run on sentence

Work that is not finished is not work at all, it is merely a botch, a failure.

A. all, it is merely a botch, a failure.
B. all, it is a botch merely, and a failure.
C. all; it is merely a botch, a failure.
D. all; the work merely is a botch and a failure.
E. all; the work being merely a botch, a failure.


Go by each option

A) Wrong because it has 2 sentences separated by a comma.
B) wrong because it changes meaning by the placement of words "it is a botch merely" and also same error like A is there.
C) It has semicolon and either side of semi colons should be independent clauses.

"it is merely a botch, a failure." tells this is a failure...

C is correct

D) wrong because this changes meaning by saing the work is both bostch and failure...

E) Having Being makes this option awkward as well.


Hope this clears why D is wrong.

Chaitanya_1986 wrote:Work that is not finished is not work at all, it is merely a botch, a failure.

A. all, it is merely a botch, a failure.
B. all, it is a botch merely, and a failure.
C. all; it is merely a botch, a failure.
D. all; the work merely is a botch and a failure.
E. all; the work being merely a botch, a failure.


Go by each option

A) Wrong because it has 2 sentences separated by a comma.
B) wrong because it changes meaning by the placement of words "it is a botch merely" and also same error like A is there.
C) It has semicolon and either side of semi colons should be independent clauses.

"it is merely a botch, a failure." tells this is a failure...

C is correct

D) wrong because this changes meaning by saing the work is both bostch and failure...

E) Having Being makes this option awkward as well.


Hope this clears why D is wrong.

there is nothing wrong with saying the work is both a botch and a failure

I actually WOULD eliminate B and D because of the redundancy. When you say something is "a botch AND a failure," the use of the word "and" creates redundancy. But when you use a comma, you are using the second word as clarification.

A is a run-on, and would require a semicolon instead of a comma between "all" and "it."

E is wordier than C, and includes the ever-suspicious "being."

C is correct. As a side note, if you eliminated down to C and D, notice how they are both grammatically correct, but C is more concise. Look for a secondary style error when you are choosing between the "final two."

VivianKerr wrote:I actually WOULD eliminate B and D because of the redundancy. When you say something is "a botch AND a failure," the use of the word "and" creates redundancy. But when you use a comma, you are using the second word as clarification.

A is a run-on, and would require a semicolon instead of a comma between "all" and "it."

E is wordier than C, and includes the ever-suspicious "being."

C is correct. As a side note, if you eliminated down to C and D, notice how they are both grammatically correct, but C is more concise. Look for a secondary style error when you are choosing between the "final two."

But Botch and Failre mean 2 different Things
fail·ure (flyr)
n.
1. The condition or fact of not achieving the desired end or ends: the failure of an experiment.
2. One that fails: a failure at one's career.
3. The condition or fact of being insufficient or falling short: a crop failure.
4. A cessation of proper functioning or performance: a power failure.
5. Nonperformance of what is requested or expected; omission: failure to report a change of address.
6. The act or fact of failing to pass a course, test, or assignment.
7. A decline in strength or effectiveness.
8. The act or fact of becoming bankrupt or insolvent.
botch (bch)
tr.v. botched, botch·ing, botch·es
1. To ruin through clumsiness.
2. To make or perform clumsily; bungle.
3. To repair or mend clumsily.
n.
1. A ruined or defective piece of work: "I have made a miserable botch of this description" (Nathaniel Hawthorne).
2. A hodgepodge.
" and a failure " adds information which is not redundant

Keep in mind they are both being used as NOUNS here. They can mean the same thing. The GMAT does NOT expressly test specific definitions of words, but in this SC it is clear by its overall brevity and the inclusion of two very similar words that redundancy is an issue. The grammar error is the comma splice, but the style error is the redundancy.

fail·ure (flyr)
n.
1. The condition or fact of not achieving the desired end or ends: the failure of an experiment.
2. One that fails: a failure at one's career.
3. The condition or fact of being insufficient or falling short: a crop failure.
4. A cessation of proper functioning or performance: a power failure.
5. Nonperformance of what is requested or expected; omission: failure to report a change of address.
6. The act or fact of failing to pass a course, test, or assignment.
7. A decline in strength or effectiveness.
8. The act or fact of becoming bankrupt or insolvent.

botch (bch)
tr.v. botched, botch·ing, botch·es
1. To ruin through clumsiness.
2. To make or perform clumsily; bungle.
3. To repair or mend clumsily.
n.
1. A ruined or defective piece of work: "I have made a miserable botch of this description" (Nathaniel Hawthorne).
2. A hodgepodge.