What is parallelism?

What is parallelism?

• A. Similarity of structure in a set of related words, phrases, or clauses
• B. Repetition of sounds
• C. Use of metaphors
• D. Use of irony

Answer: (A)

Parallelism is the balance and rhythm that comes from keeping the same grammatical form in a series of related words, phrases, or clauses. When items share the same structure, the sentence reads smoothly and clearly, making the idea easier to follow. For example, using the same verb form in a list—“hiking, swimming, and biking”—creates parallel construction. This choice captures that idea: the similarity of structure in a set of related words, phrases, or clauses. Repetition of sounds describes alliteration, not parallel structure. Metaphor is a figure of speech that describes something as something else, and irony is a contrast between expectation and reality. These are different concepts from parallelism.

Parallelism is the balance and rhythm that comes from keeping the same grammatical form in a series of related words, phrases, or clauses. When items share the same structure, the sentence reads smoothly and clearly, making the idea easier to follow. For example, using the same verb form in a list—“hiking, swimming, and biking”—creates parallel construction.

This choice captures that idea: the similarity of structure in a set of related words, phrases, or clauses. Repetition of sounds describes alliteration, not parallel structure. Metaphor is a figure of speech that describes something as something else, and irony is a contrast between expectation and reality. These are different concepts from parallelism.