parallel

Hey there! Let's talk about the word parallel. It is a super versatile word that works as both a noun, an adjective, and a verb. Today, we are focusing on it as a verb.

When you use it as a verb, it usually means that one thing is matching or mirroring another. Imagine two stories that happen at the same time and share similar themes; you could say one story parallels the other. It implies a connection or a pattern that repeats.

In a more physical sense, it describes moving alongside something. Think of a train track; the two rails parallel each other perfectly. They never touch, but they always go in the same direction. It is a great word to use when you want to describe symmetry or comparison in a professional or descriptive way.

The word parallel has a fascinating journey through history. It comes from the Greek word parallelos, which literally means 'beside one another'. It is a combination of para (beside) and allos (other).

It entered English via the Latin word parallelus and the French parallèle. Originally, it was used strictly in geometry to describe lines that never meet. Over the centuries, the meaning expanded from just lines on a page to describing events, ideas, and even human actions.

It is a classic example of how a technical mathematical term can grow to have a much broader, metaphorical meaning in everyday language. Isn't it cool how a word about lines evolved to help us describe how our own life experiences might parallel the experiences of others?

You will find parallel used in both formal writing and casual conversation. In academic papers, you might see it used to compare two historical events: 'The economic crisis of 2008 parallels the Great Depression.'

In daily life, it is common to hear it when discussing travel or directions. 'The bike path parallels the river for five miles.' This tells the listener that the path follows the river's course closely.

It is a fairly neutral word, but it leans slightly toward the formal side. You probably wouldn't use it in very slangy text messages, but it is perfect for work emails, essays, or thoughtful discussions where you want to sound clear and precise.

While parallel doesn't have many 'idioms' in the traditional sense, it appears in several fixed expressions:

• Draw a parallel: To compare two things to show they are similar. 'Let's draw a parallel between these two projects.'
• Run parallel to: To move in the same direction. 'The new road runs parallel to the old highway.'
• Parallel universe: Used metaphorically to describe a situation that is completely different but happening at the same time.
• Parallel processing: A computing term often used in business to describe doing many things at once.
• Parallel lines of thought: When two people have similar ideas without necessarily talking to each other.

As a verb, parallel is a regular verb. You conjugate it as parallels (third-person singular), paralleled (past tense), and paralleling (present participle).

The pronunciation is usually PAIR-uh-lel. The stress is on the first syllable. It is a fun word to say because of the repeating 'l' sounds at the end!

Watch out for the spelling! It is a common mistake to add an extra 'l' in the middle. Remember: one 'r', two 'l's at the start, and one 'l' at the end. It rhymes with words like barrel and charel (though those are rare), but mostly it stands alone in its unique sound structure.