Which pattern exemplifies formulaic parallelism?

Which pattern exemplifies formulaic parallelism?

• A. An example with only two items
• B. Not only...but also
• C. The results are average
• D. It is unknown

Answer: (B)

Parallelism is about balancing the structure of related parts of a sentence so they read in a smooth, mirrored way. Formulaic parallelism uses fixed, recognizable patterns that pair two equal elements with a specific cue word or construction. Not only... but also is a textbook example because it signals a pairing of two parallel ideas using a common grammatical form. The two halves after the cue words mirror each other in structure, which is what makes the construction feel complete and emphatic. For instance, in a sentence like “Not only did she finish the project on time, but she also added a helpful summary,” both parts follow the same tense and form, creating a clear, balanced rhythm. The other options don’t demonstrate that fixed, correlative pattern. They either describe a simple statement without a paired structure or merely refer to quantity or status, rather than presenting two parallel elements tied together in a standardized, formulaic way.

Parallelism is about balancing the structure of related parts of a sentence so they read in a smooth, mirrored way. Formulaic parallelism uses fixed, recognizable patterns that pair two equal elements with a specific cue word or construction.

Not only... but also is a textbook example because it signals a pairing of two parallel ideas using a common grammatical form. The two halves after the cue words mirror each other in structure, which is what makes the construction feel complete and emphatic. For instance, in a sentence like “Not only did she finish the project on time, but she also added a helpful summary,” both parts follow the same tense and form, creating a clear, balanced rhythm.

The other options don’t demonstrate that fixed, correlative pattern. They either describe a simple statement without a paired structure or merely refer to quantity or status, rather than presenting two parallel elements tied together in a standardized, formulaic way.