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In this paper, the parametric stability of axially accelerating viscoelastic beams is revisited. The effects of the longitudinally varying tension due to the axial acceleration are highlighted, while the tension was approximately assumed to be longitudinally uniform in previous studies. The dependence of the tension on the finite support rigidity is also considered. The generalized Hamilton principle and the Kelvin viscoelastic constitutive relation are applied to establish the governing equations and the associated boundary conditions for coupled planar motion of the beam. The governing equations are linearized into the governing equation in the transverse direction and the expression of the longitudinally varying tension. The method of multiple scales is employed to analyze the parametric stability of transverse motion. The stability boundaries are derived from the solvability conditions and the Routh-Hurwitz criterion for principal and sum resonances. In terms of stability boundaries, the governing equations with or without the longitudinal variance of tension are compared and the effects of the finite support rigidity are also examined. Some numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the effects of the stiffness, the viscosity, and the mean axial speed on the stability boundaries. The differential quadrature scheme is developed to numerically solve the governing equation, and the computational results confirm the outcomes of the method of multiple scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]