Figures of Speech
Parallelism

Use the same grammatical form for items in a series to create rhythm and clarity.

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What & why

What it is
A rhetorical device where consecutive phrases or clauses follow the same grammatical structure. Creates rhythm, emphasizes equality of ideas, and makes lists more memorable and professional. For the fundamental grammatical rule, see Parallel Structure (Grammar).
Why it works

The brain processes parallel structures more efficiently because pattern recognition reduces cognitive load. When elements follow the same grammatical form, listeners can anticipate structure and focus on content rather than parsing syntax.

Before & after

Before

Our goals are to grow revenue, customer happiness, and reducing churn.

After

Our goals are to grow revenue, increase customer happiness, and reduce churn.

When you’ll use it

Listing company goals or priorities in strategic presentations

Describing product features or benefits in marketing materials

Outlining project phases or deliverables in status updates

Presenting options or alternatives in decision-making meetings

Creating memorable mission statements or value propositions

Building persuasive arguments with multiple supporting points

Pro tip

Match the verb forms across your list. Your ear will hear the symmetry.

Questions & answers

3 questions

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