Using Headings Effectively: Parallel Structure
Headings at the same level should have parallel structure. This means that they must follow the same grammatical pattern. Writing in parallel structure creates an expectation for the reader that your headings will follow a consistent format and style.
Examples
The examples below demonstrate how parallel structure helps reveal the structure of a report. As you scroll down through each column in the following table, notice that there are different ways of writing headings in parallel. You can also see that when headings are not parallel, they can detract from the quality of the report.
Parallel (correct) |
Parallel (correct) |
Not parallel (incorrect) |
Implementing a Better Framework Set up the purchase Reform budgets Make a marketplace Establish licenses Reform the providers Handling the Transition Analyze the current system Develop the new institutional structure Cost and project financial flows Develop facilities and management planning Develop a project plan |
How to Implement a Better Framework Set up the purchase Reform budgets Make a marketplace Establish licenses Reform the providers How to Handle the Transition Analyze the current system Develop the new institutional structure Cost and project financial flows Develop facilities and management planning Develop a project plan |
Implementing a Better Framework Setting up the purchase Budget reforms Make a marketplace What licenses are needed? Reform the providers How to Handle the Transition Analyzing the current system Develop the new institutional structure Costing and projection of financial flows Facilities development and management planning Develop a project plan |
| This example follows a straightforward parallel structure with each first-level heading in gerund form (ending in –ing). The second level headings are all in the imperative form. | This example is slightly different from the first one. It uses its top-level heading to pose an indirect question (How to implement, how to handle). The headings at the next level use the imperative form of the verb (develop, set up, establish, etc.) to form the answer to those original questions. | This example includes a mix of heading styles: nouns, gerunds, questions, and verbs. When the parallel structure is absent, so is the sense that these headings share any commonality, particularly their order of importance in the hierarchical structure of the report. |