100 ways to improve your writing - Gary Provost 2019
Use parallel construction
Ten ways to develop style
Though several consecutive sentences constructed the same way can bore the reader, there are times when you should deliberately arrange words and sounds in similar fashion in order to show the reader the similarity of information contained in the sentences. Just as the steady beat of a drum can often enrich a melody, the repetition of a sound can often improve the music of your writing. This is called parallel construction.
Listen to the difference parallel construction makes in the following examples.
Not Parallel |
Parallel |
I drove to the construction site to see what I could find out from the workers. I talked to the foreman. The electricians and I had a discussion. This was followed by a talk with the carpenters. Also, the plumbers told me what they thought. The same view was held by everybody. The project would have to be started over. |
I drove to the construction site to see what I could find out from the workers. I talked to the foreman and electricians. I talked to the carpenters and plumbers. They all said the same thing. The project would have to be started over. |
Fish gotta swim, and flying is something that birds must do. |
Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly. |
First I came. Then I saw. Conquering came next. |
I came. I saw. I conquered. |
When one has been seen by you, you’ve seen them all. |
When you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. |