Concept 4

Maintain parallel structure to improve clarity and readability.

Match the grammatical form of items in a list or comparison.

Core Idea

Items that do the same job in a sentence should appear in the same grammatical form.

Understanding

Rule: Parallel structure helps readers process a sentence quickly. In lists, comparisons, and paired constructions, ACT prefers matching forms: noun with noun, infinitive with infinitive, clause with clause.

A break in pattern often makes the sentence sound clumsy even if each piece is understandable by itself.

Step by Step

  1. Locate the paired or listed items.
  2. Check the grammatical form of the first item.
  3. Choose the option that keeps the remaining items in the same form.

Misconceptions

  • Items in a list do not have to match if each one is understandable alone.
  • Parallel structure is not about sounding fancy; it is about matching form.
Question

Worked Example

The internship taught Ava how to research sources, to edit audio, and managing deadlines. Which choice best replaces the underlined text to maintain parallel structure?

Select an answer to see the explanation