Sentence Correction

Officials at the United States Mint believe that the Sacagawea dollar coin will be used more as a substitute for four quarters rather than for the dollar bill because its weight, only 8.1 grams, is far less than four quarters, which weigh 5.67 grams each.

A) more as a substitute for four quarters rather than for the dollar bill because its weight, only 8.1 grams, is far less than

B) more as a substitute for four quarters than the dollar bill because it weighs only 8.1 grams, far lighter than

C) as a substitute for four quarters more than for the dollar bill because it weighs only 8.1 grams, far less than

D) as a substitute for four quarters more than the dollar bill because its weight of only 8.1 grams is far lighter than it is for

E) as a substitute more for four quarters rather than for the dollar bill because its weight, only 8.1 grams, is far less than it is for

OA: C

NandishSS wrote:Officials at the United States Mint believe that the Sacagawea dollar coin will be used more as a substitute for four quarters rather than for the dollar bill because its weight, only 8.1 grams, is far less than four quarters, which weigh 5.67 grams each.

A) more as a substitute for four quarters rather than for the dollar bill because its weight, only 8.1 grams, is far less than

B) more as a substitute for four quarters than the dollar bill because it weighs only 8.1 grams, far lighter than

C) as a substitute for four quarters more than for the dollar bill because it weighs only 8.1 grams, far less than

D) as a substitute for four quarters more than the dollar bill because its weight of only 8.1 grams is far lighter than it is for

E) as a substitute more for four quarters rather than for the dollar bill because its weight, only 8.1 grams, is far less than it is for

OA: C

One split: we have a choice between "than the dollar bill" and "than for the dollar bill."

If we write, "The Sacagawea dollar coin will be used more as a substitute for four quarters than the dollar bill," then, at best, there's an ambiguity. It could mean that the Sacagawea dollar is used more as a substitute for four quarters than it's used as a substitute for the dollar bill; But it could also mean that the Sacagawea dollar is used more as a substitute for four quarters than the dollar dollar bill is used as a substitute for four quarters.

We'd prefer "The Sacagawea dollar coin will be used more as a substitute for four quarters than for the dollar bill," as now there's only one meaning - the Sacagawea dollar is used more as a substitute for four quarters than it's used as a substitute for the dollar bill. (Which is to say nothing of parallel construction.)

Eliminate B and D.

The phrase, "used more for x rather than for y," is redundant and nonsensical. We could write, "used more for x than for y," or we could write, "used for x rather than for y," but we certainly used both "more" and rather." Eliminate A and E.

We're left with C.