Faulty Comparison
A comparison using as usually requires a repetition of the word: as good as gold, as fast as a speeding bullet, as high as a kite.
Incomplete: On the exam, Nicole expects to do as well if not better than Nat.
Complete: On the exam, Nicole expects to do as well as, if not better than, Nat.
For the sake of completeness, when you compare one thing to a group of which it is a part, be sure to use other or else.
Lieutenant Henry was braver than any pilot in the squadron.
This suggests that Henry may not have been a member of the squadron. If he belonged to the squadron, however, add other to complete the comparison:
Lieutenant Henry was braver than any other pilot in the squadron.
Similarly, notice the difference between these two sentences:
Diana talks more nonsense than anyone in the class.
Diana talks more nonsense than anyone else in the class.
Only the second sentence makes clear that Diana is a member of the class.
Identify the sentence that contains a faulty comparison.
A) Several people less qualified than Alistair have been promoted over than last few months.
B) As far as I’m concerned, reading a good book is still preferable to surfing the Internet.
C) Betty thinks that working late every day is better than early mornings.
D) Studies show that people who have money enough to meet their needs are more satisfies with their lives than those who have excessive wealth.
Identify which underlined portion of the sentence contains an error.
According to some historians, the quality of FDR’s presidency was on a par with or better than Wilson but not Lincoln’s.
A) According
B) was
C) with
D) than Wilson
E) no error
Jay Leno, the comedian, is funnier and more savage than any comedian on television.
A) funnier
B) more savage
C) any comedian
D) on
E) no error
Skateboarding in New York, unlike California, is usually hampered by busy streets and crowded sidewalks.
A) unlike California
B) is
C) hampered
D) crowded sidewalks
E) no error
If you have any doubts that merchants are trying hard to meet the demands, however frivolous, of consumers, you should compare the cereal and juice sections of a supermarket today with years ago.
A) you have
B) to meet
C) however frivolous
D) with years ago
E) no error
Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov stand side by side as two of America’s greatest science fiction writers, but the latter, having written more than 500 books, is by far the most prolific.
A) side by side
B) having written
C) than
D) most
E) no error
Martha has read every book Jorge Luis Borges has written, and she considers no other novels as interesting as he is.
A) has written
B) and she
C) considers
D) as he is
E) no error
The game warden believes that bow-hunting is safer than a rifle.
A) bow-hunting is safer than a rifle
B) hunting with a bow is safer than hunting with a rifle
C) bows is more safe than rifles in hunting
D) bow-hunting is more safe than hunting with a rifle
E) a bow in hunting is safer than a rifle in hunting.
Today there is more violence than the 1950s and 1960s, when guns were more difficult to obtain.
A) than
B) then there was in
C) than in
D) than around
E) compared to
A more easier and direct route exist between Mt. Kisco and Pleasantville than the one we took.
A) A more easier and direct route exist
B) An easier and direct route exist
C) An easier and more direct route exists
D) Easier and directer routes exist
E) A both more easy and a more direct route exists
Elton John combines various techniques of singing and piano playing as effortlessly as any pop star ever has.
A) as effortlessly as any pop star ever has
B) as effortlessly as any other pop star ever has
C) effortlessly, as any pop star has
D) as effortlessly like any other pop star ever has
E) as effortlessly, if not more so, than any pop star ever has