3 Problems of Parallel Syntax

3 Problems of Parallel Syntax 3 Problems of Parallel Syntax 3 Problems of Parallel Syntax By Mark Nichol Writers frequently err in producing in-line lists (those incorporated into a sentence, rather than presented vertically) whose items do not correspond grammatically. Here are three sample sentences, along with corrections. 1. â€Å"If a work is no longer set in Japan, no longer written by Japanese authors or penned by Japanese artists, and no longer reflects Japanese cultural idioms, is it still manga?† Each of the three list items in this sentence includes at least one verb, but that consistency does not guarantee parallel structure. The first item’s verb phrase includes â€Å"is . . . set,† and the third one’s verb, reflects, stands on its own (if the item were required to contain a form of â€Å"to be,† the sentence could be revised to include the verb phrase â€Å"is no longer reflective of†), but the middle item needs a helping verb in this case, to match the first item, is: â€Å"If a work is no longer set in Japan, is no longer written by Japanese authors or penned by Japanese artists, and no longer reflects Japanese cultural idioms, is it still manga? 2. â€Å"People who have experienced abuse, been victims of a crime or catastrophe, or people who have lived through war and/or genocide can experience PTSD.† Here, a verb is missing from one element of the sentence, but noun and pronoun use is also inconsistent: â€Å"People who have experienced abuse, have been victims of a crime or catastrophe, or have lived through war and/or genocide can experience PTSD.† Alternatively, elements can be combined; here, the first two are joined, and the third one, already in combination, has been framed in commas to set it off from the rest of the sentence: â€Å"People who have experienced abuse or have been victims of a crime or catastrophe, or people who have lived through war and/or genocide, can experience PTSD. 3. â€Å"The products are available at Bed Bath Beyond stores, the Container Store, or through the company’s website.† This sentence’s flaw is the lack not of a verb but of a preposition in each element. Generally, a single preposition could serve all three elements, but because a website is a conduit, not a location, for obtaining the products (unlike as in the case of information or media, which can be obtained at a website), each element requires its own preposition: â€Å"The products are available at Bed Bath Beyond stores, at the Container Store, or through the company’s website. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to Use â€Å"That,† â€Å"Which,† and â€Å"Who†Best Websites to Learn English25 Idioms with Clean