UWF WRITING LAB RULES OF THUMB FOR FAULTY COMPARISONS From Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon 1 Created by April Turner Revised by Mamie Webb Hixon July 2, 2010
Can you find the man in the coffee beans?
This is bizarre After you find the guy, it's so obvious. Once you find him - it's embarrassing, and you think, Why didn't I see him immediately?
And, yes, the man is really there. Doctors have concluded that, if you find the man in 3 seconds, then the right half of your brain is better developed than most people. If you find the man between 3 seconds and one minute, then your right half of the brain is developed normally. If you find the man between one minute and 3 minutes, then the right half of your brain is functioning slowly and you need to Eat more protein. If you have not found the man after 3 minutes, the right half of your brain is a mess, and the only advice is to look for more of these types of exercises to make that part of the brain stronger.
Now that you have found the man in the pile of coffee beans, can you find the faulty comparison error in the sentence below? Doctors have concluded that if you find the man in the coffee beans in 3 seconds, the right half of your brain is better developed than most people.
FAULTY COMPARISON ERROR Doctors have concluded that if you find the man in the coffee beans in 3 seconds, the right half of your brain is better developed than most people.
CORRECTION Doctors have concluded that if you find the man in the coffee beans in 3 seconds, the right half of your brain is better developed than the right half of the brain of most people.
TRUE OR FALSE? According to the data released in September 2010 by the U.S. Census Bureau, the United States is one nation under the poverty line, and Mississippi is the most poorest state in the country. 8
TRUE OR FALSE? 9 The statement is true, but the grammar is false bad! BAD GRAMMAR (Both most and est are incorrectly added to the adjective poor, creating a faulty (ungrammatical) comparison): According to the data released in September 2010 by the U.S. Census Bureau, the United States is one nation under the poverty line, and Mississippi is the most poorest state in the country. CORRECT: According to the data released in September 2010 by the U.S. Census Bureau, the United States is one nation under the poverty line, and Mississippi is the poorest state in the country.
Correct or Incorrect? Gas costs are higher than last year. Gas costs twenty cents more than last year. 10
Incorrect Gas costs are higher than last year. Gas costs twenty cents more than last year. THE INFORMATION MAY BE CORRECT, BUT THE GRAMMAR IS INCORRECT. THE SENTENCES ABOVE CONTAIN FAULTY COMPARISONS. Both sentences compare two dissimilar things: gas costs and gas to last year. 11
Corrections CHANGE: Gas costs are higher than last year. TO: Gas costs are higher than they were last year. Gas costs are higher than last year s. CHANGE: Gas costs twenty cents more than last year. TO: Gas costs twenty cents more than it did last year. 12
More Better English 13 Try to make your writing more clear by using logical comparisons. Obviously, more better and more clear are grammatically incorrect. These are typical faulty comparisons. REVISED BETTER ENGLISH (No need for more and better ) Try to make your writing clearer by using logical comparisons. (one-syllable adjective add only er)
14 Comparisons occur when a writer establishes a logical or grammatical relationship between two or more similar people or things by comparing them to each other. Usually, a word such as than appears in the comparison, or -er (or more) or -est or most indicates the comparison.
15 Faulty comparisons occur when a writer establishes an illogical or ungrammatical relationship by comparing two or more dissimilar people or things. Usually, -er and more or -est and most appear with an adjective (more clearer, for instance); or an illogical statement is made (Gas prices are higher than last year).
