Maintaining a parallel structure is important for lists in technical writing. Lists with inconsistent structures, such as some items being full sentences and others being phrases, or some in active voice and others passive voice, weaken the list and confuse readers. An example shows a poorly structured list that does not maintain parallel structure across items, while a revised version ensures all items are short, active voice sentences with a consistent format. Parallel structure is equally important for "run on" lists where items are part of a continuous sentence.

1. Lists of bullet points: maintaining a parallel structure

2. Lists of bullet points are often used in technical writing. Such lists are useful in that they convey information concisely and are easy to find in a document because they are prominent. In lists of bullet points, the most common error occurs when the items do not share a common structure, for example, when some items are written as whole sentences while other items are written as incomplete phrases. Even when all items are whole sentences, mixed structures are seen when some items are written in the active voice and some in the passive voice. Such a mix weakens the list and confuses readers.

5. As you can see, all the items in the second list are similar: all are short sentences in the active voice, all begin with a verb, and all are simple instructions. In other words, all the items share a parallel structure . Using a parallel structure is equally important in "run on" lists, that is, lists in the form of a continuous sentence in which the items are not separated with bullets or numbers, for example, "Public buses are better than private cars because buses are bigger, cheaper, and safer."

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