Editor's Corner

Today I’m doing a Throwback Thursday, looking at an Editor’s Corner from 14 years ago. This is about parallel construction in writing, and as I’m working on JH Connect sessions, I am seeing that I need a little refresher myself!

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This may not be an exciting topic, but it is one of the top ten things we look for in documents that we edit. Parallel construction provides structure and clarity to your writing, and it makes editors everywhere love you.

The following article is from Grammarbook.com:

Parallel Construction

Sentences and lists are awkward when they contain a series of items with inconsistent grammatical structure. But as your reader scans through a series of items with parallel grammatical structure, the relationships between different items of information become clear. Here’s an example:

Which of the two sentences below is easier to follow?

• At the February meeting we will hold a discussion of the new health plan, whether to revise the procedures manual, and then a draft will be developed of the early retirement policy.
• At the February meeting, we will discuss the new health plan, decide whether to revise the procedures manual, and draft an early retirement policy.

In the second example, the parallel verb tenses saved space and helped us grasp the ideas immediately. To help your writing flow smoothly and make sense, use the same format for items you present in a series.

The same approach applies to lists, which are much easier to read when the grammar is parallel.

Incorrect Example

The agenda for the March meeting includes the following goals:

• Discussion of the new health plan
• Whether to revise the procedures manual
• The early-retirement policy will change

Correct Example

The agenda for the March meeting includes the following goals:

• Discussing the new health plan
• Deciding whether to revise the procedures manual
• Revising the early-retirement policy

Parallel construction can help you organize your thoughts, make your writing flow smoothly, and make your meaning clear immediately.

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And now, a hilarious translation:

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | KE – Documentation

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/