Parallelism in Lists

When writing lists, it is important to keep the items in each bullet parallel to one another, as this helps the reader understand the meaning of the list. Parallelism is, according to Harbrace College Handbook, “the use of corresponding grammatically equal elements in sentences and paragraphs.”

What does it mean to write parallel lists? To write parallel lists, each item in the list must have the same structure. To be parallel, each item in the list might

• start with the same part of speech (e.g., noun, verb)
• use the same verb tense (e.g., present, past, future)
• use the same voice (e.g., active, passive)
• use the same sentence type (e.g., statement, question).

Example: When I get home from work, I need to

• do laundry
• finish my homework
• clean the dishes
• wash the floor.

If the last bullet had said “and also washing the floor needs to be done,” the reader would most likely have had to re-read the sentence to understand the meaning of it in relation to the last bullet. The additional words emphasize the error and cause the reader to struggle to understand the meaning of the list. Writing parallel lists makes reading easier and more enjoyable for the reader.

Try It!

Write a sentence with a list of items as unparallel and difficult to comprehend as possible. Then write another sentence with a list that is parallel and grammatically correct. Compare the two lists and see for yourself how much easier the second list is to read and understand.