Title: Parallel Structures - Economics

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- Parallel Structure
- In writing, parallel structure (or parallelism) means using the same pattern of words or phrases to express two or more similar ideas in a sentence.
- The PhD student is collecting, categorising and analysing data.
- Similar verb forms
- The language students love conversation practice and pronunciation exercises.
- The students were intelligent, conscientious and self-directed.
- Similar nouns
- Similar adjectives

Drag the words into the correct boxes to create parallel structures:

Q: The concept of ‘supply’ refers to the [...] and ability of a supplier to sell a product.

'Supply' refers to the extent that a supplier is [...] and able to sell a product.
A: willingness; willing

Click the word in each sentence that doesn't fit in the parallel structure:

Feedback (0 to 100%): 'Selling' should be 'sell' so that they are all similar verb forms.
Once a patent expires, other sellers can copy, develop and selling the idea as a similar product.
A: selling

Feedback (0 to 100%): 'are breaking' should be 'break' so that there are correct verb forms following "firms ..."
These market conditions can determine whether firms turn a profit, make a loss, or are breaking even.
A: are breaking

Feedback (0 to 100%): 'Profits' should be 'profitable' so that there are three similar adjectives.
Good market positioning can ensure a firm is competitive, sustainable and profits.
A: profits

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- Parallel structures are balanced
- In parallel structures, connecting items on one side of the conjunction must be equal to the item on the other side of the conjunction.
- The exam was hard but fair.
- The lecture was informative and engaging.

Parallel structure and coordinating conjunctions

Parallel structures are used with coordinating conjunctions like and or or.

Look at the non-parallel structures below, can you improve them by making parallel structures?

After you have tried making your own, look at the suggested parallel structure underneath and compare the differences.

Example 1:

The teacher said that he was a bad student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, arrived late to his classes and his motivation was low.

Improved example 1

The teacher said that he was a bad student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, arrived late to his classes and lacked motivation.

Fix: The verb forms are now parallel

Example 2:

The student was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and in a detailed manner.

Improved example 2

The student was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.

Fix: This is now a list of adverbs

Example 3:

Angela likes physics, art and doing mathematics.

Improved example 3

Angela likes physics, art and mathematics.

Fix: This is now a list of nouns

Q: Choose the sentence with a clear parallel structure:
- The following table summarises the characteristics of each market structure, provides some real examples of each markets, and shows how certain variables affect each one. (correct)
- The following table summarises the characteristics of each market structure, provides some examples of real markets, and how certain variables affect each one is also shown.
- The following table summarises the characteristics of each market structure, providing some examples of real markets and it also shows how certain variables affect each one.

Q: Choose the sentence with a clear parallel structure:
- Therefore a zero economic profit means the firm has made enough money to cover the actual (explicit) costs and the other opportunity costs of operating the business. (correct)
- Therefore a zero economic profit means the firm has made enough money to cover the actual (explicit) costs and can cover other opportunity costs of operating the business.
- Therefore a zero economic profit means the actual (explicit) costs can be covered and the firm has made enough money to cover the other opportunity costs of operating the business.

Q: Choose the sentence with a clear parallel structure:
- The supply of raspberries will decrease, as farmers devote more of their resources to producing strawberries and less for producing raspberries. (correct)
- The supply of raspberries will decrease, as farmers devote more of their resources to producing strawberries and less resources for the production of raspberries.
- The supply of raspberries will decrease, as farmers devote more of their resources to producing strawberries and producing raspberries gets less resources.

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Parallel structures use the same grammatical structures

The example sentence below outlines the benefits of a new course, but it is non-parallel because it uses different verb forms. Can you think of any ways to improve it?

Look at the two improved examples. Parallel structure has been achieved by either using matching verbs in the sentence, or breaking the sentence into two sentences. Which do you prefer?

It's useful to note that there are many ways to present the same information.

