Quick Tip: Use Parallel Sentence Structure
Listen to well-written speech, and you will almost always hear parallel sentence structure.
Even if it’s sentence fragments.
It works because the human mind is always looking for the shape of the narrative. When you string three examples together in parallel structure, you create a platform on which you can build an image.
It helps you reinforce a point.
It helps you build to a peak in the speech.
And it helps you get anchor your key messages in your audience’s memory.
Tags: technique, business, communication, speakers, structure, syntax, speeches
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POSTED IN: Communication Skills, Quick Tips, Speechwriting, Writing
4 opinions for Quick Tip: Use Parallel Sentence Structure
Brian Clark
Oct 11, 2007 at 10:09 am
Yep. This is especially important when trying to communicate core ideas with bullet points in an article or press release. The human mind reacts favorably to parallelism (whether written or spoken), and that makes your points more persuasive.
ed adkins
Oct 11, 2007 at 3:56 pm
exactly! I find that especially when I really want to make a point I end up using sentence fragments to that end- parallel structure. I guess I had just never known there was a term for it. I just saw it as writing the way I think, and it actually improves readability.
David Bellerive
Oct 11, 2007 at 8:35 pm
And, for whatever mysterious reason, I have heard and from experience I believe that three is the magical number. It’s true in comedy. It’s true in drama. It must be true in speech writing.
Kristen King
Oct 17, 2007 at 3:20 pm
This is so easy to do, but it’s constantly overlooked. Thanks for the reminder!
kk
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