Language Fundamentals
Parallel Structure (Grammar)
Make lists and paired ideas share the same grammatical pattern.
What it is
Before & after
“Mixed structure: "Our goals are increasing sales, to improve service, and cost reduction"”
“Parallel structure: "Our goals are to increase sales, to improve service, and to reduce costs"”
When you’ll use it
Job descriptions: "Responsibilities include analyzing data, preparing reports, and presenting findings" (all gerunds)
Meeting agendas: "Topics: budget review, timeline discussion, and resource allocation" (all noun phrases)
Training objectives: "Participants will learn to communicate clearly, think critically, and solve problems effectively" (all infinitive phrases)
Project goals: "Increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve quality" (all verb phrases)
Pro tip
Check endings, keep them consistent across items.
Questions & answers
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