There's a construction that goes something like this:
<verb> the <noun>, then the <noun>.
First example: The drummer banged on his drum, then on the door, asking to be let in.
Second example: The spectator marked time, then the margin of his program, while watching the performance.
The first example is OK, because the word "banged" is being used in the same sense in both clauses. The second example is incorrect, because the word "marked" is being used in different senses in both clauses. (I'm talking about normal prose here. Poetic turns of phrase are another discussion altogether.)
So, these two examples have words that describe them. The first is an example of something, and the second is an example of something, but I can't remember the terms, and I can't figure out how to do a meaningful search. And, I can't remember where I saw the explanation. I want to say that the label for the second example starts with "z," but I can't be sure.
Help?
<verb> the <noun>, then the <noun>.
First example: The drummer banged on his drum, then on the door, asking to be let in.
Second example: The spectator marked time, then the margin of his program, while watching the performance.
The first example is OK, because the word "banged" is being used in the same sense in both clauses. The second example is incorrect, because the word "marked" is being used in different senses in both clauses. (I'm talking about normal prose here. Poetic turns of phrase are another discussion altogether.)
So, these two examples have words that describe them. The first is an example of something, and the second is an example of something, but I can't remember the terms, and I can't figure out how to do a meaningful search. And, I can't remember where I saw the explanation. I want to say that the label for the second example starts with "z," but I can't be sure.
Help?
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Re: words for correct and incorrect parallel constructions?
Mon, August 7, 2006 - 4:43 PMThe term you are thinking of is probably zeugma.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeugma
The specific type of zeugma you gave is syllepsis, "the term given to a zeugma when the clauses are not parallel either in meaning or grammar," as in:
"If we don't hang together, we shall hang separately." Ben Franklin -
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Re: words for correct and incorrect parallel constructions?
Mon, August 7, 2006 - 4:50 PMYes!!! That's it. Thanks!
Zeugma and syllepsis were the words I'd forgotten.
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