Parallel Structure

Words/Phrases: Stay with the same form of words/phrases so that you have a “matching set”

Mary likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling.

Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle.

OR

Mary likes to hike, swim, and ride a bicycle.

Clauses: Maintain the  pattern and verb form in all items

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Not Parallel (Do NOT do this!):  The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and to do some warm-up exercises before the game.

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Parallel (DO this):  The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and that they should do some warm-up exercises before the game.

— or —

Parallel: The coach told the players they should get a lot of sleep, not eat too much, and do some warm-up exercises before the gam​