Common Errors Questions Long
Common errors in parallelism occur when there is a lack of consistency or balance in the structure of a sentence or a series of sentences. These errors can be fixed by following certain guidelines and principles of parallel construction. Here are some common errors in parallelism and their corresponding solutions:
1. Lack of parallel structure: This error occurs when items in a list or series are not grammatically or structurally parallel. To fix this error, ensure that all items in the list have the same grammatical form. For example:
Incorrect: She likes swimming, to run, and hiking.
Correct: She likes swimming, running, and hiking.
2. Inconsistent verb tense: This error happens when there is a mismatch in verb tenses within a sentence or a paragraph. To correct this error, make sure that the verb tenses are consistent throughout. For example:
Incorrect: She studied, reads, and will write her paper.
Correct: She studied, read, and wrote her paper.
3. Unequal comparisons: This error occurs when two or more items being compared are not expressed in a parallel manner. To fix this error, ensure that the items being compared are structurally similar. For example:
Incorrect: She is more talented than her brother is smart.
Correct: She is more talented than her brother is intelligent.
4. Inconsistent voice or mood: This error happens when there is a shift in the voice or mood of a sentence without proper parallelism. To correct this error, maintain consistency in the voice or mood throughout the sentence. For example:
Incorrect: The teacher explained the lesson clearly and students should pay attention.
Correct: The teacher explained the lesson clearly, and the students should pay attention.
5. Lack of parallelism in correlative conjunctions: This error occurs when correlative conjunctions, such as either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also, are not used in a parallel structure. To fix this error, ensure that the elements connected by correlative conjunctions are grammatically parallel. For example:
Incorrect: She not only likes to read but also swimming.
Correct: She not only likes to read but also likes swimming.
In conclusion, common errors in parallelism can be fixed by maintaining consistency and balance in sentence structure, verb tense, comparisons, voice or mood, and correlative conjunctions. By following these guidelines, one can ensure clear and effective communication in writing.