Parallelism is a grammatical technique that involves using similar words, clauses, phrases, sentence structure, or other grammatical elements to emphasize similar ideas in a sentence. It is defined as two or more phrases or clauses in a sentence that have the same grammatical structure. Parallelism provides phrases with grammatical symmetry, which creates a rhythm and repetition that can make phrases more catchy, memorable, or compelling.

Parallelism can be used in different ways, such as in subject matter, rhetoric, and writing. In subject matter, everything discussed in a sentence should have at least some amount of clarity and relatedness. In rhetoric, parallelism involves one or more sentences with similar structures to produce a pattern of repetition and balance. In writing, parallelism is the repetition of grammatical elements in a piece of writing to create a harmonious effect.

Parallelism is important in good writing and effective public speaking because it impacts both the grammar of sentences as well as the larger presentation of ideas. It creates symmetry that the human eye and ear both crave, which makes phrases more catchy, memorable, or compelling.

Examples of parallelism include repeating the same words and phrases within the same sentence, emphasizing a specific point or idea, and using parallel structure for items in a series. Parallel structure means that phrases that have similar weight should also have the same grammatical structure.

To test parallelism, one can rewrite the sentence for each element that should be parallel. For example, if a sentence has parallel construction, it makes the writing effective, classy, and certain to impress anyone who reads the work.

In summary, parallelism is a grammatical technique that involves using similar words, clauses, phrases, sentence structure, or other grammatical elements to emphasize similar ideas in a sentence. It is important in good writing and effective public speaking because it creates symmetry that makes phrases more catchy, memorable, or compelling.