Use Parallel Structure
Lesson 20 of 20 Thesis Editing Tips
From the Examiner’s Desk
“I frequently examine theses in which years of excellent research are obscured by weak writing.”
Many writing guides focus on grammar.
This lesson focuses on readability.
Its purpose is to help readers understand your ideas more quickly and with less effort.
Congratulations!
If you have followed this series from Lesson 1 to Lesson 20, you have already learned many of the editing techniques that distinguish a polished thesis from one that still needs refinement.
For this final lesson, we will look at one of the most overlooked principles of effective academic writing:
Parallel structure.
Although it sounds technical, the idea is simple.
When ideas belong together, they should be expressed using the same grammatical pattern.
Parallel writing creates rhythm, improves readability and helps readers understand your ideas more quickly.
What Is Parallel Structure?
Parallel structure means presenting similar ideas in the same grammatical form.
When words, phrases or clauses are joined by and, or, or but, they should follow the same pattern.
For example:
❌ The study aimed to identify biomarkers, analysing metabolic pathways, and the evaluation of treatment responses.
The sentence mixes three different grammatical forms:
• identify (verb)
• analysing (participle)
• evaluation (noun)
The inconsistency interrupts the flow of reading.
Correct Parallel Structure
Choose one grammatical pattern and use it consistently.
Option 1 – Verbs
✅ The study aimed to identify biomarkers, analyse metabolic pathways and evaluate treatment responses.
Option 2 – Nouns
✅ The study focused on the identification of biomarkers, the analysis of metabolic pathways and the evaluation of treatment responses.
Both versions are correct.
The important point is consistency.
Why Parallel Structure Matters
Readers naturally expect similar ideas to appear in similar forms.
When grammatical structures change unexpectedly, the sentence becomes more difficult to process.
Parallel structure improves:
• Clarity.
• Readability.
• Flow.
• Professional presentation.
It is one of the simplest ways to make complex writing easier to understand.
Examples from Academic Writing
Example 1
❌ The researcher collected samples, analysing the results, and prepared the report.
✅ The researcher collected samples, analysed the results and prepared the report.
All three actions now follow the same grammatical pattern.
Example 2
❌ The objectives were to measure enzyme activity, the identification of inhibitors, and evaluating toxicity.
✅ The objectives were to measure enzyme activity, identify inhibitors and evaluate toxicity.
The revised sentence is smoother and easier to read.
Example 3
❌ The committee considered scientific quality, whether the study was ethical, and funding requirements.
✅ The committee considered scientific quality, ethical acceptability and funding requirements.
Or:
✅ The committee considered whether the study was scientifically sound, ethically acceptable and financially feasible.
Both revisions maintain parallel structure.
💬 WhatsApp with Dr Anastasia Apostolides (reasonable hours)
Why Examiners Notice This
Parallel structure is one of those features that readers often do not notice consciously.
Instead, they simply experience the writing as easier to read.
Broken parallelism has the opposite effect.
Sentences become awkward without readers always knowing why.
Strong parallel structure creates smooth, professional writing that allows your ideas to shine.
Practical Editing Strategies
When proofreading your thesis:
• Look for lists joined by and, or, or but.
• Check whether every item follows the same grammatical pattern.
• If one item is a verb, make the others verbs.
• If one item is a noun, make the others nouns.
• Read the sentence aloud to hear whether the rhythm sounds balanced.
Small revisions often produce surprisingly large improvements in readability.
Quick Editing Checklist
Before submitting your thesis, ask yourself:
✓ Do all items in my lists follow the same grammatical structure?
✓ Have I avoided mixing verbs, nouns and participles?
✓ Does the sentence read smoothly when spoken aloud?
✓ Have I revised awkward lists?
✓ Is the structure consistent from beginning to end?
Key Takeaway
Parallel structure is one of the simplest ways to make academic writing easier to read.
When similar ideas are expressed in the same grammatical form, readers can follow your reasoning more quickly and with less effort.
Small changes in sentence structure often create a surprisingly large improvement in clarity and flow.
Congratulations on Completing the Course
You have now completed all 20 Thesis Editing Tips.
Together, these lessons cover many of the writing issues I most frequently encounter as a PhD examiner and thesis editor.
By applying these techniques consistently, you will write with greater clarity, improve the readability of your thesis and present your research more professionally.
Excellent research deserves excellent writing.
I hope these lessons help you submit your thesis with confidence—and achieve the success your research deserves.
Need Professional Thesis Editing?
If you would like an experienced PhD examiner to review your thesis before submission, I’d be happy to help.
Whether you need a complete thesis edit, advice on improving clarity or feedback on a proposal, feel free to get in touch.
Dr Anastasia Apostolides
PhD Examiner • Thesis Editor • Proposal & Academic Consultant
Helping Master’s, MBA, DBA and PhD students write with clarity and confidence.
💬 WhatsApp with Dr Anastasia Apostolides (reasonable hours)
📧 Email: info@uedit.org
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Where to Go Next
Congratulations on completing the 20 Thesis Editing Tips series.
If you found these lessons helpful, you may also find these free resources useful:
• Thesis Proposal Guide (Coming Soon)
• Literature Review Guide (Coming Soon)
• Thesis Writing Checklists (Coming Soon)
• AI Tools for Researchers (Coming Soon)
Thank you for reading this series, and I wish you every success with your research journey.