## Parallel Structure in Academic English
Parallelism requires that elements joined by coordinating conjunctions (*and, or, but*) or correlatives (*not only... but also, either... or, both... and*) share the same grammatical form.
### Parallelism Formulas:
- **Nouns with Nouns**: *The program fosters **curiosity**, **discipline**, and **resilience**.*
- **Gerunds with Gerunds**: *The job involves **analyzing** data, **preparing** reports, and **presenting** findings.*
- **Infinitives with Infinitives**: *The goals are **to reduce** waste and **to optimize** resources.*
5 Common IELTS Mistakes & Side-by-Side Corrections:
Common Candidate Mistake:
"The workshop teaches students coding, designing, and how to analyze data."
Band 8+ Correct Form:
"The workshop teaches students coding, designing, and data analysis."
Why: Parallel series must match noun forms or gerunds ('coding, designing, and analyzing data').
Common Candidate Mistake:
"University education helps young people think critically, communicate clearly, and development of character."
Band 8+ Correct Form:
"University education helps young people think critically, communicate clearly, and develop character."
Why: Matches the three base verbs ('think... communicate... and develop').
Common Candidate Mistake:
"The policy is not only expensive but also creates administrative burden."
Band 8+ Correct Form:
"The policy is not only financially burdensome but also administratively complex."