The process consists of collecting materials, production, and packaging.

[Mehrgan]

Hi all,

I was wondering how we can make sure the items listed after 'consist of' are grammatically parallel.

As in my example,

"Overall, the procedure consists of some major phases, namely the collection of raw clay, production, packaging and distribution."

Can I also use collecting raw clay?

Indeed, I have trouble realising where exactly a NOUN is prioritised over verb+ing to refer to an action, and if we can have a collection of nouns and gerunds in a list.

 

[teechar]

"Overall, the procedure consists of some major phases, namely the collection of raw clay, production, packaging and distribution."

Why do you specify "raw clay" after "collection", but you do not add nouns after "production", etc?

 

[Mehrgan]

Why do you specify "raw clay" after "collection", but you do not add nouns after "production", etc?

Well I was thinking of a sample sequence of events, like the manufacturing of bricks which I've recently seen, and indeed the production refers to bricks.

And now the question is if it should be "the production of bricks", or "producing bricks"!

 

[tedmc]

I would write:
The manufacturing process consists of the procurement of raw material (clay), and the production, packaging and distribution of bricks.