iongmat wrote:Thanks for responding to my PM Mitch.
Had a quick follow up question. Why can't D be interpreted as:
Most of the country's biggest daily newspapers had lower circulation in the six months from October 1995 through March 1996 than (most of the country's biggest daily newspapers had) that in a similar period a year earlier.
Here, the portion in blue is the elliptical part.
So, this does seem to be comparing how much most of the country's biggest daily newspapers had:
i) circulation in the six months from October 1995 through March 1996
ii) circulation in a similar period a year earlier
Appreciate, as always.
Note the following:
that cannot stand in for
circulation IN GENERAL.
It must stand in for ONE SPECIFIC CIRCULATION.
Most of the country's biggest daily newspapers had lower circulation in the six months from October 1995 through March 1996 than most of the country's biggest daily newspapers had that in a similar period a year earlier.
Here -- because the comparison is illogical -- the referent for
that is unclear.
The implied comparison seems to be as follows:
Most of the country's biggest daily newspapers had lower circulation in the six months from October 1995 through March 1996 than THE circulation in a similar period a year earlier.
As noted in my post above, the phrase in blue refers to the sales figures for each newspaper:
Newspaper A = 1,000,000 copies.
Newspaper B = 900,000 copies.
Newspaper C = 875,000 copies.
But the phrase in red -- THE circulation -- implies that a year earlier ONE SPECIFIC CIRCULATION was shared by all of the newspapers.
It is illogical to compare the different sales figures for each newspaper to one specific circulation.
As a result, the sentence is incomprehensible.
Generally, SUBJECT + FORM OF
TO HAVE + COMPARATIVE should not be followed
that or
those.
Incorrect:
The company had higher profits in 1990 than those in 1980.
Correct:
The company had higher profits in 1990 than in 1980.Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.
As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.
For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at
[email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
