Parallel structure
April 15, 2026 · View on GitHub
Guidance
Use the same grammatical form for items in a list, a series, or a set of headings. Parallel structure makes content easier to scan and understand.
Examples
Do:
Before you begin, make sure you have:
- A valid license
- A configured pool
- Network access to the management interface
The system can:
- Forward traffic to pool members
- Monitor pool member health
- Log all requests
Don't:
Before you begin, make sure you have:
- A valid license
- Configured a pool
- Network access to the management interface is required
The system can:
- Forward traffic to pool members
- Pool member health is monitored
- Logging all requests
Notes
Parallel structure applies to:
- Bulleted and numbered lists — all items should start with the same part of speech
- Headings in a series — all should follow the same pattern (all imperative verbs, or all noun phrases)
- Table columns — all cells in a column should follow the same grammatical pattern
For lists, lead with the same part of speech for every item:
- All nouns: "A valid license," "A configured pool"
- All imperative verbs: "Configure the pool," "Set up the monitor"
- All present-tense verbs: "Forwards traffic," "Monitors health"