Parallel Structure Part II

Coordinating conjunctions are used to join words in a series.

And, but, or, nor, for, so, yet

Examples of Parallel Structure

Words in a series:

I saw John and Mary.

I saw John, Bill, and Mary.

Examples of Parallel Structure

Phrases in a series:

I see him going to work and coming home.

I plan to eat in a restaurant and to see a movie.

Examples of Parallel Structure

Dependent clauses in a series:

The phone rang when I reached the motel but before I unpacked my suitcase.

I liked the parrot, so I bought it for my mother.

Independent clauses in a series:

Reminder About Comma Usage

Commas and sometimes semicolons mark the divisions of items in a series within a sentence. Commas are the most common dividers:

The ethics of contemporary surgery are often a problem for the patient, the doctor, and the patient's family.

Reminder About Comma Usage

When commas occur within one or more of the items in a series, semicolons mark the division between items:

Key air routs include Lisbon, Portugal; Rome, Italy; Frankfurt, Germany; and Istanbul, Turkey.