---
title: "no-parallel-sentence-structure"
description: "Flags repeated syntactic templates across sentences in a paragraph."
sidebar:
  label: "no-parallel-sentence-structure"
  badge: "Soft"
search:
  tags: [rule, inferential, style]
---

| Property | Value |
| -------- | ----- |
| Kind | Soft rule |
| Engine | `inferential` |
| Tier | `inferential` |
| Severity | `warning` |
| Intent | `style` |
| Scope | `text` |

:::note
This is a style rule. It reports findings and participates in `--fix`, but never moves the [human-likeness score](/docs/concepts/scoring).
:::

## Why

Repeated sentence templates can make a paragraph sound metronomic even when its words change.

## Examples

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Column>
    **Flagged**

    The court reviewed the motion. The court considered the response. The court rejected the argument.
  </Column>
  <Column>
    **Better**

    After reviewing the motion and response, the court rejected the argument.
  </Column>
</Columns>

## Rubric

This rule is evaluated by the optional [AI judge](/docs/guides/judge) against the criteria below.

Flag a paragraph when two or more sentences rely on the same syntactic
template for emphasis, such as repeated subject-verb openings, repeated
"the X is..." clauses, or repeated imperative forms. The repetition must
shape the paragraph's rhythm, not merely result from a shared legal term.
Do not flag parallelism inside one enumerated list, a statutory recitation,
a quoted provision, or another context where the repeated structure is
correct and functional. Do not flag ordinary repetition of a party's name
or a defined term when the surrounding sentence structures differ.

### Should flag

- The court reviewed the motion. The court considered the response. The court rejected the argument.
- The agency found that the report was late. The agency found that the notice was incomplete. The agency found that the appeal was barred.
- The contract requires notice. The contract requires payment. The contract requires arbitration.
- The witness said she saw the car. The witness said she heard the impact. The witness said she called 911.

### Should pass

- After reviewing the motion and response, the court rejected the argument.
- The agency found that the report was late, concluded that notice was incomplete, and dismissed the appeal.
- The contract requires notice and payment; it also requires arbitration.
- The witness saw the car, heard the impact, and called 911.

## Turning it off

```sh
lawlint --disable no-parallel-sentence-structure draft.md
```

Or durably, in `.lawlint/config.json` — see [Configuration](/docs/reference/configuration).