Rhetorical terms · AP English Language, SAT Reading and Writing, ACT Reading
Parallelism
Parallelism: Using the same grammatical structure for related ideas in a sentence or series, for balance and clarity.
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What it means
Parallelism arranges similar ideas in similar forms: a series of verbs, a pair of matching clauses, a list of nouns. In rhetoric it creates rhythm and emphasizes relationships between ideas. In grammar, parallel structure is also a rule: items in a list or comparison should share the same form.
Rhetorical parallelism often sets up contrast or climax, as when the last item in a series breaks the pattern.
Example
Rhetorical: 'to read widely, to think clearly, to speak honestly.' Grammatical error: 'She likes hiking, to swim and biking' should be 'hiking, swimming and biking.'
On the exam
SAT and ACT grammar questions test parallel structure; AP Lang asks you to explain its rhetorical effect.
Lessons and practice questions
Related terms
- AnaphoraThe repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences or lines.
- AntithesisPlacing contrasting ideas side by side in parallel structure to sharpen the contrast.
- SyntaxThe arrangement of words, phrases and clauses in sentences, including sentence length, order and structure.
- Parallel structureUsing the same grammatical form for items in a list, a comparison or paired constructions.