1. What I know:
I don't know what this means. I don't know what Parallel structure refers to.
2. Grammar Girl Episode #463
http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/how-to-use-parallel-construction-correctly
3 & 4. http://www.dailywritingtips.com/5-sentences-with-problematic-parallelism-in-lists/
1. “The writer will sit, eat, and interview the subject.”
It seems more logical for the writer to interview the subject after being seated but before eating him or her, but whatever. If the intended meaning of the statement is that the writer will dine with the subject rather than cannibalistically consume him or her, however, the sentence should be revised as follows: “The writer will sit and eat with, and interview, the subject.” Better yet, for a smoother flow to the sentence, introduce a pronoun: “The writer will sit and eat with the subject and interview him [or her].”
It seems more logical for the writer to interview the subject after being seated but before eating him or her, but whatever. If the intended meaning of the statement is that the writer will dine with the subject rather than cannibalistically consume him or her, however, the sentence should be revised as follows: “The writer will sit and eat with, and interview, the subject.” Better yet, for a smoother flow to the sentence, introduce a pronoun: “The writer will sit and eat with the subject and interview him [or her].”
What I learned: Parallel Structure refers to the pattern intended as a way to organize a list. The list should fit with the previous verb. example: I need to water - the trees, flowers, and house plants. You could know you are using Parallel Structure right if you can list the items with the verb this way and it still makes sense:
I need to water the trees
I need to water the flowers
I need to water the house plants
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