Parallelism in headings

SHARE THIS PAGE Parallelism is a tool that writers use to create balance in their writing. This balance helps readers understand what they are reading because they know what to expect and can clearly see the connections between ideas. Parallelism can be used effectively in parts of sentences, items in a rsum, bulleted lists and headings in a report. In this article, we will look at how to use this tool in headings.

What is parallelism?
A sentence is parallel when the items listed in a series share the same grammatical structure: Melissa hoped to graduate from college, find a job and buy a car. [These are all infinitive phrases sharing to.] For more information on basic parallelism, read Parallelism with items in a series.

How do I make headings parallel?

Headings are used to give a title or subtitle to a section of a document. They provide structure for a document and help readers find information more easily. Related headings should have a similar structure. A writer who forgets this rule might create a confusing set of headings like this:

Analyzing the information Plan the document How do I write the document? Editing Evaluation of the process

You can make headings like these parallel by making sure you use the same structure each time. For example, you might start all the headings with a verb or an -ing word, or make each heading a question:

Using verbs

Analyze Plan Write Edit Evaluate

Using -ing words

Analyzing the information Planning the document Writing the document Editing my writing Evaluating the process

Using a question format

How How How How How

do do do do do

I I I I I

analyze the information? plan the document? write the document? edit my writing? evaluate the process?

Do all my headings have to be parallel?

A document may contain many headings and subheadings that are often described in terms of levels. For example, the major headings in a document are called level one headings, while the subheadings under a major heading are called level two headings, and so on. For your headings to be parallel, you must use the same structure within a given level. For example, if you choose to start level one headings with a noun, then all level one headings must start with a noun. However, the structure can vary between levels. In other words, level two headings do not need to have the same structure as level one headings.

Parallelism has been used effectively in the set of headings and subheadings below. The level one headings are all verbs, while the level two headings are all questions: Analyze

What is the purpose of the document? Who is the target audience? What information is available?

Plan

What type of document should I write? How do I write an outline?

Write

How do I make the document easy to read? How do I make the document easy to understand? How do I make the document easy to use?

As this list shows, as long as you make headings within each level parallel in structure, your readers will be able to find information more easily. Cohesive headings are headings that are properly coordinated and subordinated, parallel in structure, and informative and relevant to the publication. Cohesive and well-written headings can guide our readers through the concepts of a publication, and can even set the context of the content. Headings are also used in the table of contents, which is frequently one of the factors readers consider before choosing to read a publication. For our headings to be cohesive, they need to be properly coordinated and subordinated, parallel, and informative.

Coordinated/Subordinated headings
Coordinating and subordinating headings is establishing a hierarchy of headings that is readily apparent and logical to our readers. Prior to starting our writing, we have organized the information we want to convey. Some of this information is a subset of other information and our headings need to reflect this.

Parallel headings
Parallel headings are headings of the same subordinated level that are worded or phrased in a similar manner. This similarity reinforces that they are of equal value. It is important that the major headings of our publication are parallel, and that the subheadings within a section are parallel. It is not necessary to have all the subheadings parallel in all sections, just as it is not necessary to use the same organization strategy for all subsections. Refer to the discussion of Parallel List Items on page 50 for details on establishing parallelism.

Informative headings
Choosing headings for sections is often a difficult task and one that we devote little time to; however, well crafted headings can reinforce our content and encourage readers to keep reading. There are three types of headings we can use: topic headings, descriptive headings, or informative headings. Of these, the informative headings provide the most information to our readers.
Topic headings Topic headings are probably the most common type of heading and are often the easiest to prepare. However, they reveal the least amount of information to our readers, and often become something readers skip over as they read our publication. Topic headings are generic labels applied to the section they describe. Here is an example of topic headings in a publication.

I. Introduction A. Authorization B. Purpose C. Sources D. Preview II. Community Attitudes A. Plant location B. Labor policy An example of topic type headings in a publication

Descriptive headings Descriptive headings begin to reveal something about the content of the sections. Here is an example of descriptive headings in a publication: I. Introduction of the Problem A. Authorization by Board B. Purpose of Building Mill C. Sources of Information & Stats D. Preview of Final Report II. Community Attitudes Toward Mill A. Favorable Reaction of Cities Toward Mill B. Mixed Attitude Toward Labor Policy An example of descriptive type headings in a publication Informative headings Informative headings often reveal the conclusions of the sections they describe. Readers can quickly skim informative headings and gain an understanding of the publication, just from our headings. Informative headings look like sentences since they usually include a noun and a verb. Here is an example of informative headings in a publication. I. Woolen Mill Moves to San Marcos A. Board Authorizes Move B. Location Reduces Cost and Convenience Problems C. Government Data Supports San Marcos Choice D. Plan for Move Solves Problem II. Communities Have Mixed Reaction to Woolen Mills A. All Cities Favor New Mill B. Attitudes Toward Labor Policy Mixed

Parallelism in headings Parallelism is use to create balance in writing something. This balance helps readers understand what they are reading because they know what to expect and can clearly see the connections between ideas. A sentence is parallel when the items listed in a series share the

same grammatical structure Parallelism can be used effectively in parts of sentences, items in a rsum, bulleted lists and headings in a report. How do I make headings parallel? Headings are used to give a title or subtitle to a section of a document. They provide structure for a document and help readers find information more easily. Related headings should have a similar structure. If we do not follow the same,it can create a confusing set of headings like this: * Analyzing the information * Plan the document * How do I write the document? * Editing * Evaluation of the process We can make all headings parallel by starting all the headings with a verb or an -ing word, or make each heading a question: For example:Using verbs * Analyze * Plan * Write * Edit * Evaluate Using -ing words * Analyzing the information * Planning the document * Writing the document * Editing my writing * Evaluating the process Using a question format * How do I analyze the information? * How do I plan the document? * How do I write the document? * How do I edit my writing? * How do I evaluate the process? Do all my headings have to be parallel?

A document may contain many headings and subheadings. For example, the major headings, then the subheadings under a major heading, and so on. For headings to be parallel, we must use the same structure within a given heading. For example, if we choose to start major headings with a noun, then all major headings must start with a noun. However, the structure can vary between sub headings. In other words, sub- headings do not need to have the same...