a parallel role

USAGE SUMMARY

"a parallel role" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe a situation where two or more people play equal roles in a specific task. For example, "The business partners split up the tasks in a parallel role, each man taking responsibility for their own section of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

ZAG-1 exercises a parallel role to prevent PVM from adopting the PVD fate.

Neuron

Guatemala filled a parallel role to Quito as the sculptural centre for the Viceroyalty of New Spain.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Note that the head of complaints used to fill a parallel role at the Guardian, reporting there to a managing editor who has also joined the complaints board.

The Guardian

But with much less fanfare, wealthy donors have begun playing a parallel role in the country's next-largest educational network: Roman Catholic schools.

The New York Times

In a parallel role, he proved a gifted teacher, working at various summer schools, at the Royal Academy, at Goldsmiths, and at the Guildhall School.

Independent

Irish finance minister Michael Noonan publicly voiced doubts about the EFSF's future, saying the ECB must continue to play a parallel role "until the EFSF firewall has been put in place, whenever that may be" and even then "the ECB must carry out a parallel function until it is quite clear that the new firewall is doing its job".

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

The immotility of Ntl sperm suggests a potentially parallel role for Ntl in the activation of Drosophila sperm motility.

Plosone

But an interesting thing has happened in my parallel role as a critic on Top Chef Masters.

Huffington Post

Paul Lustig Dunkel, music director of the Westchester Philharmonic, is so low key about his parallel role as a flutist that philharmonic subscribers are often surprised to spot him in the pit at the New York City Ballet, where he plays principal flute.

The New York Times

The second information type is compositional information, which plays a parallel central role in biological systems [ 25- 29, 54].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The first call also marked his first moment in his parallel role of etiquette counselor.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a parallel role", ensure that the context clearly establishes what the primary role is, to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a parallel role" when one role is actually supporting or subordinate to another. Parallel implies equality and independence in function, not a hierarchical relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a parallel role" typically functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a predicate nominative or an object of a preposition. It describes a function or responsibility that is similar or equal in importance to another. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable and correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a parallel role" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that describes a function or responsibility equivalent to another. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, noting its common usage across diverse contexts, with significant presence in scientific, news media, and academic domains. When using this phrase, ensure that the relationship between roles is clearly defined to avoid confusion with hierarchical structures. Alternatives like "a similar function" or "an equivalent responsibility" may provide greater precision depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a similar function

Focuses on the likeness of the task, replacing 'role' with 'function'.

a corresponding position

Emphasizes the equivalent status within a hierarchy, altering both 'parallel' and 'role'.

an equivalent responsibility

Highlights the equal duty or accountability, swapping 'parallel' with 'equivalent' and 'role' with 'responsibility'.

a matching capacity

Stresses the identical capability or aptitude, substituting 'parallel' with 'matching' and 'role' with 'capacity'.

a related duty

Implies a linked task or obligation, diverging slightly from direct equivalence.

an analogous part

Uses 'analogous' to suggest a similarity in function or structure, differing in word choice from "a parallel role".

a secondary function

Highlights a less central position in comparison with primary.

a complementary function

Shows mutual completion between functions/roles.

an auxiliary task

Signifies that this is an additional task.

a supportive responsibility

Shows its contribution to a more important objective.

FAQs

How can I use "a parallel role" in a sentence?

Use "a parallel role" to describe someone or something that has similar importance or function to another. For instance, "In the project, both leaders assumed "a parallel role" in managing their respective teams".

What can I say instead of "a parallel role"?

You can use alternatives like "a similar function", "a corresponding position", or "an equivalent responsibility" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a parallel role" or "a primary role"?

"A parallel role" implies a shared level of importance or influence, while "a primary role" indicates the main or most important role. The choice depends on the context.

What's the difference between "a parallel role" and "a supportive role"?

"A parallel role" suggests two entities are operating independently but equally, whereas "a supportive role" implies one is assisting or enabling the other.