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Not only X...but also Y

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by jain2016 » Mon Jan 04, 2016 10:05 am
Fortune favours the brave is a mantra that works not just on the battlefields but in the boardrooms.

A) not just on the battlefields but in the boardrooms

B) not just on the battlefields but also the boardrooms

C) on just the battlefields but also the boardrooms

D) not just on the battlefields but also in the boardrooms

E) not just for the battlefields but also in the boardrooms


Hi Experts ,

The correct is NOT ONLY X.....BUT ALSO Y.

So why OAD

Whats wrong with A

Please advise.

Many thanks in advance.

SJ
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by DavidG@VeritasPrep » Mon Jan 04, 2016 11:00 am
jain2016 wrote:Fortune favours the brave is a mantra that works not just on the battlefields but in the boardrooms.

A) not just on the battlefields but in the boardrooms

B) not just on the battlefields but also the boardrooms

C) on just the battlefields but also the boardrooms

D) not just on the battlefields but also in the boardrooms

E) not just for the battlefields but also in the boardrooms


Hi Experts ,

The correct is NOT ONLY X.....BUT ALSO Y.

So why OAD

Whats wrong with A

Please advise.

Many thanks in advance.

SJ
This question looks problematic to me. Typically, the idiom will appear as "not only x, but also y," but I've come across official questions in which the correct answer contained, "not only x, but y." Moreover, it's strange to pluralize "battlefield" and "boardroom." I'd ignore this one. What's the source?
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by jain2016 » Mon Jan 04, 2016 11:23 pm
Hi David ,

That's why I got confused. This question is from Aristotle SC.

Please share your thoughts.

Thanks,

SJ
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by GMATGuruNY » Tue Jan 05, 2016 4:07 am
This SC seems to have been written by someone with little understanding of American English.

Fortune favours the brave.
Here, the verb in red employs a strictly BRITISH spelling.
In America, we write favor.

on the battlefields...in the boardrooms.
Here, the plural nouns in red seem to refer to a SPECIFIC SET of battlefields and boardrooms.
But the intention is to discuss what is true in ANY GIVEN battlefield or boardroom.
To convey this meaning, we use the SINGULAR versions of the nouns in red, as follows:
a mantra that works both on the BATTLEFIELD and in the BOARDROOM.

I would ignore this SC.
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by jain2016 » Tue Jan 05, 2016 10:56 pm
Hi Mitch ,

Good catch and thanks for your reply.

Also please advise that the uses of NOT.....BUT ALSO is also wrong , Because the correct one is NOT ONLY...BUT ALSO....right?

Please advise .

Thanks,

SJ
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by GMATGuruNY » Wed Jan 06, 2016 3:53 am
jain2016 wrote:Hi Mitch ,

Good catch and thanks for your reply.

Also please advise that the uses of NOT.....BUT ALSO is also wrong , Because the correct one is NOT ONLY...BUT ALSO....right?

Please advise .

Thanks,

SJ
Correct idioms:
not only X but also Y
not just X but also Y
not only X but Y.

The OA to SC83 in the OG12:
a phenomenon that is explained NOT JUST by the fact that drugs are becoming more expensive BUT ALSO by the fact that doctors are writing many more prescriptions.

An OA from GMATPrep:
Scientists were able NOT ONLY to transform the gas into a solid BUT to create a semiconductor similar to silicon.

Please note that but also does NOT have to be preceded by not only.
An OA from GMATPrep:
The systematic clearing of forests in the United States created farmland, BUT it ALSO caused erosion.
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by GMATGuruNY » Wed Jan 06, 2016 7:15 am
A semantic distinction between not only X but also Y and not only X but Y:

Case 1: not only X but also Y
In this case, X and Y are SIMILAR concepts that are INDEPENDENT of each other.
John is not only a talented singer but also an accomplished chef.
Here, Y (John is an accomplished chef) does NOT depend on X (John is a talented singer).

Case 2: not only X but Y
Here, X and Y are SIMILAR concepts that are LINKED to each other.
John not only played well but won the game.
Here, Y (John won the game) is LINKED to X (John played well).
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by jain2016 » Wed Jan 06, 2016 9:34 am
GMATGuruNY wrote:A semantic distinction between not only X but also Y and not only X but Y:

Case 1: not only X but also Y
In this case, X and Y are SIMILAR concepts that are INDEPENDENT of each other.
John is not only a talented singer but also an accomplished chef.
Here, Y (John is an accomplished chef) does NOT depend on X (John is a talented singer).
Case 2: not only X but Y
Here, X and Y are SIMILAR concepts that are LINKED to each other.
John not only played well but won the game.
Here, Y (John won the game) is LINKED to X (John played well).
Hi Mitch ,

Thanks for your reply.

What I understood from your rely is that if one part is dependent on other, then we should use not only X but Y ; if one part is not dependent on other, then we should use not only X but also Y .

Please advise and correct me if took in wrong way.

Many thanks in advance.

SJ
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by GMATGuruNY » Thu Jan 07, 2016 4:02 am
jain2016 wrote:Hi Mitch ,

Thanks for your reply.

What I understood from your rely is that if one part is dependent on other, then we should use not only X but Y ; if one part is not dependent on other, then we should use not only X but also Y .

Please advise and correct me if took in wrong way.

Many thanks in advance.

SJ
Your understanding is correct.
That said, the difference between the two idioms is so subtle that I would not worry about it.
No OA will hinge on this difference.
Just know that both idioms are acceptable, even if they imply a slight difference in meaning.
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by jain2016 » Thu Jan 07, 2016 8:54 am
Hi Mitch ,

Thanks for your reply. All clear now.

Thanks,

SJ
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