Active Voice Coherence Conciseness Parallel Structure Precise Words Sentence Rhythm Strong Verbs Unity       UMD Composition Department Copyright 1999 back

Coordination If two or more parts of a sentence or passage can be put in a list and joined by a coordinating conjunction, they are coordinate and should be written in parallel structure. "I like running, (and) fishing, and skiing." (My seventh grade teacher, K. R. Robbins, taught me to love grammar and to have fun with language. He said the coordinating conjunctions make up the name of a Polish man, Norbut Andforyetso. If you can remember his name, you know all the coordinating conjunctions: Nor (or), but, and, for, yet, so. Whenever you see any of these words, you have coordinate structures that should be in parallel structure. Other words that call for parallel structure are paired words like "not only......but also," "either....or," and "both...and.") Note the definition above: "can be...joined by a coordinating conjunction." In sentences, the coordinating conjunctions are always there. However, in longer passages or outlines, the coordinating conjunctions are not always there, but they "can be." When that is the case, you may also use parallel structure to enhance readability. Go to the examples to see how writers have used parallel structure in various types of professional and academic writing.   Examples  Unit