Sentence Correction: Redundancy Questions - Overview

No one has never loved Jane as much as John does. No one has never Nobody has never Nobody has ever No one have never Nobody have never

C Correct!

New spacecraft images reveal that a lake that might at one time have been habitable may have filled a crater for a long time on early Mars. that might at one time have been habitable may that might at one time have been habitable might that may once have been habitable might that may at one time have been habitable may who might once have been habitable may

C You grossly overestimated the time this question took you. You actually solved it in 1 minutes and 1 seconds. Well done! Replacing may with might does not change the meaning of the original sentence as these words have the same meaning.

The Stop Sign to look out for is: as well as

The Stop Sign to look out for is: as well as This phrase is an unnecessarily longer alternative to the word and. Therefore, whenever you come across this Stop Sign, eliminate answer choices that use as well as and choose an answer choice which replaces it with and (assuming, of course, there is such an option). Example: Incorrect: John likes collecting stamps as well as model trains. Correct: John likes collecting stamps and model trains.

What sort of redundancies does this include?

We will learn about each specific redundancy separately. However, as a general rule, these redundancy mistakes are one of two: 1. Something appears twice in the sentence. The same word could appear twice, or two words or phrases with an identical meaning appear alongside each other, creating redundancy. Example: Incorrect: John was previously married in the past. Correct: John was previously married. Correct: John was married in the past. 2. A wordy phrase that can be replaced with a shorter one Example: Incorrect: Jane is beautiful to such a large degree that she takes John's breath away. Correct: Jane is so beautiful that she takes John's breath away.

Our Stop Sign is the following: annual + year

Whenever you come across this Stop Sign, make sure you eliminate answer choices that include both annual (or annually) and a year and that you are left with answer choices that use only one of them - it doesn't matter which one. Example: Incorrect: Annual costs of caring for a horse may run from $500 to $3500 per year. Correct: Annual costs of caring for a horse may run from $500 to $3500. Correct: Costs of caring for a horse may run from $500 to $3500 per year.

The company for which Jane works has multiplied its sales three times over the past two years. for which Jane works has multiplied its sales three times over for which Jane works has tripled its sales over Jane works for has multiplied its sales three times over for which Jane works has multiplied its sales three times in for which Jane work has tripled its sales over

B You're right!

Look at the following example: John owns 30 or even more than 30 jackets. Focusing on redundancy, do you think this sentence is OK? Perfectly OK No, I think it's redundant

B You're right. This sentence is indeed redundant. The exact same meaning can be expressed in fewer words. A more concise way of phrasing this sentence is the following: Incorrect: John owns 30 or even more than 30 jackets. Correct: John owns at least 30 jackets.

This brings us to the following Stop Sign:

(multiplied) one/two/three/four times Whenever you encounter this Stop Sign in a sentence correction question, make sure you choose the most concise answer choice. Examples: Incorrect: Thanks to the new marketing director, the company multiplied its profit three times. Correct: Thanks to the new marketing director, the company tripled its profit. Incorrect: Thanks to the new marketing director, the company multiplied its profit four times. Correct: Thanks to the new marketing director, the company quadrupled its profit. Incorrect: This one time, at Band Camp... Correct: Once, at Band Camp...

The most common phobias ☺are arachnophobia, social phobia, aerophobia, agoraphobia, and claustrophobia.☺ are arachnophobia, social phobia, aerophobia, agoraphobia, and claustrophobia are arachnophobia, social phobia, aerophobia, agoraphobia, and also claustrophobia are arachnophobia, social phobia, aerophobia, agoraphobia as well as claustrophobia is arachnophobia, social phobia, aerophobia, agoraphobia, and claustrophobia are arachnophobia, social phobia, aerophobia, agoraphobia and claustrophobia too.

A Correct! +++++++++++++ are arachnophobia, social phobia, aerophobia, agoraphobia, and also claustrophobia This answer choice is stylistically flawed. The addition of the word also, which has the same meaning as and, creates redundancy. are arachnophobia, social phobia, aerophobia, agoraphobia as well as claustrophobia This answer choice is stylistically flawed. Replacing the single word and with the three-word phrase as well as creates redundancy. is arachnophobia, social phobia, aerophobia, agoraphobia, and claustrophobia This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The plural subject phobias does not agree with the singular verb is. are arachnophobia, social phobia, aerophobia, agoraphobia and claustrophobia too. This answer choice is stylistically flawed. The addition of the word too, which repeats the meaning of and, creates redundancy.

