Describe the common errors in parallelism.

Common Errors Questions



80 Short 53 Medium 46 Long Answer Questions Question Index

Describe the common errors in parallelism.

Common errors in parallelism include:

1. Lack of parallel structure: This occurs when items in a list or series are not grammatically consistent. For example, "I like swimming, to run, and playing tennis" should be corrected to "I like swimming, running, and playing tennis."

2. Inconsistent verb tense: Parallel elements should have the same verb tense. For instance, "She enjoys hiking, swimming, and to play soccer" should be revised to "She enjoys hiking, swimming, and playing soccer."

3. Inconsistent voice or mood: Parallel elements should be in the same voice or mood. For example, "He likes to cook, gardening, and playing the guitar" should be corrected to "He likes to cook, garden, and play the guitar."

4. Incorrect use of correlative conjunctions: Correlative conjunctions, such as "either...or" and "neither...nor," should be used correctly to maintain parallelism. For instance, "She can either dance or singing" should be revised to "She can either dance or sing."

5. Lack of parallelism in comparisons: When making comparisons, the items being compared should be parallel. For example, "She is more talented, smarter, and a better athlete" should be corrected to "She is more talented, smarter, and a better athlete than her peers."

6. Incorrect placement of modifiers: Modifiers should be placed consistently in parallel structures. For instance, "He is a dedicated student, always studying and to work hard" should be revised to "He is a dedicated student, always studying and working hard."

7. Lack of parallelism in correlative phrases: Correlative phrases, such as "not only...but also" and "either...or," should be used with parallel elements. For example, "She not only enjoys reading but also to write" should be corrected to "She not only enjoys reading but also writing."

It is important to ensure parallelism in writing to maintain clarity, coherence, and grammatical correctness.