How Do You Make A Sentence Parallel? | Fix Lists Fast

Parallel sentences feel balanced. When a line lists actions, traits, or options, your reader expects the pieces to match. If one item shifts form, the sentence can sound lopsided, even when the meaning is fine.

This guide shows a practical way to spot nonparallel parts, choose one clean pattern, and rewrite without losing your voice. You’ll see quick tests, common trouble spots, and short drills you can run on any draft.

This topic comes up a lot in editing: if you’ve ever asked how do you make a sentence parallel?, you’re spotting a mismatch in form, not a lack of ideas.

Parallelism Fix Map

Where It Breaks	Nonparallel Pattern	Parallel Rewrite
Verb list	I like to hike, biking, and to swim.	I like hiking, biking, and swimming.
Infinitive list	She plans to study, to take notes, and revising her draft.	She plans to study, to take notes, and to revise her draft.
Noun list	The course includes grammar, how to cite, and revision.	The course includes grammar, citation, and revision.
Paired items	He’s both smart and thinks clearly.	He’s both smart and clear-thinking.
Either/or	You can either submit online or by printing a form.	You can either submit online or print a form.
Not only/but also	She’s not only patient but also she listens well.	She’s not only patient but also a good listener.
Comparisons	Reading is easier than to write under stress.	Reading is easier than writing under stress.
Headings	Drafting The Essay / How To Edit / Revision Steps	Draft The Essay / Edit The Draft / Revise For Flow

What Parallel Sentences Mean

A sentence is parallel when parts that share the same role share the same grammar shape. That can mean matching verbs in a series, matching nouns after one verb, or matching full clauses linked by a coordinating word.

When you keep the shapes aligned, the reader tracks the list as one unit. When the shapes clash, the reader has to pause and reparse what belongs with what.

Parallel structure doesn’t force identical length. It asks for matching grammar slots. One item can be longer, yet it should start the same way and finish in the same pattern for the reader.

Where Parallel Structure Shows Up Most

• Lists joined by commas and “and” or “or”
• Paired patterns such as “both…and” and “either…or”
• Comparisons built with “than” or “as”
• Headings in outlines, slides, and section lists
• Repeated grammar after a shared verb, noun, or preposition

How Do You Make A Sentence Parallel? In Four Checks

Here’s a fast routine you can run in one pass. It works on one sentence, a full paragraph, or a whole document.

Check 1: Find The Joined Parts

Circle the items connected by commas, “and,” “or,” “both…and,” “either…or,” “neither…nor,” or “not only…but also.” Those linked items should match.

Also look for a shared lead-in. A single verb or preposition can control a whole list. If the lead-in fits one item and not the next, you’ve found the snag.

Check 2: Name The Grammar Form

Pick a label for the first item: noun, verb, adjective, “to + verb,” “-ing” form, prepositional phrase, or full clause. Don’t overthink it. You just need a handle on the pattern.

Then check each later item. If one switches categories, the sentence isn’t parallel yet.

Check 3: Match The Form All The Way Through

Choose one pattern and commit to it. If you start with “to + verb,” keep “to + verb” for each item. If you start with nouns, keep nouns.

When a list holds mixed ideas, rewrite the lead-in so one pattern fits all items. Sometimes the cleanest fix is to split one long list into two shorter lists with separate lead-ins.

Check 4: Read For Even Rhythm

Read the sentence aloud once. Parallel lines often sound steady, almost like a beat. Nonparallel lines often sound like a wheel wobbling.

If you trip on one item, check its grammar shape first. Rhythm is a strong clue.

Making A Sentence Parallel In Lists And Bullets

Lists are the most common place parallelism slips. Lists invite speed, so a draft can drift from one form to another without you noticing.

When you want a quick refresher, Purdue’s parallel structure page is a solid baseline.

Match Verbs In A Series

If your list names actions, keep the verbs aligned. Two clean options are “-ing” forms or base verbs with a shared helper.

• “She enjoys reading, writing, and editing.”
• “She can read, write, and edit.”

Avoid mixing “to + verb” with “-ing” forms inside the same list unless the meaning truly changes. Most of the time, one pattern will carry the full series.

Keep Noun Lists As Nouns

Noun lists often break when one item turns into a clause. If the lead-in is “The class includes,” the items that follow should fit as objects of “includes.”

• Not parallel: “The class includes grammar, how to cite sources, and revision.”
• Parallel: “The class includes grammar, citation, and revision.”

If you need a longer idea, turn each item into the same form, like full clauses: “The class includes how to build claims, how to cite sources, and how to revise drafts.”

Choose Between To-Infinitives And Ing Forms

Both patterns can work, so pick the one that fits your tone.

