BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

OG 74 Doubt

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 351
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:25 pm
Thanked: 57 times
Followed by:4 members

OG 74 Doubt

by akhilsuhag » Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:53 am
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not seamless or stationary, rather it is fragmented into mobile semi rigid plates.

(d) Although it covers the entire planet, Earth's crust is neither seamless nor stationary, but rather...

This is the correct option. I have 2 issues
1) Use of both "but" and "rather"- isnt that redundant.
2) ", but" should result in an independent clause. Does it in this case?
Please press "thanks" if you think my post has helped you.. Cheers!!
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 10392
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pm
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Thanked: 2867 times
Followed by:511 members
GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:16 pm
Hi akhilsuhag,

You did not properly present how answer D would appear in the context of the original sentence.

The FULL correct answer (with the rest of the sentence) would read as:

Although it covers the entire planet, Earth's crust is neither seamless nor stationary, but rather fragmented into mobile semirigid plates.

The last part of the sentence is meant to communicate the idea that (Earth's crust is) fragmented into mobile semirigid plates. Since it would be redundant to use those three words ("Earth's crust is") again, the word "rather" takes the place of those words. In this way, the word "rather" is NOT redundant to the word "but."

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
Image
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 351
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:25 pm
Thanked: 57 times
Followed by:4 members

by akhilsuhag » Tue Oct 28, 2014 2:57 pm
Rich I am having a little confusion with the COMMA FANBOYS rule.

Does ", and/but" always signify the start of an independent clause. I see some correct sentences where you have ", but/and" but these don't seem independent clauses.
Please press "thanks" if you think my post has helped you.. Cheers!!
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Wed Oct 29, 2014 3:20 am
akhilsuhag wrote:Rich I am having a little confusion with the COMMA FANBOYS rule.
The GMAT does not abide by this rule.
On the GMAT, COMMA + but does NOT have to be followed by an independent clause.
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
Top
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 6:55 am
Location: Russia

by kkunal1981 » Thu Nov 27, 2014 1:38 pm
GMATGuruNY wrote:
akhilsuhag wrote:Rich I am having a little confusion with the COMMA FANBOYS rule.
The GMAT does not abide by this rule.
On the GMAT, COMMA + but does NOT have to be followed by an independent clause.


It seems to give the impression that COMMA + but should be followed by independent clause outside of GMAT :)

Both these sentences are correct:
I like drinking tea, but not coffee.
I like drinking tea, but my friend likes drinking coffee.
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1