Example 1:

The new e-learning course would save money on classrooms, can increase student engagement and its value was proven by winning two global teaching innovation awards.

Improved example 1a

The new e-learning course would save money on classrooms, increase student engagement and attract global recognition through its teaching awards.

Fix: All verbs are in the same tense. Note that the modal verb would applies to all the verbs (would save, would increase, would attract...) but only needs to be at the beginning of the list in a parallel structure.

Improved example 1b

The new e-learning course would save money on classrooms and increase student engagement. The course has proven its value by winning two teaching innovation awards.

Fix: separated into two sentences. Don't hesitate to do this to improve clarity.

Q: Choose the sentence with a clear parallel structure:
- A lack of attention to key market information could lead to uncompetitiveness, financial losses, and, ultimately, the failure of the firm. (correct)
- A lack of attention to key market information could lead to being uncompetitive, financial losses, and, ultimately, the failure of the firm.
- A lack of attention to key market information could lead to uncompetitiveness, financial losses, and, ultimately, the firm could fail.
- A lack of attention to key market information could lead to uncompetitiveness, losing money, and, ultimately, the failure of the firm.

Q: Choose the sentence with a clear parallel structure:
- Supply problems could create obstacles for meeting consumer demand and maximising market profitability. (correct)
- Supply problems could create obstacles for consumer demand being met and maximising market profitability.
- Supply problems could create obstacles for meeting consumer demand and market profitability could be affected.

Q: Choose the sentence with a clear parallel structure:
- In a natural monopoly, it is extremely difficult for a new firm to compete, succeed or even enter the market. (correct)
- In a natural monopoly, it is extremely difficult for a new firm to compete, succeed and even entrance to the market is hard.
- In a natural monopoly, it is extremely difficult for a new firm to compete, be successful or even gain entrance to the market.

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Grammatical alignment

There are always many ways to express the same information and this is especially true when using parallel structures.

Remember that parallel structures need to fit grammatically with the rest of the sentence. If you change a sentence to use parallel structure, check that the rest of the sentence fits in with it.

Drag the correct text to match with the different parallel structures:

Q: [...] clarity, balance and organisation.

[...] clearer, more balanced and more organised.

[...] clarify, balance and organise your writing.
A: The benefits of parallel structures in your writing include; Parallel structures can make your writing; Parallel structures are useful to

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- Quick Tips
- To improve common mistakes with parallel structures, learn more about coordinating conjunctions and their role in parallel structure.
- If your sentence is grammatically correct, check whether it could be further improved by using parallel structures.
- To proofread for faulty parallel structures, check whether all elements in the list of items in the sentence are of equal status, of equal importance, and use the same grammatical form.

- If firms can understand the level of PED for its products, it can make better decisions about whether to                         ,                                                              the price.
- The ability to                       ,                                                          demand is crucial when entering a market.
- Firms with poor economic planning will struggle to operate                                                                                   .
- maintain
- identify
- efficiently
- raise
- competitively
- and
- or
- or
- lower
- meet
- understand
- Drag words and phrases into the spaces to create parallel structures:
Q: raise the price
A: If firms can understand the level of PED for its products, it can make better …; The ability to , demand is crucial when entering a market.; lower; raise; maintain
Q: lower the price
A: If firms can understand the level of PED for its products, it can make better …; The ability to , demand is crucial when entering a market.; maintain; raise; lower
Q: or
A: Firms with poor economic planning will struggle to operate .; or; or
Q: keep it the same
A: If firms can understand the level of PED for its products, it can make better …; The ability to , demand is crucial when entering a market.; maintain; raise; lower
Q: distraction
A: identify; meet; understand
Q: poor problem-solving skills
A: identify; meet; understand
Q: and
A: Firms with poor economic planning will struggle to operate .; and
Q: social isolation
A: identify; meet; understand
Q: effectively
A: competitively; efficiently
Q: or
A: or; or; and
Q: efficiently
A: competitively; efficiently

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