify the underlined error in the following excerpt:
More than 20 ceiling fan manufacturers, the American Lighting Association (ALA), and leading energy conservation groups invites everyone to ...
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0answers
31 views
“We will not only go to Mars but also to Jupiter.” is grammatically correct? And some other questions
Is this grammatically correct?
"We will not only go to Mars but also to Jupiter."
How about
"We will go not only to Mars but also to Jupiter."
and
"We will go to not only ...
1
vote
0answers
51 views
What is the literary device to describe isocolons with direct opposites?
In the poem 'We Shall Come No More' in Tawny Island by Verra Brittain, there is a strong parallelism between the 1st and 2nd stanza, even going as far as the same letter count. However the words are ...
12
votes
2answers
38k views
similar to or similarly to
Using the example "to obtain similar to or similarly to," the latter sounds very strange even though similarly is definitely being used as an adverb. The sentence: "The fragments were obtained similar ...
3
votes
1answer
80 views
Faulty Parallelism3: to 'while' or not to 'while'
The problem sentence:
I have always liked thinking through complicated problems to find
creative solutions, be they in a mathematics class or while
helping a friend.
I wrote this sentence for ...
0
votes
1answer
316 views
is “nor” applied into “were” and “was” in this sentence? “Nor were these practices confined to the decadent phases, was utterly subservient to style.”
now I'm confusing about nor with "were" and "was" in parallel structure in sentence.
full sentence is that
Nor were these practices confined, as some scholars insist, to the later ...
0
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1answer
185 views
regarding parallel structure
Pluripotent genes are activated in injured tissue cells and play important role in regeneration.
In the above sentence, should "play" be changed to "played" for parallel construction. Pls help.
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2answers
156 views
Can there be a comma between the adverb and the noun of the last member of a series?
I saw a practice SAT question on Khan Academy:
Certified Executive Chef Hilary DeMane has prepared confections for celebrities, governors, and even Ronald Reagan.
The correct answer is filled in ...
0
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1answer
32 views
Question about using “a” in sentence [closed]
I don’t even know how to accurately ask this question, but I need to know which of the following is correct:
Tom Smith is an Arizona native and partner at the Law Offices of Smith & Smith.
Or ...
-1
votes
1answer
43 views
Parallelism “was able to” - Is this sentence correct?
Is the following sentence correct?
"He was always able to understand complex situations immediately and
to find good solutions right away."
To me it sounds odd and should be:
"He was always ...
-1
votes
3answers
2k views
“Everyone is fine and having fun” or “Everyone is fine and is having fun.”
While both sentences are probably grammatical, I’m wondering which one is preferable. To me, the first sentence sounds awkward, but the second sentence may have an unnecessary is. Basing your answers ...
5
votes
1answer
164 views
A question about one point of Donald Trump’s speech at Helsinki
At his recent Helsinki summit, while reading from a prepared, written speech, Donald Trump said during his opening remarks and then later tweeted, quoting himself:
I would rather take a political ...
0
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2answers
416 views
Is “if you need help or having trouble” correct?
Well, I have been struggling with this for a while now. My friend wrote a piece of documentation for his software, in which he included this sentence:
This repository contains [software name] API ...
1
vote
3answers
50 views
a parallelism issue - the most interesting garment
Is there a parallelism issue with the following sentence?
Prizes will be given to the best dressed, the worst dressed, and the most “interesting” garment.
Is it natural to interpret "the most ...
1
vote
1answer
415 views
“I spilled water on the table and [the] floor”
Compare the sentences:
I spilled water on the floor.
I spilled water on the table and floor.
I spilled water on the table and the chair.
Is the missing the before floor in the second ...
2
votes
1answer
184 views
Parallelism of as…as
For these two sentences, why do we need to use "he was" and "it is"? What two things are being compared in these sentences?
Henry was almost as famous a philosopher as he was a poet.
It is as ...
1
vote
1answer
68 views
Parallelism Check
He believed that the judge would ask him to present the case, the jury would listen to his speech, and questions would be raised by the prosecutor.
He believed that the judge would ask him to present ...
1
vote
1answer
250 views
“to make sure” parallelism and comma
Is the first comma needed in the sentence "To make sure that the audit will go smoothly, and you will avoid future questions from auditors, please ..."?
My thinking is that although we normally put a ...
