相似的思想应用相似的形式表达出来。句子的成份相近，则也应以相似的形式出现。请注意以下标有"NO"的句子是不规范的。
No:Theschoolbusskidded,turnedsideways,thencomestoastop.
Yes:Theschoolbusskidded,turnedsideways,andcametoastop.
No:Idon’tknowwhyImarriedsomeonewhoismiserly,sloppyandabore.
Yes:Idon’tknowwhyImarriedsomeonewhoismiserly,sloppyandboring.
No:Inthewreckthecircuslostapandaandelephant.
Yes:Inthewreckthecircuslostapandaandanelephant.
No:IdebatedwhetherIshouldgivethebeggarmoneyortoofferhimfood.
Yes:Idebatedwhethertogivethebeggarmoneyortoofferhimfood.
No:Theywouldlieonthebattlefieldforhoursandsometimesdays.
Yes:Theywouldlieonthebattlefieldforhoursandsometimesfordays.
No:Michael’svacuumcleanersquealedloudly,shookviolently,anddustfilledtheair.
Yes:Michael’svacuumcleanersquealedloudly,shookviolently,andfilledtheairwithdust.
No:Themechanicexplainedtheproblem,method,andthetoolsthathewasgoingtouse.
Yes:Themechanicexplainedtheproblem,method,andtoolsthathewasgoingtouse.
No:Heretiredrespectedbyhisassociates,admiredbyhisfriends,andhisemployeeslovedhim.
Yes:Heretiredrespectedbyhisassociates,admiredbyhisfriends,andlovedbyhisemployees.
No:AsayoungmanhehadbeentoShanghai,fightingintheAnti-JapaneseWar,andfollowingtheNationalistPartytoChongking.
Yes:AsayoungmanhehadbeentoShanghai,hadfoughtintheAnti-JapaneseWarandhadfollowedtheNationalistPartytoChongking.
No:Janeispretty,withbrownhair,andhasagracefulmanner.
Yes:Janeispretty,brown-haired,andgraceful.
No:Heleftthecitybecauseofhislackofsuccessinbusiness,thedepartureofhisfriendsandbecausehishealthdeterioratedrapidly.
Yes:Heleftthecitybecauseofhislackofsuccessinbusiness,thedepartureofhisfriendsandhisrapidlyfailinghealth.
No:Theyboughtthehouseforlocationandaffordability.
Yes:Theyboughtthehousebecauseofitslocationanditsaffordability.
No:WhydidyoumakeXiaoZhangfeeluselessandasifhewasunimportant?
Yes:WhydidyoumakeXiaoZhangfeeluselessandunimportant?
No:Thiscouldbeaproblemforboththewinnersandforthosewholose.
Yes:Thiscouldbeaproblemforboththewinnersandlosers.
No:Theprisonerwasnotonlyfoundguiltyofbriberybutalsoadultery.
Yes:Theprisonerwasfoundguiltynotonlyofbriberybutalsoofadultery.
为使平行结构清楚明了，随时都可以重复介词、冠词、助动词、不定词标志，或者长的短语或句子的介绍词。
Awkward:IadmireTennysonfortheidealsinhispoemsbutnothisstyle.
Improved:IadmireTennysonfortheidealsinhispoemsbutnotforhisstyle.
Awkward:Thesentencesaredifficulttounderstand,notbecausetheyarelongbuttheyareobscure.
Improved:Thesentencesaredifficulttounderstand,notbecausetheyarelongbutbecausetheyareobscure.
Awkward:Heexplainedthattheadvertisingcampaignhadbeensuccessful,businesshadincreasedmorethanfortypercent,andadditionalcapitalwassorelyneeded.
Improved:Heexplainedthattheadvertisingcampaignhadbeensuccessful,thatbusinesshadincreasedmorethanfortypercent,andthatadditionalcapitalwassorelyneeded.
在商业和正式文件写作中，越来越多的用到圆点散句。除了更易读之外，它们更能从视觉上引起人们注意。作者需要决定在圆点之后用什么形式来写，是用名词，动词，形容词，副词，还是介词短语，定语从句甚至完整的句子。应该记住的是它们相互间应该保持一致。平行结构较多用。
Ourrecommendationsforimprovingcomputer-usercomfortareasfollows:
·Anti-radiationscreensshouldbeavailableforcomputermonitors.
