100 Examples of Parallel Structure

No.	Item	Definition
1.	Act now, not later.	Balanced contrast in timing.
2.	All for one, one for all.	Balanced reciprocal phrase.
3.	All or nothing.	Paired totality contrast.
4.	As you sow, so shall you reap.	Balanced cause and result.
5.	Ask not what, ask how.	Parallel imperative contrast.
6.	Bigger and better.	Improved in size and quality.
7.	Black and white.	Paired adjective contrast.
8.	Bold in speech, bold in action.	Repeated adjective structure.
9.	Both young and old.	Paired adjective set.
10.	Buy low, sell high.	Balanced verb-adverb pattern.
11.	By chance or by choice.	Parallel prepositional options.
12.	Calm in mind, calm in heart.	Repeated phrase pattern.
13.	Clean the room and wash dishes.	Parallel verb phrases.
14.	Come one, come all.	Everyone is invited.
15.	Cut and come again.	Renewable or repeatedly available.
16.	Dead or alive.	Either living or deceased.
17.	Do or die.	Paired verb contrast.
18.	Down and out.	Poor and without prospects.
19.	Easy come, easy go.	Balanced adjective-verb pattern.
20.	Easy to begin, hard to finish.	Balanced infinitive phrases.
21.	Face to face.	Repeated noun phrase.
22.	Fair is fair.	Justice should be equal.
23.	First come, first served.	Repeated adjective-participle pattern.
24.	For better or for worse.	Parallel prepositional pair.
25.	From start to finish.	Matched boundary nouns.
26.	Garbage in, garbage out.	Matched cause-and-result phrasing.
27.	Give and take.	Mutual compromise and exchange.
28.	Give more, expect less.	Balanced imperative clauses.
29.	He bought bread, milk, and eggs.	Three parallel nouns.
30.	He came to help, not to judge.	Balanced infinitive contrast.
31.	He came, he saw, he conquered.	Three matching independent clauses.
32.	He can either stay or leave.	Balanced either-or verbs.
33.	He is as brave as he is kind.	Balanced comparative structure.
34.	He is either joking or serious.	Balanced either-or adjectives.
35.	He likes coffee, tea, and juice.	Three parallel nouns.
36.	He searched high and low.	Balanced paired adverbs.
37.	He sought truth, not comfort.	Balanced noun contrast.
38.	He was tired but determined.	Balanced paired adjectives.
39.	He worked day and night.	Balanced paired nouns.
40.	Honest in word and deed.	Parallel noun pair.
41.	If not now, when?	Urgent call to act.
42.	In for a penny, in for a pound.	Fully committed once begun.
43.	In sickness and in health.	Repeated prepositional phrase.
44.	In word and in deed.	Repeated prepositional structure.
45.	It is what it is.	Accept the reality.
46.	Kind in speech, kind in spirit.	Repeated adjective pattern.
47.	Learn to wait and wait to learn.	Mirrored parallel structure.
48.	Less is more.	Simplicity can be stronger.
49.	Like father, like son.	Repeated comparative structure.
50.	Little by little.	Repeated phrase pattern.
51.	Live and let live.	Balanced imperative structure.
52.	Make love, not war.	Choose peace over conflict.
53.	Monkey see, monkey do.	Repeated noun-verb pattern.
54.	More haste, less speed.	Balanced comparative contrast.
55.	Neither here nor there.	Paired location contrast.
56.	Neither rain nor snow.	Parallel negative pair.
57.	No guts, no glory.	Repeated noun pattern.
58.	No ifs, ands, or buts.	Matched plural conjunction nouns.
59.	No pain, no gain.	Repeated noun pattern.
60.	Not by force but by reason.	Balanced prepositional contrast.
61.	Not this but that.	Balanced contrast frame.
62.	Now or never.	Paired time choices.
63.	Old enough to know better.	Mature enough to act wisely.
64.	On time and on budget.	Repeated prepositional phrase.
65.	Once and for all.	Fixed parallel phrase.
66.	Once bitten, twice shy.	Caution after bad experience.
67.	One step at a time.	Proceed gradually and steadily.
68.	Out of sight, out of mind.	Repeated prepositional pattern.
69.	Practice what you preach.	Act according to your words.
70.	Ready, willing, and able.	Prepared and capable.
71.	Reduce, reuse, recycle.	Three matched verbs.
72.	Rich or poor.	Paired adjective contrast.
73.	She can be firm and fair.	Balanced paired adjectives.
74.	She can sing, dance, and act.	Three parallel base verbs.
75.	She looked tired but hopeful.	Balanced paired adjectives.
76.	Sink or swim.	Two matched verb choices.
77.	Sooner or later.	Paired comparative adverbs.
78.	Step by step.	Repeated noun phrase.
79.	The less said, the better.	Parallel comparative clause.
80.	The more, the merrier.	Matched comparative phrase.
81.	The sooner, the better.	Matched comparative phrase.
82.	To dream is to dare.	Balanced infinitive clauses.
83.	To give is to receive.	Balanced infinitive clauses.
84.	To know her is to admire her.	Balanced infinitive clauses.
85.	To lead is to serve.	Balanced infinitive clauses.
86.	To listen is to learn.	Balanced infinitive clauses.
87.	To live fully is to love deeply.	Balanced infinitive clauses.
88.	To teach is to touch lives.	Balanced infinitive clauses.
89.	Under promise and over deliver.	Parallel verb contrast.
90.	Up to you, up to me.	Repeated phrase pattern.
91.	Walk softly and carry wisely.	Parallel imperative verbs.
92.	Waste not, want not.	Repeated negative imperative.
93.	We can study now or rest later.	Balanced verb phrases.
94.	What you see is what you get.	Repeated clause frame.
95.	Whether by luck or skill.	Parallel prepositional choices.
96.	Work with care and with pride.	Repeated prepositional phrase.
97.	Yes in public, no in private.	Balanced contrast in setting.
98.	You can win by skill or luck.	Parallel prepositional options.
99.	You win some, you lose some.	Success and failure both happen.
100.	Your words and your actions.	Repeated possessive structure.