Explain the common errors in parallelism in academic writing.

Common errors in parallelism in academic writing include:

1. Lack of parallel structure: This occurs when the elements in a series or list do not follow the same grammatical pattern. For example, "She likes swimming, to run, and reading" should be corrected to "She likes swimming, running, and reading."

2. Inconsistent verb tense: Parallelism requires consistent verb tense within a sentence or paragraph. Mixing past, present, and future tenses can create confusion and disrupt the flow of the writing.

3. Inconsistent voice or mood: Parallelism requires maintaining the same voice or mood throughout a sentence or paragraph. Shifting from active to passive voice or from indicative to subjunctive mood can lead to inconsistency.

4. Unequal comparisons: When making comparisons, it is important to ensure that the elements being compared are parallel. For example, "She is more intelligent than her brother is tall" should be corrected to "She is more intelligent than her brother is tall."

5. Lack of parallelism in correlative conjunctions: Correlative conjunctions, such as "either...or" and "neither...nor," require parallel structures. For instance, "He can either swim or to run" should be corrected to "He can either swim or run."

6. Inconsistent use of prepositions: Parallelism requires consistent use of prepositions when listing items. For example, "She enjoys hiking, swimming, and to read" should be corrected to "She enjoys hiking, swimming, and reading."

7. Lack of parallelism in comparisons: When making comparisons, it is important to ensure that the elements being compared are parallel. For instance, "She is more intelligent than her brother is tall" should be corrected to "She is more intelligent than her brother is."

It is crucial to maintain parallelism in academic writing to enhance clarity, coherence, and overall effectiveness of the text.