Sentence Correction

In the late nineteenth century Annie Besant was widely regarded as one of the greatest living public orators, second only to Gladstone in a culture where oratory was the dominant public medium.

(A) as one of the greatest living public orators, second only
(B) to be one of the greatest living public orators, secondary only
(C) that she was one of the greatest living public orators, secondary only
(D) as being one of the greater living public orators she was only second
(E) to be greater than most other living public orators, and she was second only


Please discuss this. I was comfortable choosing the right answer, however I couldn't find anything wrong with D. Is it "being" what makes D wrong.
I will post the OA soon.

Being is usually not acceptable in GMAT land!Also option D has some ambiguity.

I feel it should be ", second only to" is correct usage.

Here "regarded as" is correct usage.

A is the correct option.

As far as possible avoid using "being".

in 'D' - Comparative Word 'Greater' is also incorrect. We need superlative word 'greatest' Hope this helps.

rakeshd347 wrote:In the late nineteenth century Annie Besant was widely regarded as one of the greatest living public orators, second only to Gladstone in a culture where oratory was the dominant public medium.

(A) as one of the greatest living public orators, second only
(B) to be one of the greatest living public orators, secondary only
(C) that she was one of the greatest living public orators, secondary only
(D) as being one of the greater living public orators she was only second
(E) to be greater than most other living public orators, and she was second only


Please discuss this. I was comfortable choosing the right answer, however I couldn't find anything wrong with D. Is it "being" what makes D wrong.
I will post the OA soon.