What term refers to phrases or sentences of similar construction used to balance meaning and aid cohesion?

• A. Parallelism
• B. Anaphora
• C. Alliteration
• D. Antithesis

Answer: (A)

Parallelism is repeating similar grammatical forms in successive parts of a sentence or in successive sentences to create balance and aid cohesion. When parts share the same structure, the ideas flow smoothly and feel organized, helping readers see the relationships between them. For example, “She enjoys reading, writing, and hiking” uses the same verb form for each item, giving the sentence a balanced rhythm. Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the start of successive clauses, which can accompany parallelism but is a more specific technique. Alliteration focuses on repeating initial consonant sounds for sound effects rather than structural balance. Antithesis pairs contrasting ideas in a parallel framework to highlight opposition. So the term describing phrases or sentences of similar construction used to balance meaning and aid cohesion is parallelism.