The following sentences are both illogical and ungrammatical. The people in the South are more friendlier than they are in the North. The summer temperatures in Los Angeles are much higher than San Francisco. My British accent is not as noticeable as Carlos. The Celtics beat the Lakers worse than the Heat. Our team is as good, or better than, the Wildcats. Of the two weightlifters, he is the strongest. Tyson hit Holyfield harder than Spinks. 16
The following sentences are both illogical and ungrammatical. The people in the South are more friendlier friendlier than they are in the North. The summer temperatures in Los Angeles are much higher than San Francisco than they are in San Francisco. My British accent is not as noticeable as Carlos not as noticeable as Carlos s accent. The Celtics beat the Lakers worse than the Heat than they beat the Heat. Our team is as good, as good as, or better than, the Wildcats. Of the two weightlifters, he is the strongest stronger. Tyson hit Holyfield harder than Spinks than he hit Spinks. 17
Comp If your writing instructor has written this abbreviation (comp) above a part of one of your sentences, you have likely committed one of these errors: Misuse of the superlative Of the two wars, the Civil War was the longest. Double comparison more friendlier, most highest honor, most farthest, more rounder Illogical comparison a car smaller than her brother Ambiguous comparison I like Stewart better than you. Incomplete comparison Smiladent gives you whiter teeth. Omission of other A Toyota gets better gas mileage than any Japanese car. 18
Recognizing CORRECT Comparisons OTHER is used with ANY to ensure that the person or thing being compared is excluded from the group of which it is a part. More people get their news from CNN than from any other source. 19
Recognizing CORRECT Comparisons The -er ending or more is added to adjectives and adverbs in comparisons of two things or people. A competitive athlete practices daily to be swifter, higher, and stronger than his or her opponent. Of the two candidates, he is the more qualified. 20
Recognizing CORRECT Comparisons The -est ending or most is added to adjectives and adverbs in comparisons of more than two things or people. Andrew Lloyd Webber s Cats closed in 2000 as the longest-running Broadway show ever in the world; in 2006, Webber s Phantom of the Opera became the longest-running Broadway show. 21
Recognizing CORRECT Comparisons More and -er are not combined in comparisons; neither are most and -est. I was lonelier living in a large metropolitan city than I am in a small town. NOT I was more lonelier living in a large metropolitan city than I am in a small town. 22
Recognizing CORRECT Comparisons More and -er are not combined in comparisons; neither are most and -est. Among the high school seniors, Bland made the highest score on the ACT. NOT Among the high school seniors, Bland made the most highest score on the ACT. 23
Recognizing CORRECT Comparisons Comparisons are made between two similar things. Colin Powell s popularity was greater than anybody else s in the Bush cabinet. NOT Colin Powell s popularity was greater than anybody else in the Bush cabinet. New York s taxes are higher than California s. NOT New York s taxes are higher than California. 24
Recognizing CORRECT Comparisons AS... AS is used when a point of equal or superior comparison is made. Ammonia cleans most floors as well as or better than many high-priced cleaners. NOT Ammonia cleans most floors as well or better than many high-priced cleaners. 25
Recognizing CORRECT Comparisons Comparisons between two people or things are explicitly stated, not implied. I appreciate pop culture music better than my roommate does. NOT I appreciate pop culture music better than my roommate. AMBIGUOUS 26
Recognizing CORRECT Comparisons Comparisons are complete. The professor can do a better, more effective job assisting students than she has in the past. NOT The professor can do a better, more effective job assisting students. 27
Recognizing CORRECT Comparisons Comparisons are logical. My adviser notified me that my grades are better than they were last semester. NOT My adviser notified me that my grades are better than last semester. 28
DEGREES OF COMPARISON Comparative Degree Superlative Degree 29
Degrees of Comparison - Examples POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE gentle gentler gentlest charismatic more charismatic most charismatic dependable more dependable most dependable expensive more expensive most expensive clear clearer clearest lengthy lengthier lengthiest lucky luckier luckiest smart smarter smartest happy happier happiest good better best bad worse worst 30
COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES 31 Most one-syllable and two-syllable modifiers (adjectives and adverbs) change with the addition of an er and an est. POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE kind kinder kindest friendly friendlier friendliest witty wittier wittiest lonely lonelier loneliest relaxed more relaxed most relaxed scary scarier scariest
COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES Most three- to five-syllable modifiers and some two-syllable modifiers (adjectives and adverbs) change with the addition of more and most. honest more honest most honest eager more eager most eager aggressive more aggressive most aggressive superstitious more superstitious most superstitious efficient more efficient most efficient professional more professional most professional 32
WHEN IN DOUBT,... Consult a dictionary. Look up the adjective or adverb, and the dictionary will provide both the comparative and superlative forms. lengthy lengthier lengthiest handsome more handsome most handsome handsome handsomer handsomest 33
Rules for Comparing Things or People When comparing two things or people, use -er or more. When comparing more than two things or people, use -est or most. 34
EXAMPLES Of the two schools in the area, the state college has the stricter entrance requirements. Of the three schools in the area, the state college has the strictest entrance requirements. 35
Comparative Degree with er or more President George H.W. Bush advocated for a kinder, gentler [not more kinder, more gentler] nation. Dolphins are smarter [not more smarter] than sharks. Skiing is riskier [not more riskier] than skating. 36
The diagnostic test is more harder than the final exam. CORRECT: The diagnostic test is harder than the final exam. hard harder hardest Children from dysfunctional families are usually more needier than families living in a stable environment. 37 CORRECT: Children from dysfunctional families are usually needier than families living in a stable environment. needy needier neediest
Jon Stewart is a more funnier comedian than Stephen Colbert. CORRECT: Jon Stewart is a funnier comedian than Stephen Colbert funny funnier funniest 38
Superlative Degree with est or most Jake is the most aggressive player on the team. St. Augustine is considered the oldest city in Florida. Shena is the tallest player on the women s basketball team. 39
REMEMBER: The superlative degree is the best in its class. Among the Senior Superlatives in my graduating class were the Most Likely to Succeed and the Prettiest. 40
DOUBLE COMPARISONS Do not use both an -er/-est ending with the words more/most. Robots perform many tasks with greater [not more greater] speed than people do. In fact, robots are often better [not more better] at performing tasks than humans are. 41
DOUBLE COMPARISONS Do not use both an -er/-est ending with the words more/most: friendliest, NOT most friendliest. INCORRECT: She is the most happiest girl in the world. CORRECT: She is the happiest girl in the world. 42
DOUBLE COMPARISONS INCORRECT: Is the United States more safer from terrorist attacks now than it was September 11, 2001? CORRECT: Is the United States safer from terrorist attacks now than it was September 11, 2001? 43
ILLOGICAL COMPARISONS Do not compare dissimilar items. CHANGE The interest at a loan company is higher than a bank. TO higher than a bank s. OR higher than that of a bank. OR higher than the interest at a bank. 44
AMBIGUOUS COMPARISONS 45 Make sure that the meaning of the sentence is clear to the reader. CHANGE Jacob likes pizza better than Juju. TO better than Juju does. OR better than he likes Juju.
INCOMPLETE COMPARISONS CHANGE Television advertising is more effective. TO more effective than magazine advertising. 46
INCOMPLETE COMPARISONS CHANGE Millions more web users turn to real news media for news. TO Millions more web users turn to real news media for news than to citizen news. 47 CHANGE Real news media are more reliable and responsible. TO Real news media are more reliable and responsible than online news videos.
INCOMPLETE COMPARISONS CHANGE The gap between rich and poor is growing wider. TO The gap between rich and poor is growing wider than it has in the last decade. 48
OMISSION OF AS CHANGE Online advertising is as effective if not more so than television advertising. (as is missing) TO Online advertising is as effective as television advertising, if not more so. 49
OMISSION OF OTHER, ANY, and ELSE CHANGE Los Angeles has more freeway traffic than any city in the U.S. (other is missing) TO than any other city in the U.S. 50
OMISSION OF OTHER, ANY, and ELSE CHANGE He has lost more jobs than any president in the last five years. (other is missing) TO than any other president in the last five years. 51
OMISSION OF OTHER, ANY, and ELSE CHANGE More people voted this year than in any election. (other is missing) TO than in any other election. 52
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Does anyone have any questions about recognizing or correcting faulty comparisons? PLEASE ASK!!! 53
LET S PRACTICE!!! Roses are traditionally more symbolic than any flower. any other flower I am more lonelier here than I was in California. I am lonelier Our new apartment is just as spacious, if not more spacious than, our old one. just as spacious as 54
LET S PRACTICE A LITTLE MORE!!! No one works harder. No one works harder than Dan works. The salary of a manager is lower than a lawyer. lower than a lawyer s. 55