• To-infinitives: “I want to learn, to practice, and to improve.”
• Ing forms: “I enjoy learning, practicing, and improving.”

If you start with “to,” keep it for each item. If you start with “-ing,” keep that. The reader shouldn’t have to switch tracks mid-list.

Make Bullet Lists Parallel Too

Parallelism isn’t just a sentence thing. Bullet lists need matching grammar, since each bullet acts like a sentence fragment tied to one lead-in.

APA Style even calls out parallel wording in lists; their guidance on lists is a handy check when you write academic work.

Try setting each bullet as a verb phrase, or set each bullet as a noun phrase. Mixing them can make a list feel messy.

Parallel Structure In Paired Patterns

Pairs like “both…and” and “either…or” act like a balance scale. If one side is a noun and the other side is a full clause, the scale tips.

Both And

After “both,” mirror the structure after “and.”

• Not parallel: “He is both curious and he asks sharp questions.”
• Parallel: “He is both curious and inquisitive.”

If you want longer items, make both sides clauses: “He not only reads widely, but he also writes daily.”

Either Or And Neither Nor

With “either…or,” the word after “either” should match the word after “or.” Same rule for “neither…nor.”

• Not parallel: “You can either email the form or dropping it off.”
• Parallel: “You can either email the form or drop it off.”

Watch for shifts in tense too. If one side uses past tense, keep the other side in past tense.

Not Only But Also

This pattern trips writers when the second half grows into a clause. Keep both halves as the same kind of phrase.

• Not parallel: “She is not only kind but also she helps strangers.”
• Parallel: “She is not only kind but also generous.”

If your meaning needs two actions, keep both as actions: “She not only helped strangers but also stayed to guide them.”

Parallel Comparisons With Than And As

Comparisons often hide nonparallel structure, since the first part of the sentence can be far from the second part.

Match what follows “than” or “as” to what came before it.

• Not parallel: “Drafting a thesis is harder than to write topic sentences.”
• Parallel: “Drafting a thesis is harder than writing topic sentences.”

If the first half is a clause, the second half should be a clause too: “She reads faster than he does.”

Parallel Structure In Long Sentences

Long sentences love parallelism, since the reader needs landmarks. A clean pattern can keep a multi-part idea from turning into a tangle.

When you stack lists inside lists, zoom out and check the top-level items first. Then check the inner lists one at a time. This keeps your edits tidy.

Editing Checklist For Parallel Sentences

When you revise, scan for connectors and list markers. Then run a quick matching test. The table below can sit next to your draft while you edit.

Parallel Sentence Checks

Quick Test	What To Scan	Fix Move
Circle the joiners	and, or, both…and, either…or, not only…but also	Match the grammar after each joiner
Find the shared lead-in	A verb or preposition that controls a list	Rewrite so each item fits the lead-in
Label each item	Noun, verb, adjective, clause, phrase	Pick one label and rewrite the outlier
Check tense	Past vs present shifts inside a series	Put all verbs in the same tense
Check length balance	One tiny item next to one long clause	Trim or expand so items feel even
Test with a rewrite shell	Swap each item into “I like ___”	If the shell fails, the list is mis-shaped
Read aloud once	Stumbles, pauses, odd beats	Rewrite the part where your voice trips
Check bullets and headings	Slide titles, outline points, checklist lines	Make each line start the same way

Short Practice Set

Try these on paper or in a note app. Rewrite each sentence so the linked parts match. Then compare your rewrite to the sample below.

Practice Sentences

1. My plan is to research the topic, writing a draft, and to edit on Sunday.
2. The tutor suggested clearer verbs, stronger transitions, and that I should shorten long clauses.
3. Students can either meet on Zoom or meeting in the library.
4. She enjoys hiking, to kayak, and camping with friends.
5. Writing a job letter is easier than to update a full résumé.
6. The workshop taught us how to outline, how to cite sources, and revising for flow.

Sample Rewrites

1. My plan is to research the topic, to write a draft, and to edit on Sunday.
2. The tutor suggested clearer verbs, stronger transitions, and shorter clauses.
3. Students can either meet on Zoom or meet in the library.
4. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, and camping with friends.
5. Writing a job letter is easier than updating a full résumé.
6. The workshop taught us how to outline, how to cite sources, and how to revise for flow.

Quick Self Check Before You Hit Publish

When you’re done revising, search your draft for “and” and “or.” Read each list in isolation. If each item can slide into the same slot, the sentence is parallel.

If you still find a stubborn line, ask yourself, “how do you make a sentence parallel?” Then run the four checks again: joined parts, grammar label, matched form, and a read-aloud pass.