Mekita Rivas, SNR communications associate, publishes a biweekly feature called "Grammar Guru."
Every other week, the Grammar Guru will share writing tips to help make your work as polished as possible. Some of these tips may address common spelling errors, while others will examine the many nuances of the English language.
Grammar Guru Tip #11
For your writing to look and sound tidy, it's essential to follow the Principle of Parallel Construction, which requires that expressions of similar content and function be outwardly similar. The likeness of form enables the reader to recognize more readily the likeness of content and function.
Example:
NOT: He liked to watch movies and playing the saxophone.
BUT: He liked to watch movies and play the saxophone. OR He liked watching movies and playing the saxophone.
NOT: A time not for words, but action.
BUT: A time not for words, but for action.
NOT: It was both a short meeting and very productive.
BUT: The meeting was both short and productive.
Sometimes a sentence that is not technically incorrect can still be improved by making coordinate elements more precisely parallel.
SLOPPY: I copied the notes accurately and with diligence.
CLEAN: I copied the notes accurately and diligently. OR I copied the notes with accuracy and diligence.
Need some grammar guidance? The UNL Style Guide (http://unlcms.unl.edu/ucomm/styleguide/) is a great resource for all university employees. If you have writing questions that the style guide doesn't answer, feel free to email the Grammar Guru at mrivas@unl.edu.