☺Although elephants are generally considered hairless animals, both African and Asian elephants are born with thick☺ hair. Although elephants are generally considered hairless animals, both African and Asian elephants are born with thick Even though elephants are generally considered hairless animals, both African and Asian elephants are born with thick Although elephants are generally considered hairless animals, yet both African and Asian elephants are born with thick Although elephants are generally considered hairless animals, but both African and Asian elephants are born with thick Although elephants are generally considered hairless, African and Asian elephants are born with

A Good! +++++++++++ Even though elephants are generally considered hairless animals, both African and Asian elephants are born with thick While this answer is grammatically correct, it is stylistically flawed. Replacing the single word Although with the synonymous two-word phrase Even though creates redundancy. Although elephants are generally considered hairless animals, yet both African and Asian elephants are born with thick This answer choice is redundant as a result of the addition of the opposition word yet. There is already an opposition word in the sentence - Although. Although elephants are generally considered hairless animals, but both African and Asian elephants are born with thick This answer choice is redundant as a result of the addition of the opposition word but. There is already an opposition word in the sentence - Although. Although elephants are generally considered hairless, African and Asian elephants are born with Let's start with the advantages of this answer choice: 1. It is grammatically correct. 2. It is stylistically superior to any other answer choice as it the most concise of the five answer choices. However, this answer choice changes the meaning of the original sentence by omitting the word thick. The word thick is a descriptor and is therefore important here in a qualitative way. There is a crucial difference between omitting words that do not result in meaning loss, which is a good thing - that's what makes an answer choice concise - to omitting words that do result in meaning loss, which is a negative, of course. Do try to be careful though as meaning changes that are very slight as to be unimportant may not be considered mistakes generally. In addition, ALWAYS make sure the logic is there when words/sentence structure are changed or omitted.

Among the world's famous volcanic mountains are Mount Vesuvius in Italy, which erupted in 1944, and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, with its three extinct cones. are Mount Vesuvius in Italy, which erupted in 1944, and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, with its three extinct cones are Mount Vesuvius, which erupted in 1944 in Italy, as well as Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, with its three extinct cones is the Italian Mount Vesuvius, which erupted in 1944, along with the three extinct cones of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania are Mount Vesuvius in Italy and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania; the former erupted in 1944 whereas the latter has three extinct cones. are the erupting Italian Mount Vesuvius of 1994 and the three-coned extinct Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

A Incorrect. This answer choice has a logical flaw caused by placing the relative clause which erupted in 1944 at a distance from the noun it describes Mount Vesuvius. The original sentence could be taken to mean that Italy rather than the volcano erupted in 1944. This answer choice is also ambiguous: the pronoun its can refer either to Tanzania or to Mount Kilimanjaro. D Well done! Although this answer choice is longer than the others and changes the structure of the sentence, it is the only answer choice which corrects the grammatical mistake in the original sentence and remains logical and unambiguous. The structure of the corrected sentence solves the logical problem in the original sentence, which was caused by placing the relative clause which erupted in 1944 at a distance from the noun it describes Mount Vesuvius, implying that Italy rather than the volcano erupted in 1944. The corrected sentence also solves the ambiguity of the pronoun its in the final part of the original sentence where it can refer either to Tanzania or to Mount Kilimanjaro. +++++++++ are Mount Vesuvius, which erupted in 1944 in Italy, as well as Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, with its three extinct cones Incorrect. This answer choice is stylistically flawed because the use of as well as is considered redundant in the GMAT. Stop Sign: as well as Although as well as is a stylistic flaw, it is one of the specific redundancies that should always be corrected, so go for answer choices which use and instead: Incorrect: John likes collecting stamps as well as model trains. Correct: John likes collecting stamps and model trains. In addition, this answer choice is also ambiguous: the pronoun its can refer either to Tanzania or to Mount Kilimanjaro. is the Italian Mount Vesuvius, which erupted in 1944, along with the three extinct cones of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania Incorrect. While this answer choice is grammatically correct, because it matches the singular verb is to the singular subject the Italian Mount Vesuvius, it changes the meaning of the original sentence and is also illogical. By replacing the connector and with the phrase along with, the sentence is now saying that Mount Vesuvius and Mount Kilimanjaro erupted together. Besides changing the meaning this is illogical because the three cones are describes as among the world's most famous volcanic mountains, but they actually form part of Mount Kilimanjaro; it is Kilimanjaro which should be described as one of those volcanic mountains, NOT the cones. are the erupting Italian Mount Vesuvius of 1994 and the three-coned extinct Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania Incorrect. Although this answer choice is grammatically correct, it is stylistically flawed. This answer choice does indeed correct the Subject Verb Agreement mistake in the original sentence, by changing the singular verb is to the plural verb are, and also eliminates the ambiguity in the original sentence (caused both by the incorrect location of the relative clause and by the pronoun its). However, the resulting noun phrase erupting Italian Mount Vesuvius of 1994 does not make sense, as it implies that the volcano is erupting now. It is also illogical because it seems as if Mount Vesuvius belongs to 1994. Also, the phrase three-coned extinct Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is not only wordy and awkward but also expresses that Mount Kilimanjaro is extinct (a mountain cannot be extinct) and not the mountain's cones.

