Lesson 5: Parallel Structure

Welcome back to another grammar class! Excited? I know, me too. We are going to discuss parallel structures today. This might sound a little hard, but it is actually really easy to understand and apply in your writing.

Basically, you just need to use the same types words to describe two or more ideas in the same sentence that have the same amount of importance, or is about the same thing. Still confused? Let me give you an example, and then the light ball above your head will click.

Good Examples- Mary is a housekeeper; her job is to cook and (to) clean.
Mary is a housekeeper; her job is to cook and to clean.
Mary is a housekeeper; her job is cooking and cleaning.

Bad Example- Mary is a housekeeper; her job is cooking and to clean.

See how easy this is; the bad example simply sounds weird. But a little explanation with the first good example- you can drop the second "to," but have to use it in the first one. But if you use the "to" in the second one, you have to use it for all of them (third, fourth, fifth-however many things you are listing).

Well, that is all. A short lesson today, but one that if you implement well, will get you far in life (at least in your writing life).