SAT Writing: Parallelism

You probably know from math that parallel lines are two lines that go in the same direction. The concept is similar in English in the way we structure certain things together.

I like flying planes, riding trains, and driving automobiles.

Notice the same format for each of the things in the list: gerund (word ending in ing)-noun, gerund-noun, gerund-noun. It sounds nice and fluid when the sentence is put together that way. It would be awkward and incorrect to say:

I like flying planes, riding trains, and to drive automobiles.

Here's another correct version:

I like to fly planes, to ride trains, and to drive automobiles. (infinitive-noun pattern)

It's also correct to leave out the to's because they're implied to carry over to all three items in the list:

I like to fly planes, ride trains, and drive automobiles.

But again, you must be consistent—it would be incorrect to write:

I like to fly planes, ride trains, and to drive automobiles.

The to is used again after being left out in the second item. Let's walk through some examples so you see what sentences need to be parallel on the SAT:

Example 1
Wrong:	In chess, remember these three goals: get your pieces to the center, capture the opposing pieces, and attacking the opposing king.
Correct:	In chess, remember these three goals: get your pieces to the center, capture the opposing pieces, and attack the opposing king.

Example 2
Wrong:	Fans of Teresa admire her ability to sing, her passion for performance, and she has good looks.
Correct:	Fans of Teresa admire her ability to sing, her passion for performance, and her good looks.

Example 3
Wrong:	The baby crawled quickly, sleeps softly, and cried loudly.
Correct:	The baby crawled quickly, slept softly, and cried loudly.

Parallelism requires the verb tenses to be the same.

Example 4
Wrong:	The fashion designer was praised for her creative, comfortable, and her having innovative clothing.
Correct:	The fashion designer was praised for her creative, comfortable, and her having innovative clothing.

Parallelism most often shows up in a series or a list of things as in the examples above, but it can also come up when pairing two phrases together, especially with and or or:

Example 5
Wrong:	I respect his eloquence and that he is brave.
Correct:	I respect his eloquence and his bravery.

Example 6
Wrong:	Hunting under the moonlight and to howl on top of the mountains were instinctual when the full moon appeared above the werewolves.
Correct:	Hunting under the moonlight and howling on top of the mountains were instinctual when the full moon appeared above the werewolves.

Example 7
Wrong:	I like singing more than dance.
Correct:	I like singing more than dancing.

Example 8
Wrong:	To learn what it means to love someone is accepting the flaws of others.
Correct:	To learn what it means to love someone is to accept the flaws of others.

Example 9
Wrong:	The school was designed to be a place where creativity would be celebrated and hard work was rewarded there.
Correct:	The school was designed to be a place where creativity would be celebrated and hard work (would be) rewarded.

Note that would be can be left out because it's implied to carry over.

Example 10
Wrong:	The principal planned to improve teacher training and clearer rules for student conduct should be established.
Correct:	The principal planned to improve teacher training and (to) establish clearer rules for student conduct.

Example 11
Wrong:	The people who ride the bus or have taken the train can't afford to drive to work.
Correct:	The people who ride the bus or take the train can't afford to drive to work.

Example 12
Wrong:	Traveling the world has given me the pleasure of meeting new people, to explore different ways of life.
Correct:	Traveling the world has given me the pleasure of meeting new people, of exploring different ways of life.