In a press conference last year, an ecologist announced that successful conservation depended mainly on whether the public was prepared to make an effort. depended mainly on whether the public was prepared to make an effort depends mainly on whether the public is prepared to make an effort will depend mainly on whether the public is prepared to make an effort mainly depended on if the public was prepared to make an effort depended mainly on whether the public was prepared to make an effort or not

A Very good work! In Reported Speech, when the reporting verb is in the Past tense (announced), the following conjugated verbs should also be in the Past. The original sentence correctly follows this rule with the verbs depended and was. +++++++++++ depends mainly on whether the public is prepared to make an effort This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. In Reported Speech, when the reporting verb is in the Past tense (announced), the following conjugated verbs should also be in the Past. However, depends and is are in the Present. What helps us identify this question as a Reported Speech question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: Reported Speech with a reporting verb in Past tense will depend mainly on whether the public is prepared to make an effort This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. In Reported Speech, when the reporting verb is in the Past tense (announced), the following conjugated verbs should also be in the Past. However, will depend is in the Future while is is in the Present. What helps us identify this question as a Reported Speech question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: Reported Speech with a reporting verb in Past tense mainly depended on if the public was prepared to make an effort In the GMAT, If is used in Conditionals only. If you see if in a sentence and there's no condition, you should replace if with whether. Think of whether as a choice between two possibilities dealing with the same subject or as a yes/no question. Example: I do not know whether this will work. (yes or no) He was not sure whether he wanted banana or chocolate cake. (a choice between 2 possibilities) depended mainly on whether the public was prepared to make an effort or not In the GMAT, the addition of the phrase or not at any point after the word whether is considered redundant.

If the development of a hardier variety of rice is successful, the damage to ☺at least 4 million tons of rice crops a year will be☺ prevented. at least 4 million tons of rice crops a year will be 4 million or more than 4 million tons of rice crops a year will be at least 4 million tons of rice crops a year were at least 4 million tons of rice crops a year would be at least 4 million tons of rice crops a year had been

A Very good work! This answer choice is concise and correctly uses the Future tense (will) in the result part of the Conditional 1 sentence.

Driven by higher birth rates in Third World countries, the Muslim religion currently has twice as many adherents worldwide as it did in 1970. twice as many adherents worldwide as it did double the amount of adherents worldwide as double the adherents worldwide it has two times more adherents worldwide than twice the number of adherents worldwide as were

A Very good! You took 2 minutes and 23 seconds to answer this question. Well done! This answer choice it grammatically correct. It correctly uses the comparative form as .. as, applies the correct quantifier many (because adherents is a count noun), and uses the past tense (it did) to match the time expression at the end of the sentence (in 1970).

The application of discrete paintbrush strokes of unmixed primary colors directly onto the canvas results in the simulation of the way the eye actually perceives light; this painting style, with the bold effects and stark emotive power that scandalized the public when first presented, is known as Impressionism. bold effects and stark emotive power that scandalized the public when first presented, is bold effects and stark emotive power that scandalized the public when first presented, are bold affects and stark emotive power causing a public scandal when first presented, are scandalous emotive power and bold effects of its first presentation to the public, being bold effects and stark emotive power, that scandalized the public when first presented, is

