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Items in a Series

The child danced, skipped and was prancing.

The child danced, skipped and pranced.

Some improvements I could make on my lesson plans are being more creative and to use different techniques.

Some improvements I could make on my lesson plans are to be more creative and to use different techniques.

E-learning could help students improve their individual learning skills, developing skills for their future careers, and studying at any time and place they choose.

E-learning could help students improve their individual learning skills, develop their future career skills, and allow them to study at any time and any place they choose.

To Pair Ideas

The girls were happy, but the boys were not.
Actors are sometimes more fun in the movies than they are in the flesh.

With Coordinating Conjunctions

 When linking ideas with: and, but, or, nor, for, so, or yet

            - Ask someone in your class or who is good at chemistry.

              Ask someone who is in your class or who is good at chemistry.

            - I do not like biting hamsters or cats who scratch.

              I like neither hamsters that bite nor cats that scratch.

With Correlative Conjunctions

After both parts of correlative conjunctions:

I wanted not only to go away to school but also to Boston.
I wanted not only to go away to school but also to live in Boston.

I wanted either to watch a movie or play a game.
I wanted either to watch a movie or to play a game.

Common Parallel Phrases:

• Sink or swim

• Rise and shine

• My way or the highway

• Red, white and Blue

Things that should be parallel:

• Items in a list

• Formal outlines

• Headings

• Pairs of ideas