Grammar Smart 3rd Edition - Princeton Review 2014

D. Faulty Comparison
Part 3. Putting It All Together

Examples from the Masters:

Power in defense of freedom is greater than power in behalf of tyranny and oppression.

-Malcolm X

I doubt if the texture of Southern life is any more grotesque than that of the rest of the nation...

-Flannery O’Conno

The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.

-B.F. Skinne

Let’s do some analysis. Malcolm X is comparing two kinds of power: power in defense o freedom, and power in behalf of tyranny. Power is greater than power; equal parts are being compared.

Flannery O’Connor is comparing texture to texture, which is why she finishes he comparison by writing than that of the rest of the nation.

B. F. Skinner is not comparing men to machines—he is comparing the action, think, which is why he finished the comparison with the verb do.

Faulty comparison is a problem of clarity—either you leave the reader confused or you give an unintended meaning to your sentence. Remember:

The Rule

Say what you mean.

Take a look at this example:

Pinky loves me more than Bob.

Could mean:

Pinky loves me more than Bob does.

Or: Pinky loves me more than she loves Bob.

A faulty comparison is not just a grammatical error, it could lead to romantic disaster. So:

The Rule

When comparing actions, make sure to include both verbs, and the correct subject pronoun.

Bob hit more homers than Ralph did.

Or: Bob hit more homers than did Ralph.

Not: Bob hit more homers than Ralph.

Gomez works harder than I do.

Or: Gomez works harder than I. (the do is understood.)

Not: Gomez works harder than me.

Faulty comparisons also occur when comparing nouns.

Darlene’s socks are uglier than Annabelle.

Note that this sentence could mean one of two things.

Darlene’s socks are uglier than Annabelle is.

Or: Darlene’s socks are uglier than Annabelle’s socks.

Another quick path to confusion is seen in the following sentence:

Unlike her earlier work, which was characterized by thorough analysis and research, Roxanne seems to have become too bored with her subject to do an acceptable job.

This sentence fails to compare equal parts. Unlike her earlier work promises a comparison to some other work, but instead we get Roxanne. Fix it like this:

Unlike her earlier work, which was characterized by thorough analysis and research, Roxanne’s latest report shows that she may have become too bored with her subject to do an acceptable job.

The Rule

When comparing nouns, make sure both nouns are actually in the sentence, and that the nouns are comparable.

Pinky’s allowance is more generous than Billy’s.

Or: Pinky’s allowance is more generous than Billy’s allowance.

Or: Pinky’s allowance is more generous than that of Billy.

Not: Pinky’s allowance is more generous than Billy.

Her stocks and bonds were more valuable than Bob’s.

Or: Her stocks and bonds were more valuable than those of Bob.

Or: Her stocks and bonds were more valuable than Bob’s stocks and bonds.

Not: Her stocks and bonds were more valuable than Bob.

Tips On Spotting Faulty Comparison

Remember that comparisons are almost always made with the words than, as, like, unlike. If you find yourself making faulty comparisons, look for these signal words in your sentences and make sure your comparisons read the way you mean them to.

Quick Quiz #30

Fixing Faulty Comparisons

Correct the following sentences if necessary.

1. Unlike mushrooms and other fungi, we cultivate tomatoes in as much sun as possible.

2. At the state fair, Pinky’s tomatoes won more prizes than Bob.

3. Like asparagus, strawberries do not produce fruit in their first year.

4. Pinky had done more research on organic gardening than Bob.

Click here to download a PDF of Quick Quiz 30.