Scoring a 1400+ on the SAT Writing & Language section requires mastering tricky grammar rules - especially parallelism and faulty comparisons. These errors often sound correct, making them hard to spot.

Key Takeaways:

Parallelism: Ensure sentence elements like lists or phrases follow the same grammatical pattern.
Example: "She likes swimming, running, and biking" (Correct).
Faulty Comparisons: Compare similar items (e.g., people to people, actions to actions) and ensure clarity.
Example: "Ann's books sold more than those of Sarah" (Correct).

Quick Fix Strategies:

Look for signal words (and, or, than, as).
Match grammatical forms (e.g., gerunds with gerunds).
Double-check comparisons for logical consistency.

Master these rules to avoid common traps and boost your SAT score!

Fixing Parallelism Errors on the SAT

Understanding Parallelism Rules

Parallel structure is key to writing that’s both clear and polished. Grammar experts explain it as "using the same pattern of words for two or more words or ideas in a sentence". This consistency ensures your ideas flow smoothly and your writing feels professional. Essentially, parallel structure means matching grammatical forms in related parts of a sentence.

Common Parallelism Mistakes

On the SAT, parallelism errors often pop up in three specific areas:

1. Lists
When listing actions, qualities, or items, each element needs to follow the same grammatical format. For instance:

"The performing arts school will teach students singing, acting, and how to dance." (Incorrect)
"The performing arts school will teach students singing, acting, and dancing." (Correct)

2. Coordinating Conjunctions
Conjunctions like "and", "or", and "but" should connect elements with the same structure:

"I plan on buying a house and to purchase a new car." (Incorrect)
"I plan on buying a house and purchasing a new car." (Correct)

3. Correlative Conjunctions
Pairs such as "neither/nor" and "both/and" demand consistency:

"Harold was neither attending his classes nor completed his homework." (Incorrect)
"Harold was neither attending his classes nor completing his homework." (Correct)

Step-by-Step Parallelism Correction

Once you’ve spotted a potential error, follow these steps to fix it:

Spot Signal Words

Look for conjunctions like "and", "or", and "but", or comparison words such as "than" and "as." These often indicate where parallel structure is required.
Examine the Structure

Break down the elements connected by these words. Are you mixing forms like infinitives ("to run") with gerunds ("swimming")? Or nouns with verbs? Identifying mismatched forms is crucial.
Choose One Form

Ensure all elements share the same grammatical style. For example:

Incorrect	Correct
to swim, running, and rides bikes	to swim, to run, and to ride bikes
swimming, runs, and bike riding	swimming, running, and biking

Verify Verb Tenses
Double-check that all verbs are in the same tense for consistency.

As one expert suggests: "When listing items in a series, try writing them in a list format to make sure that each item is written using the same pattern". This simple trick can help you master parallelism and ace those SAT questions.

#20 - Parallelism, New SAT Writing

Correcting Faulty Comparisons

When preparing for the SAT, understanding how to correct faulty comparisons is just as important as mastering parallel structure. Like parallelism, clear comparisons require careful attention to detail.

Types of Incorrect Comparisons

Faulty comparisons happen when sentences compare things that aren't logically comparable. These errors generally fall into two main categories:

People vs. Things Comparisons
These errors arise when a person is improperly compared to an object or concept.

Incomplete Comparisons
These occur when key elements are left out, making the comparison unclear. Look out for comparison words like "than", "as", "like", and "unlike".

SAT Comparison Error Examples

Error Type	Incorrect Example	Correct Version
Missing Possessive	"Ann Patchett's books sold more copies than Elizabeth Gilbert"	"Ann Patchett's books sold more copies than those of Elizabeth Gilbert"
Incomplete Reference	"Massachusetts students scored better than New Jersey"	"Massachusetts students scored better than those from New Jersey"
Missing Object	"Anya's cooking is just as good as Nia"	"Anya's cooking is just as good as Nia's"
Self-Reference	"A cheetah is faster than any land mammal"	"A cheetah is faster than any other land mammal"

These examples highlight common mistakes and how to address them effectively.

How to Fix Comparison Errors

Spot comparison keywords such as "than", "as", "like", and "unlike".
Ensure proper comparisons:
- Compare people to people
- Compare objects to objects
- Compare actions to actions
Use demonstrative pronouns:
- "That" for singular nouns
- "Those" for plural nouns

"The grammar police will arrive, warrant in hand, if your comparisons aren't parallel." - Geraldine Woods

Complete the comparison:
- Unclear: "There are more fleas on dogs than cats"
- Clear: "There are more fleas on dogs than on cats"

Whenever you encounter a comparison in an SAT question, double-check that the elements being compared are of the same type. This quick review can help you avoid one of the trickiest errors that even top-performing test-takers sometimes miss. Use these strategies to refine your skills in upcoming practice exercises.

Practice Exercises: Parallelism and Comparisons

Grammar Error Warning Signs

When tackling SAT grammar questions, it’s important to keep an eye out for specific warning signs that often indicate errors. Here are some of the most common ones to watch for:

Parallelism Red Flags:

Verbs in mismatched tenses
Lists joined by coordinating conjunctions (like and, but, or)
Correlative conjunctions (not only...but also, either...or)
Repeated prepositions or articles
Inconsistent verb endings (e.g., mixing -ing and -ed forms)

Comparison Alert Words:

Than
Like/Unlike
As/Just as
More/Less
Better/Worse
Full names of authors or artists
Underlined nouns in comparative phrases

"Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance." - Purdue OWL

Use these indicators as a checklist while working through the exercises.

