A balanced sentence is one where two parts which are equal in length, importance, and structure are used to make the sentence. It generally consists of two clauses, which have equal grammatical weight or importance. They are either separated from each by a semicolon or connecting words like 'and', 'but', 'or', etc. These words bring symmetry to the statement, making its parts equal. If a sentence has multiple parts, they must all be similar to each other. This means that to write a balanced sentence, you should use the same form for all words, i.e., all nouns or all adjectives, etc. Example 1. Linda is intelligent, pretty, and has sincerity. (The first two attributes are adjectives while the last is a verb.) Balanced - Linda is intelligent, pretty, and sincere. Example 2. Sam has strength, integrity, and is very courageous.(The first two attributes are nouns while the last is an adjective.) Balanced - Sam has strength, integrity, and courage. Example 3. I love to play, dance, and watching movies.(The first two attributes are similar to each other. The last, however, doesn't match.) Balanced - I love to play, dance, and watch movies. You must have learned parallel lines in math and art classes in school, where you draw two lines, one below the other, maintaining the same distance between them. It is similar in grammar, except that you don't write two sentences one below the other. Parallel sentences are those where all the parts have the same structure throughout. It is particularly important while making lists. All the items must be similar to each other. Check out a few examples. Example 1. She went to the dry cleaners, visited the department store, and went to the bank. (Here, the second part does not match the other two. Let's see the balanced form.) Balanced - She went to the dry cleaners, to the department store, and to the bank. Example 2. Your activities for the day are - To mow the backyard Shoveling snow from the porch Raking the entire ground (The first object in the list is an infinitive, while the others are not. Now there are two ways to balance this sentence.) Option 1. Your activities for the day are - Mowing the backyard Shoveling snow from the porch Raking the entire ground Option 2. Your activities for the day are - To mow the backyard To shovel snow from the porch To rake the entire ground Example 3. My itinerary includes the following: Visit Jacques at Headquarters Inspecting the Paris offices Signing the documents of the merger (This can again be balanced in two ways. They are as follows.) Option 1. My itinerary includes the following: Visiting Jacques at Headquarters Inspecting the Paris offices Signing the documents of the merger Option 2. My itinerary includes the following: Visit Jacques at Headquarters Inspect the Paris offices Sign the documents of the merger Sometimes, a balanced sentence also makes use of antithesis. It means that two or more parts that are opposite in meaning, but equal in importance and structure, are used to make up a sentence. These are also known as contrasting sentences. Example 1. I cannot love him, but I cannot hate him either. Example 2. These shoes look great at night, but not so good in the daylight. Example 3. My bike performs brilliantly on highways, but gives bad mileage on city roads. The teacher was censured because he hit the student. For her to breathe properly again, she needs to expectorate the mucus blocking her airways. If the doctor finds a lump on palpation, then he may conduct a biopsy. He is an excellent swimmer and a very good dancer. As John took a leave without permission, he was censured by his employer. He received adulation for his work; his parents received praises for raising a noble boy. The child was asked to paint the trees, stick some flowers, and cut grass out of paper. As my mom has contracted bronchitis, taking tablets helps expectorate her cough. The corrupt official was censured and was also fined for his actions. I want to shop in Milan and find love in Paris. It is important for you to expectorate the mucus so that we can test it. She is a brilliant fashion designer, and also a talented jewelry creator. She enjoyed the adulation, but worried about failing. First palpate her pulse, and then we will decide what to do. I like singing for local bands; I also like doing exclusive pottery. She disliked receiving adulation for her work; she preferred to work in the background. 'It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.' ~ Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities '... that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.' ~ Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg speech 'When the going gets tough, the tough get going.' ~ John F. Kennedy 'You can take that girl out of the honky tonk But you can't take the honky tonk out of that girl.' ~ Brooks and Dunn (song) 'You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.' ~ Abraham Lincoln 'This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.' ~ Horace Walpole 'We are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.' ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. 'A sentence is made up of words, a statement is made in words.' ~ J.L. Austin These were some popular examples of balanced sentences. We use these every single day without even realizing. Now the next time you hear a sentence that sounds off, you will know that it's unbalanced and then you can correct it in front of the speaker!