Sentence Correction

lunarpower wrote:

mittalashwani13 wrote:yes...just dig into the website and you will notice plenty of such kind of errors ... one has to figure out the way of filtering the good out of bad writing [:(] ... any recommendations for good publications which doesn't require extra efforts to separate good from bad?

um. how about this book?
https://astore.amazon.com/liternet/detail/0470449748

i kid, i kid.

seriously, though, the GMAT SC tests a VERY high standard of writing. a standard that is not met even by most professional writers. therefore, it's hard to find publications that satisfy its criteria all the time.

my advice is as follows:
don't bother trying to read outside publications for SC; you just won't find enough that are that meticulous. for SC, stick to practice problems (and/or websites that are actually about formal writing and grammar rules).

outside publications are pretty much only useful if you're bad at RC, and, even then, the # of outside publications that qualify as useful is pretty low.

Thanks Ron. I, definitely, do reading to overcome my boredom and do notice the wrong sentences ...but yeah! i bought the book you recommend above [:)] and is following the same for SC rules ...but yeah once again thanks for the advise.


And now, while you have already recommended me the same, I thought of adding some spice to this discussion (i.e. about not only ...but also in the GMAT world)

In the explanation of SC problem, OG-12 #64, book states that the options B and C are incorrect because "but also without using not only is incorrect" and that the option D is incorrect because "using not only without using but also is incorrect"

lunarpower wrote:

mittalashwani13 wrote:In the explanation of SC problem, OG-12 #64, book states that the options B and C are incorrect because "but also without using not only is incorrect" and that the option D is incorrect because "using not only without using but also is incorrect"

i went and looked that up. yeeeeccchh.

let's just say that the varsity team writes the questions, and the freshman team writes the answer explanations (some of which are complete and irredeemable dreck).

here are the REAL reasons why those are incorrect: (seriously)

* it's ok to have "not only ... but", but it's NOT ok to use "not only" completely by itself. that's what's actually wrong with that one choice.

* it's fine to write "but also" by itself, but the problem is that the MEANING is different if you do that:
- "not only ... but also" is used for two things that REINFORCE each other;
- "but also", alone, is used for two things that CONTRAST WITH each other.

for instance:
this medicine is not only a painkiller but also an antidepressant --> logical.
this medicine is a painkiller but also an antidepressant --> illogical, unless you think that one of these is a bad thing.
this medicine is not only a painkiller but also an eye irritant --> illogical.
this medicine is a painkiller but also an eye irritant --> logical.

this is the truth.

Thanks Ron...I agree with you...

This blog is pretty good for the 'not only...but also' rule ...the chap has really explained well ... I know it is of no use for you Ron as you must know all these forms/rules already but, in case, if someone wants to go though the same, I'm providing the link...

https://stancarey.wordpress.com/2009/04/ ... #more-1365

lunarpower wrote:

mittalashwani13 wrote:In the explanation of SC problem, OG-12 #64, book states that the options B and C are incorrect because "but also without using not only is incorrect" and that the option D is incorrect because "using not only without using but also is incorrect"

i went and looked that up. yeeeeccchh.

let's just say that the varsity team writes the questions, and the freshman team writes the answer explanations (some of which are complete and irredeemable dreck).

here are the REAL reasons why those are incorrect: (seriously)

* it's ok to have "not only ... but", but it's NOT ok to use "not only" completely by itself. that's what's actually wrong with that one choice.

* it's fine to write "but also" by itself, but the problem is that the MEANING is different if you do that:
- "not only ... but also" is used for two things that REINFORCE each other;
- "but also", alone, is used for two things that CONTRAST WITH each other.

for instance:
this medicine is not only a painkiller but also an antidepressant --> logical.
this medicine is a painkiller but also an antidepressant --> illogical, unless you think that one of these is a bad thing.
this medicine is not only a painkiller but also an eye irritant --> illogical.
this medicine is a painkiller but also an eye irritant --> logical.

this is the truth.

Hi Ron,

Thanks for your wonderful insights....

Can you please tell what would the correct answer in the question under discussion ? If not only ....but is correct....then how to reach to the correct answer ?

Thanks
Mohit

So, what's the answer to the 'economic indicator' question?

Hey ,

Please dont create mystery over the original posted Question...i read the full discussion and got a point , that in some sceanrio we may use 'NOT ONLY....BUT...' (instead of Not Only ...But Also...).

Please provide the OA for:-

As a result of surging economic indicators, most analysts upgraded thre company's stock to a strong "buy" ignoring the advice of the head of a watchdog organization who warned that the company's product would prove not only dangerous but ineffective in the long run.

A. who warned that the company's product would prove not only dangerous but

B. warning that the company's product would prove not only dangerous and also

C. Warning that the company's product would prove itself to be both dangerous and

D who warned that the company's product would prove to be both dangerous and

E. who was warning that the company's product would prove not only dangerous but

now when we know that 'Not Only ...But ..' is correct -> Best choice is A ?? ( and not D !!).

Other's Views please.

puneetdua wrote:Hey ,

Please dont create mystery over the original posted Question...i read the full discussion and got a point , that in some sceanrio we may use 'NOT ONLY....BUT...' (instead of Not Only ...But Also...).

Please provide the OA for:-

As a result of surging economic indicators, most analysts upgraded thre company's stock to a strong "buy" ignoring the advice of the head of a watchdog organization who warned that the company's product would prove not only dangerous but ineffective in the long run.

A. who warned that the company's product would prove not only dangerous but

B. warning that the company's product would prove not only dangerous and also

C. Warning that the company's product would prove itself to be both dangerous and

D who warned that the company's product would prove to be both dangerous and

E. who was warning that the company's product would prove not only dangerous but

now when we know that 'Not Only ...But ..' is correct -> Best choice is A ?? ( and not D !!).

Other's Views please.

I would go with A.
Option D - to be in prove to be dangerous is superfluous and unidiomatic.

lunarpower wrote:
* it's ok to have "not only ... but", but it's NOT ok to use "not only" completely by itself. that's what's actually wrong with that one choice.

Ron, this is an old discussion thread but can you share your thoughts about the following sentence? -

Rowers not only face backward, they race backward.

This sentence has appeared in the New Yorker.

1. Is this acceptable in standard written English?
2. Is this acceptable in GMAT English?

Answer should be D . A is incorrect because it communicates two coherent ideas using "not only .. but " instead of "not only .. but also "

@ niksworth : Why do you find D "prove to be..." part unidiomatic and superflusous?

GMATMadeEasy wrote:Answer should be D . A is incorrect because it communicates two coherent ideas using "not only .. but " instead of "not only .. but also "

Two coherent ideas which reinforce each other can be expressed using "not only...but"

Read Ron's explanations in the following link -
https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/by- ... t1459.html

GMATMadeEasy wrote:@ niksworth : Why do you find D "prove to be..." part unidiomatic and superflusous?

Unidiomatic - The correct idiom is prove X.

Superfluous - to be does not play any specific role in the sentence. Removing to be will not harm the sentence at all. Hence it is superfluous.

@niksworth : oops, I made an error , I had read that description before. thanks .