Idioms are a very tricky subject on the GMAT. As Ron said, there are some idioms for which multiple forms are considered correct; "named for" v. "named after" is one of them. The GMAT will never ask you to choose between those two.
There are other idioms for which multiple forms are correct, but only in specific contexts. Take "known as" v. "known to":
KNOWN AS takes a noun: You are known as a GMAT conqueror!
KNOWN TO takes a verb: You are known to conquer the GMAT!
You need to know the context to know which one is correct.
Theoretically, idioms reflect the common usage of the language ("named for" and "named after" are both commonly used forms). The trouble with idioms, though, is that there are some for which there are several commonly used forms, but only one that the GMAT considers "correct." Take "different from" v. "different than." In my daily life in the US (speaking with friends, watching tv), I probably hear "different than" about twice as often as I hear "different from." But on the GMAT, "different from" is always the form used.
The moral of the story is - idioms are tricky to deal with, so try to avoid dealing with them if possible! Analyze all other grammar and meaning issues in a given SC sentence first, and only address idioms if they're the last split left (or if you're very sure of the correct form).
5-Day Free Trial
5-day free, full-access trial TTP
Available with Beat the GMAT members only code
MORE DETAILS
Named For vs Named After
GMAT/MBA Expert
-
ceilidh.erickson
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 2095
- Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 3:22 pm
- Thanked: 1443 times
- Followed by:247 members
lunarpower wrote:this is a good summary.Tega1984 wrote:Well the thing is that both of those two idioms will not be among the answer choices.Because they're both correct as Ron has stated. Moreover, even if both of those idioms will be among the choices,the sentences will have other errors in them on the basis of which you should eliminate them, you should not eliminate them because of named for or named after
basically, if you see a split between "named for" and "named after", you can't eliminate either -- the purpose of that split would be to distract you from the actual errors!
hi ron,
well, i need clarification-
-donna named after her mother...
in instances like this (named after someone), i have never seen use of "named for".
so i guess here that would be incorrect?
