Master Parallelism: How to Write Balanced English

Ever read a sentence that just flows perfectly? That’s usually because of parallelism — a writing technique that gives sentences rhythm, balance, and clarity.

Whether you’re writing essays, speeches, or professional emails, mastering parallel structure will make your English sound smooth and sophisticated.

Let’s learn how it works.

📘 What Is Parallelism in English?

Parallelism means using the same grammatical pattern for two or more parts of a sentence.
It keeps your ideas clear, balanced, and easy to read.

Example:
❌ She likes reading, to write, and cooking.
✅ She likes reading, writing, and cooking.

💡 All verbs now have the same form — that’s parallelism!

🎯 Why Use Parallelism?

Parallelism makes your writing:

Balanced: equal ideas use equal structure
Clear: easy to follow and understand
Smooth: creates a rhythm like native speakers use
Formal: ideal for academic and professional writing

🧩 The Rule of Parallel Structure

Keep all items in a series (words, phrases, or clauses) in the same grammatical form.

Type	Incorrect	Correct
With verbs	I like to swim, running, and to cycle.	I like swimming, running, and cycling.
With nouns	Her hobbies are reading, to travel, and music.	Her hobbies are reading, travelling, and listening to music.
With adjectives	He is smart, hardworking, and a good singer.	He is smart, hardworking, and talented.
With clauses	She said that she would study hard and to pass the exam.	She said that she would study hard and that she would pass the exam.

🧠 Parallelism in Pairs and Comparisons

1️⃣ Using and, or, but

When you connect ideas with and, or, but, keep both sides grammatically parallel.

❌ He wanted to learn quickly and success.
✅ He wanted to learn quickly and succeed.

2️⃣ Using either…or / neither…nor / both…and / not only…but also

❌ She is either going to Paris or stay home.
✅ She is either going to Paris or staying home.

❌ The course is not only useful but also helps improve speaking.
✅ The course is not only useful but also helpful for speaking.

💡 Keep the same form after both parts of the pair.

✍️ Parallelism in Lists and Bullet Points

When writing formal or academic content, make sure your lists follow the same pattern.

Example:
❌ The DELCA course helps you to:

Improve your speaking
Grammar correction
Build confidence

✅ The DELCA course helps you to:

Improve your speaking
Strengthen your grammar
Build confidence

🗣️ Parallelism in Famous Quotes

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
— Benjamin Franklin

“Easy come, easy go.”

These sentences flow perfectly because of parallel structure — the repetition of equal forms.

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Mixing verb forms: He likes to read and swimming.
✅ He likes reading and swimming.

❌ Mixing nouns and clauses: Her goal is success and to inspire others.
✅ Her goal is to succeed and to inspire others.

❌ Inconsistent patterns in essays or presentations.

💡 Always check your lists, comparisons, and series — they should look and sound balanced.

📝 Quick Practice

Correct the following sentences using parallel structure 👇

She wants to learn English, improving pronunciation, and to travel abroad.
The teacher was kind, helpful, and a great sense of humour.
He enjoys reading books, playing football, and to paint.
The DELCA course helps students speak clearly, write accurately, and building confidence.

Answers:

She wants to learn English, improve pronunciation, and travel abroad.
The teacher was kind, helpful, and humorous.
He enjoys reading books, playing football, and painting.
The DELCA course helps students speak clearly, write accurately, and build confidence.

🎯 Learn to Write Like a Professional with Sujyoti

At Sujyoti Language School, we help learners master English that sounds fluent, balanced, and professional.

Our CEFR-aligned courses (A1–C2) include:

Grammar through real communication
Writing and speaking fluency practice
Pronunciation and accent training
Weekly one-to-one exams
In-house books and certificates

👉 Want to write and speak English with confidence?
Book your Free Demo Class today!