Parallel Structure with Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative Conjunctions

Pair

Example

either/or

We will either go to the theme park or to the lake.

neither/nor

I neither want to spend too much money at the theme park nor get a sunburn at the lake. 

both/and

I wish we could go both to Silver Dollar City and to Table Rock Lake.

not only/but also

We will not only ride roller coasters but also eat funnel cake.

whether/or

We will have to decide whether to go to the theme park or to visit the lake.

as/as

Riding roller coasters is just as much fun as fishing for trout.

as many / as

I can think of as many reasons to go to one place as I can to the other. 

rather / than

I think I would rather go to the lake than to the theme park, though. 

no sooner / than

However, no sooner do I choose one place than I wish I had chosen the other. 

scarcely / when

I can scarcely remember when I last visited Table Rock Lake. 

such / that

When you have limited time, such is the conflict in life that you have to make hard choices. 

Parallel Structure with Correlative Conjunctions

Strategy

Incorrect

Correct

Parallel Structure with Two Subjects

🚫Both Jay and his younger sister whose name is Sofia love to ride roller coasters. 

Problem: The two subjects are not of equal length or weight. It would be better for both subjects to have approximately the same number of words.

✅Both big-brother Jay and little-sister Sofia love to ride rollercoasters.

Parallel Structure with Two Objects

🚫Alex neither likes roller coasters nor to ride ferris wheels.

Problem: “likes roller coasters” and “to ride ferris wheels” are two different types of verb phrases. Change the verb phrases to match each other. 

✅Alex neither likes rollercoasters nor ferris wheels.

✅Alex neither likes to ride roller coasters nor to ride ferris wheels. 

Parallel Structure with Two Verbs

🚫Whether you ride roller coasters or are enjoying the shows, you’re bound to have a good time. 

Problem: The two verbs are in different forms--ride vs. are enjoying. To keep the sentence parallel, use the same verb forms. 

✅Whether you ride roller coasters or enjoy the shows, you’re bound to have a good time. 

✅Whether you’re riding roller coasters or you're enjoying the shows, you’re bound to have a good time.

Parallel Structure to Compare Nouns

🚫Jay would rather ride the tall and fast Time Traveler than the Fire in the Hole, which is a much calmer ride.

Problem: One part of the sentence uses single-word adjectives to describe the noun, while the other part of the sentence uses a long adjective clause. Use the same structure to give the comparison balanced weight.

✅Jay would rather ride the tall and fast Time Traveler than the calm and tame Fire in the Hole.

✅Jay would rather ride the Time Traveler, which is tall and fast, than the Fire in the Hole, which is calm and tame.

Parallel Structure to Connect Phrases

🚫The cinnamon rolls are both incredibly messy and available to buy near the front entrance.

Problem: The phrase "incredibly messy" uses the form adverb + adjective. The phrase "available to buy near the front entrance" uses the form adjective + infinitive phrase. It would be better to use the same form and a similar number of words for both descriptions.

✅The cinnamon rolls are both incredibly messy and readily available.

✅The cinnamon rolls are both messy to eat and easy to find.

Parallel Structure to Connect Clauses

🚫You can enjoy Silver Dollar City not only because it has great rides,
but also whatever entertainment, food, and shopping you could want!

Problem: The first part of the sentence uses an adverb clause, while the second part of the sentence uses a noun clause. It would be better to use the same type of clause to make them parallel.

✅You can enjoy Silver Dollar City not only because it has great rides and shows, but also because it has awesome food and shopping!