By grammatically balancing words, phrases, and clauses, a writer enables readers to navigate an essay with ease.
Parallel structures create pleasing rhythms and make sentences and paragraphs flow.
Below are four common situations which call for parallel structures. In each example the parallel elements are highlighted. The suicidal roach skulked out of the toaster, scuttled across the counter, and skirted the sink before hurling itself into the disposal. Angry ants, munching marshmallows, crumbling coffeecake, and sipping syrup, headed off across the Great Divide. The concubine's entourage included a dimpled dwarf , a joking giant , and a humoungous hamster .