See it in language
Examples of Faulty Parallelism
She likes hiking, to swim, and bicycles.
Instructional example
Revised: She likes hiking, swimming, and cycling.
Instructional example
Matching gerunds restore parallel structure.
The policy aims to reduce waste and that costs should fall.
Instructional example
A verb phrase is improperly coordinated with a clause.
Show more examples
"I like to swim, to bike, and running." (incorrect use of verb tense)
"He loved hiking, camping, and to fish." (inconsistent use of gerunds)
"The students were asked to bring a pencil, a notebook, and their homework is due tomorrow." (lack of parallel structure in items on a list)
"She not only likes to read books, but also watching movies." (inconsistent use of verb forms)
"The teacher told the students to write clearly, concisely, and avoiding grammatical errors." (inconsistent use of verb forms)
Read like an editor
How to recognize it
- Define Faulty Parallelism by its central function, not merely by a nearby feature.
- Check the surrounding context before deciding that Faulty Parallelism applies.
- Explain what the classification helps a reader understand about the passage or work.
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked questions
What is the clearest way to recognize Faulty Parallelism?
Use the defining criteria and confirm them against the surrounding context rather than relying on one isolated word.
Is Faulty Parallelism a literary device?
No. In this reference architecture it is classified as word language term.