A Well done! This answer choice is grammatically correct, because the singular verb is agrees with the singular subject painting style. What helps us identify this question as a Subject Verb Agreement question is the following Stop Sign: a long distance between subject and verb The presence of this Stop Sign indicates that you should check whether the sentence's subject and verb are in agreement. +++++++++++++ bold effects and stark emotive power that scandalized the public when first presented, are Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect, because the plural verb are does not agree with the singular subject painting style. bold affects and stark emotive power causing a public scandal when first presented, are Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect because the plural verb are does not agree with the singular subject painting style. In addition, this answer choice introduces a change in meaning by replacing the word effects with affects. Effect is a noun, close in meaning to result or consequence. In this sentence bold effects means the bold appearance of the paint, the result of the painting style. Affect can either be a verb (to influence) or a noun meaning feeling or emotion. Its use as a noun in the corrected sentence is not logical, because a painting style does not itself have feelings. scandalous emotive power and bold effects of its first presentation to the public, being Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect because it changes the conjugated verb is to a non-conjugated verb being, creating a fragment. In the corrected sentence, the subject this painting style is missing a conjugated verb. bold effects and stark emotive power, that scandalized the public when first presented, is Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The pronoun that (when used as a relative pronoun) cannot appear after a comma, while which must appear after a comma. In this, that and which are different from all other relative pronouns, which can follow a comma or not follow a comma. Whenever you see one of the following Stop Signs: Who, which, that, whose, whom: check that (a) the relative pronoun immediately follows the noun it describes; (b) the correct relative pronoun is used; and (c) the use of defining and non-defining clauses is correct.

The economic processes of urbanization that have left many rural areas of the world underpopulated, while creating large concentrations of population in expanding cities, ☺have had concomitant social effects such as causing family authority structures to weaken and to transform religious practices.☺ have had concomitant social effects such as causing family authority structures to weaken and to transform religious practices have had concomitant social effects such as the weakening of family authority structures and transforming religious practice has had concomitant social effects such as weak family authority structures and transformed religious practices had concomitant social effects that caused family authority structures to become weaker and religious practices to transform have had concomitant social effects such as the weakening of family authority structures and the transformation of religious practices

B Close enough - you took 1 minutes and 37 seconds to answer this question. Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The construction A and B (the weakening and transforming) requires that A and B belong to the same part of speech. In this case, A (the weakening) is in the form if article+Ving, making it a noun, whereas B (transforming) is a missing the article and is thus considered a non-conjugated verb. What helps us identify this question as a Parallelism question as well as identify the mistake is the following A and/or/but B When you identify this structure, make sure it follows these rules: 1. A and B must be of the same part of speech. 2. A and B must be logically parallel. C Incorrect. While this answer choice corrects the Parallelism mistake in the original question by creating a parallelism of two object phrases (authority structures to become weaker and religious practices to transform) it is grammatically incorrect, stylistically flawed and illogical. The corrected sentence unnecessarily changes the Present Perfect tense in the original sentence to the Past Simple. The original sentence's use of the Present Perfect is correct, as the sentence describes actions that began in the past and are still relevant in the present. The use of the Past Simple is typically indicated by a specific time designation, but this sentence does not describe an action occurring at a specific time. In addition, the word caused is unnecessary and redundant because it repeats the meaning of the word effects. This makes the corrected sentence illogical: the social effects aren't the cause of family authority structures becoming weaker; rather, the social effects (=outcomes, impacts, results) are the fact that family authority structures have become weaker. A Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The construction A and B (causing and to transform) requires that A and B belong to the same part of speech. In this case, A (causing) is a non-conjugated verb of the V+ing form, whereas B (to transform) is a non-conjugated verb of the to V form. Note that to weaken is not logically parallel to to transform, as drawing such a parallelism implies that family authority structures transform religious practices - a structure cannot logically transform a practice. In addition, this answer choice is stylistically flawed. The word causing is redundant because it repeats the meaning contained in the word effects. E Well done! This answer choice corrects the Parallelism mistake in the original question by eliminating the redundant word causing and creating a parallelism of two nouns (the weakening and the transformation). +++++++++ has had concomitant social effects such as weak family authority structures and transformed religious practices Incorrect. While this answer choice corrects the Parallelism mistake in the original question, by creating a parallelism of two nouns (structures//transformation) it is grammatically incorrect. The singular verb has does not agree with the plural subject processes of urbanization. What helps us identify this question as a Subject-Verb Agreement question as well as identify the mistake is the following stop signs: Stop Sign: an X of Y subject (processes of urbanization is a plural subject) Stop Sign: A long, complex subject or a great distance between subject and verb In addition, causing family authority structures to weaken does not mean the same as weak family authority structures. The original sentence says only that authority structures became weaker (they might still be quite strong, but not as strong as before), while the corrected sentence states decisively that authority structures are weak.

