parallel invention

USAGE SUMMARY

"parallel invention" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to the process or result of two or more people or organizations discovering or inventing something independently and at the same time. For example: The parallel invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray was one of the most famous examples of convergent thinking.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The invention of childhood in this period in many ways required the parallel invention of motherhood and fatherhood.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

To support his claims, Kelly describes parallel inventions on different isolated continents (the blowgun and the abacus, for example), and the presence of near-simultaneous inventions in modern times (the light bulb was invented at least two dozen times).

The New York Times - Books

If ideas of democracy and freedom emerged at the end of the printing-press era, it wasn't by some technological logic but because of parallel inventions, like the ideas of limited government and religious tolerance, very hard won from history.

The New Yorker

But it wasn't until that afternoon at Measles Disney that I realised what was really going on with my writing: there was a strong current of contagion running through my millennial childhood, flowing parallel to the invention of the iPhone and the selfie stick.

The Guardian

Thus, instead of genetic traits within lineages always emerging gradually through successive mutations and selection, evolution is accelerated as a parallel process, where inventions made in different lineages can come together in a single cell through HGT.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

A parallel exists between the invention of the microscope and the development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which allows new ways to explore biological systems.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

It is not invention.

The Economist

Like Prince's clothes, the photographs evoke a timeless and sexy parallel world of his own invention and inner desires.

The New Yorker

Ligeti's dramatic invention found a parallel in the British premiere of Eotvos's own Snatches of a Conversation, for Marco Blaauw's bizarre double-belled trumpet, Omar Ebrahim's mysterious speaker and ensemble.

The Guardian - Music

He solved that problem in 1784 with his invention of the parallel motion an arrangement of connected rods that guided the piston rod in a perpendicular motion which he described as "one of the most ingenious, simple pieces of mechanism I have contrived".

Encyclopedia Britannica

Aepinus also contributed to the invention of the parallel-plate capacitor, made important improvements in the microscope, and demonstrated the effects of parallax during the transit of Venus across the Sun's disk in 1764.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "parallel invention" to emphasize that similar inventions or discoveries were made independently around the same time, highlighting the convergent nature of innovation.

Common error

Avoid using "parallel invention" when referring to a single invention developed in isolation. "Invention" alone or "independent invention" is more appropriate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "parallel invention" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a situation where similar inventions or discoveries are made independently and roughly concurrently. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "parallel invention" is a noun phrase denoting independent and concurrent creation or discovery. Ludwig AI validates that the expression is correct and is most commonly used in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. While not a frequent phrase, understanding its nuances—particularly its distinction from "invention"—is important. When referring to the independent and simultaneous creation or discovery, use alternatives like "simultaneous discovery" or "independent origination".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

simultaneous discovery

Focuses on the act of discovering something at the same time, shifting from the creation aspect.

concurrent creation

Emphasizes the act of creating something alongside another, rather than inventing.

independent origination

Highlights the separate and uninfluenced origin of an idea or product.

convergent development

Suggests that two or more things are developing toward similarity.

coincident invention

Stresses the accidental nature of inventions happening at the same time.

parallel discovery

Highlights the aspect of 'discovery' happening in parallel.

simultaneous origination

Emphasizes that the 'origination' aspect is happening simultaneously.

independent creation

Highlights the 'creation' aspect stemming from independent work.

concurrent origination

Emphasizes the 'origination' as an aspect of things arising concurrently.

coincident development

Highlights the 'development' aspect is happening by chance or coincidence.

FAQs

What does "parallel invention" mean?

The term "parallel invention" refers to instances where two or more inventors independently create similar inventions or discoveries around the same time, without knowledge of each other's work.

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

You might say: "The classic example of "simultaneous invention" is the telephone, developed independently by Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray."

What's the difference between "invention" and "parallel invention"?

"Invention" refers to the creation of something new, while "parallel invention" emphasizes that similar inventions arose independently and concurrently. The "simultaneous discovery" emphasizes this separate creation.

Are there other terms similar to "parallel invention"?

Yes, "concurrent creation", "independent origination", and "convergent development" are similar terms that highlight the independent and simultaneous nature of inventions or discoveries.