Question

Which of the following sentences is correct?
I stayed up all night doing homework; however, I just couldn't concentrate.
I stayed up all night doing homework, however I just couldn't concentrate.
I stayed up all night doing homework however, I just couldn't concentrate.
I stayed up all night doing homework, however. I just couldn't concentrate.


Select the sentence that illustrates the proper use of parallel structure.
Tomorrow I have to walk the dog, writing an essay, and mail a letter.
Tomorrow I have to walk the dog, write an essay, and mail a letter.
Tomorrow I have to walk the dog, write an essay, and I have to mail a letter.
Tomorrow I have to walk the dog, to write an essay, and mail a letter.

Answer 1

@MiracleCat

Answer 2

For the first one, C and D sound very awkward when read aloud, and in A the use of a semicolon before however is unnecessary so B.

And the second one parallel structure, or parallelism, is single words, multi-word phrases and clauses that can be made parallel by ensuring each item is equal.

Examples:
Not parallel
On his day off, he did this, this and did that.
Parallel
On his day off, he did this, this and that.

Not Parallel
Joel packed sneakers, sweatpants and put in three pairs of socks.
Parallel
Joel packed sneakers, sweatpants and three pairs of socks.

Not Parallel
Mary likes hiking, biking and to go running.
Parallel
Mary likes hiking, biking and running.
Mary likes to go hiking, to go biking and to go running.
Mary likes to go hiking, biking and running.

Not Parallel
The salesman said the car was fast, sporty and didn’t use a lot of gas.
Parallel
The salesman said the car was fast, sporty and economical.

Source:: http://www.grammar.net/parallel-structure#sthash.ji3nDC07.dpuf

So B for the second one too :)

Answer 3

I actually believe it is A for the first one because a semicolon is used when the next segment can be a separate sentence, which in this case it can be. =) But yes, the second one is B.

Answer 4

Actually on second thought I do agree with @MyEyesHurt on the first one being A instead of B