·Wristsupportsshouldbeusedtohelpmaintainproperwristpositionduringcomputeruseandpossiblyreducetheriskofcarpaltunnelsyndrome.
·Employeesneedadjustablechairswithastrongerbacksupport.
Whatmakesmedifferentfromotherjobapplicants?
·AbilitytoconverseinEnglish,JapaneseinadditiontomynativeMandarin
·Completionoftwo-monthcustomersatisfactiontraining
·Impeccablemedicalreportcard
·Outgoingpersonalityandeagerdesiretohelp
Awkward:AtYiXinAssociates,wehave15yearsofcombinedlegalexperienceinalltypesofinjurycasesonecanthinkof.Otherareaswehandlearewrongfuldeath,automobileaccidentsandmedicalmalpractice.Ifyouslipandfallinapublicbuilding,wecanrepresentyouinfilingalawsuitagainsttheowner.Also,ourclientscometoseekourhelpinhandicapdiscriminationanddenialofinsuranceclaimcases.
Better:AtYiXinAssociates,wehave15yearsofcombinedlegalexperiencein:
Incorrect:ThedutiesoftheExecutiveSecretaryoftheAdministrativeCommitteeare:
·Totakeminutesofallmeetings(不定式短语)
·TheExecutiveSecretaryanswersallthecorrespondence;and(句子)
·Writingofmonthreports.(话题)
Correct:ThedutiesoftheExecutiveSecretaryoftheAdministrativeCommitteeare:
·Totakeminutesofallmeetings;
·Toanswerallthecorrespondence;and
Letthewordgoforthfromthistimeandplace,tofriendandfoe1alike,thatthetorchhasbeenpassedtoanewgenerationofAmericans,borninthiscentury,temperedbywar,disciplinedbyahardandbitterpeace,proudofourancientheritage,andunwillingtowitnessorpermittheslowundoingofthosehumanrightstowhichthisnationhasalwaysbeencommitted,andtowhichwearecommittedtodayathomeandaroundtheworld.
Soletusbeginanew,rememberingonbothsidesthatcivilityisnotasignofweakness,andthatsincerityisalwayssubjecttoproof.Letusnevernegotiateoutoffear,butletusneverfeartonegotiate.
Nowthetrumpetsummonsusagain-notasacalltobeararms,thougharmsweneed2;notasacalltobattle,thoughembattledweare3;butacalltobeartheburdenofalongtwilightstruggle,ayearinandyearout"rejoicinginhope,patientintribulation,"astruggle4againstthecommonenemiesofman:5tyranny,poverty,disease,andwaritself.
Andso,myfellowAmericans,asknotwhatyourcountrycandoforyou6;askwhatyoucandoforyourcountry.
注意：
(2)例1.头韵;例2&3."Weneedarms"和"Weareembattled"为倒装结构;例4.同位语;例5.见冒号的用法。
在句中使用"and"或"on"时,须连接结构相同的部分。总的原则是：词与词相配,短语和短语相配,从句和从句相配,句子则和句子放在一起。所有这些搭配必须是平行结构，它们应采用相同的形式。
No:MyparentswenttoTibet,toMongolia,andtheyevensawHongKongandMacau.
Yes:MyparentswenttoTibet,toMongolia,andeventoHongKongandMacau.
No:JonathannoticedthewayStephanietalkedandhowshekeptfidgetingwithherfingers.
Yes:JonathannoticedhowStephanietalkedandhowshekeptfidgetingwithherfingers.
一些连词，如both/and,either/or,neither/nor,和notonly/butalso.常用于连接平行结构。
No:Thatconferencewasbothhelpfulandcontainedalotofinformation.
Yes:Thatconferencewasbothhelpfulandinformative.
No:Hereweeitherturnleftorright,butIforgetwhich.
Yes:Hereweturneitherleftorright,butIforgetwhich.
No:FuChong,thepianist,washeavilyinfluencedbothbyhismentorandhisparents.
Yes:FuChong,thepianist,washeavilyinfluencedbybothhismentorandhisparents.
No:Elizabeth’sovercoatisateitherthetheaterorherdormitory.
Yes:Elizabeth’sovercoatiseitheratthetheaterorinherdormitory.