10 Practice Questions

Below are sample sentences with errors in parallelism or comparisons. Review each and choose the best correction.

Question Type	Incorrect Sentence	Correct Answer	Explanation
Parallelism	The CEO enjoys reading business journals, to write emails, and managing his team.	The CEO enjoys reading business journals, writing emails, and managing his team.	All verbs should follow the same -ing form.
Comparison	The cost of apartments in Manhattan is higher than Brooklyn.	The cost of apartments in Manhattan is higher than that in Brooklyn.	Use "that" to clarify you're comparing costs, not locations.
Parallelism	She not only excels in mathematics but also is good at science.	She not only excels in mathematics but also excels in science.	Verb forms must match after correlative conjunctions.
Comparison	The paintings of Vincent van Gogh are more valuable than Picasso.	The paintings of Vincent van Gogh are more valuable than those of Picasso.	Ensure you're comparing paintings to paintings, not artists.
Parallelism	The student was hardworking, dedicated, and shows enthusiasm.	The student was hardworking, dedicated, and enthusiastic.	Maintain consistent adjective forms for clarity.

Practice Tips:

Draw boxes or underline elements in a sentence to check for parallel structure.
Read sentences out loud to spot awkward or inconsistent phrasing.
Double-check verb tenses to ensure all list items use the same form.
When comparing, confirm that both sides of the comparison are logical and grammatically complete.

Comparison issues can be tricky to catch. Always identify what’s being compared and ensure the structures align on both sides of connecting words.

Conclusion: Using Grammar Skills on Test Day

Main Points Summary

To improve your SAT score, honing your grammar skills is essential. Here are some key strategies to focus on:

Strategies:

Begin by analyzing verbs and pronouns.
Break down complex sentences into smaller, manageable parts.
Pay attention to markers like "each", "every", and "either" to spot potential issues.

Error Type	Warning Signs	Verification Method
Parallelism	Coordinating conjunctions, repeated prepositions	Ensure verb forms and structures match.
Comparisons	Words like "than", "like", "as"	Confirm both sides compare similar elements.

Practicing these strategies consistently can lead to noticeable improvement. Incorporate them into your study routine to reinforce your understanding and accuracy.

Practice with ChatSAT

ChatSAT takes these strategies to the next level with its adaptive practice system, designed to help you sharpen your grammar skills effectively. Here’s how it works:

Personalized practice sets targeting areas like parallelism and comparison structures.
Real-time feedback to identify and correct recurring error patterns.
Focused review sessions tailored to challenging concepts.

The platform’s AI Study Director evaluates your performance and adjusts the difficulty of questions, ensuring you stay challenged while building confidence in spotting and fixing common grammar mistakes.

With ChatSAT’s targeted practice tests, you can:

Monitor your progress on parallelism and comparison questions.
Access detailed explanations for questions you miss.
Concentrate your efforts on areas where you have the most room to improve.

The Digital SAT typically includes 12–15 questions that assess grammar rules. By using ChatSAT’s adaptive tools regularly, you’ll develop the skills to quickly recognize and correct errors, giving you an edge on test day.

FAQs

How can I spot and fix parallelism errors in SAT Writing questions?

To tackle parallelism errors in SAT Writing questions, focus closely on lists or phrases connected by conjunctions like and, or, or but. Every item in a list needs to match in grammatical structure. For instance, it's correct to say "running, swimming, and biking", but incorrect to say "running, swimming, and to bike."

Take the time to read the full sentence carefully to grasp its structure and intent. This will help you spot subtle inconsistencies in form. Pay attention to patterns in verbs, nouns, or phrases, ensuring they stay consistent. With enough practice, identifying and fixing these errors will feel natural, giving your test performance a solid boost.

How can I make sure my comparisons are clear and grammatically correct on the SAT Writing & Language section?

To ensure your comparisons are clear and grammatically correct on the SAT Writing & Language section, focus on two key elements: logical consistency and parallel structure. Always compare similar things - people to people, objects to objects - and make sure your sentence structure stays consistent.

Be cautious of faulty comparisons, where the items being compared don’t match or are unclear. For instance, instead of saying, "Her work is better than any writer", a better version would be: "Her work is better than that of any other writer." This adjustment makes the comparison clear and accurate.

Spend time practicing with sample questions to spot these issues and rewrite sentences for clarity and proper structure. Paying attention to these details will help boost both your accuracy and confidence on this section of the test.

Why is it important to use consistent grammar in lists and comparisons, and how can this affect my SAT score?

Using consistent grammar in lists and comparisons - what’s called parallel structure - is key to making your writing clear and easy to follow. It helps ensure your ideas flow logically. For instance, the sentence "She enjoys reading, writing, and swimming" is smooth and balanced. On the other hand, "She enjoys reading, writing, and to swim" feels awkward and less clear because it breaks that balance.

On the SAT, parallel structure often shows up in the Writing and Language section. Mistakes in this area can lead to wrong answers and potentially lower your score. Understanding and applying this rule can help you sidestep common errors and boost your performance - giving you a stronger chance at reaching your target score.

Parallelism & Faulty Comparison – Grammar Snags That Trip 1400 + SAT Students