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I wrote:

It is in the form of a directed tree in which each node represents a word and each directed edge represents the relation between a word (a head) and one of its dependents.

I tried to use the same verb and structure in the conjunction, is it preferable? or I should use different structure and verbs to avoid repetition of the verb?

something like:

It is in the form of a directed tree in which each node represents a word and the edges show the relations between the words (head) and their dependents.

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  • 1
    each won't be correct with 'edges'. You changed your own sentence. If you want to convey 'each', write 'edge' and it's fine.
    – Maulik V
    Oct 22 '15 at 7:03
  • As far as I know, The important thing about the coordinator conjunctions (and, or, but) is that the two sides of the conjunction must be in the same form. e.g, two nouns, two adjectives, two sentences, and etc. however, I;v never seen in grammar book or academic text that saying anything about the same verb or structure.
    – Cardinal
    Oct 22 '15 at 7:22
  • Moreover, I prefer to use "stands" and "represents" in your sentence
    – Cardinal
    Oct 22 '15 at 7:24
  • 1
    The sentence under "something like" is fine, except for the fact that "shows" needs to become "show" to agree with "edges" (your current version has a singular verb and a plural noun) - so it'd be "the edges show".
    – Jez W
    Oct 22 '15 at 9:34
  • 1
    I like the repetition of represents as in your first example. +1 for clarity.
    – Tᴚoɯɐuo
    Oct 22 '15 at 11:53
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This is a rhetoric (not rhetorical! ;) question more than anything else. Really, it's what's most pleasing to the ear/eye. In this case, I find the parallel structures of the repeated "each" to be more pleasing.

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  • Thanks, and I liked to hear the opinion of a native speaker!
    – Ahmad
    Oct 22 '15 at 12:24

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