Another issue concerning double negatives is how we correct them. Let's go back to the sentence we corrected earlier: 1. Correct: John does not know anything. 2. Correct: John knows nothing. Both of the above sentences are grammatically correct. Both have the exact same meaning. However, stylistically one of them is superior to the other as it is more concise. Which is it? Sentence 1 Sentence 2

B Correct! Sentence 2 expresses the same meaning as sentence 1 in fewer words, which makes it more concise. If sentences 1 and 2 were both answer choices to a Double Negatives Sentence Correction question, we would eliminate sentence 1 for redundancy and choose sentence 2 over it.

Cycling, like other endurance sports do, requires great fitness and a disciplined diet. Cycling, like other endurance sports do, requires Cycling, like other endurance sports, requires Cycling, like other endurance sports, require Like other endurance sports do, cycling requires Like other endurance sports, cycling requires that one have

B Good job! This answer choice corrects the original Comparative error by removing the verb do from the like section. ++++++ Like other endurance sports, cycling requires that one have Although this answer choice corrects the original Comparative error by removing the verb do from the like section, it creates redundancy by using the unnecessary phrase that one have. Look for a more concise answer choice.

Which word can be used as a replacement for the phrase "as well as"? because and I don't know

B Good! Both As well as and and express addition. Since as well as is considered redundant in Sentence Correction questions, the more concise replacement and can be used. Example: Redundant: John likes collecting stamps as well as model trains. Concise: John likes collecting stamps and model trains.

Which of the following redundant phrases should be replaced by the construction so X that Y ? such a large amount to such a large degree I don't know

B Good! Here's an example: Redundant: Jane loves playing piano to such a large degree that she practices for hours every day. Concise Jane loves playing piano so much that she practices for hours every day.

Every year, because the horn of either the black or white species can fetch a large sum on the illegal market, hundreds of African rhinoceros are killed annually. Every year, because the horn of either the black or white species can fetch a large sum on the illegal market, hundreds of African rhinoceros are killed annually Because the horn of either the black or white species can fetch a large sum on the illegal market, hundreds of African rhinoceros are killed every year Every year, because the horn of either the black and white species can fetch a large sum on the illegal market, hundreds of African rhinoceros are killed Every year, hundreds of African rhinoceros are killed annually because the horn of either the black or white species can fetch a large sum on the illegal market Annually, because the horn of either the black or white species can fetch a large sum on the illegal market, a hundred African rhinoceros are killed

B Great work! Using both Every year and annually is redundant since they mean the same thing. This answer choice corrects the Redundancy by removing the word annually. ++++++++++ Every year, because the horn of either the black and white species can fetch a large sum on the illegal market, hundreds of African rhinoceros are killed Although this answer choice corrects the original Redundancy by eliminating the redundant word annually, it makes a Parallelism error. Either must be followed by or, not and. What helps us identify this question as a Parallelism question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: (n)either... (n)or... Annually, because the horn of either the black or white species can fetch a large sum on the illegal market, a hundred African rhinoceros are killed Although this answer choice corrects the original Redundancy, it changes the meaning of the original sentence. The original sentence states that hundreds of African rhinoceros are killed whereas this sentence states only a hundred.

Experts recommend that one visit one's dentist two times a year or whenever any unusual pain or bleeding occurs. Experts recommend that one visit one's dentist two times Experts recommend that one visit one's dentist twice Experts recommend that one visit their dentist twice Experts recommend that one visit his dentist twice It is recommended by experts that one visit one's dentist two times

B That's exactly right! The word twice is stylistically better than two times.

The reason that people are drawn into substance abuse is because it provides an escape rather than a confrontation with their personal problems. The reason that people are drawn into substance abuse is because it provides an escape rather than a confrontation with The reason that people are drawn into substance abuse is that it provides an escape rather than a confrontation with The reason that people are drawn into substance abuse is that it provides an escape rather than to confront People are drawn into substance abuse because they escape rather than a confrontation with People are drawn into substance abuse because it provides an escape rather than confronting

B Very good work! Using both the reason and because is redundant. This answer choice removes the word because, and maintains parallelism while using the structure A rather than B. ++++++++++++ The reason that people are drawn into substance abuse is that it provides an escape rather than to confront This answer choice repeats the original mistake and is grammatically incorrect. The construction A rather than B requires that A and B belong to the same part of speech. If A and B are verbs, they should both be of the same type. In this answer choice, however, provides is a conjugated verb whereas to confront is unconjugated. What helps us identify this question as a Parallelism question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: A rather than B People are drawn into substance abuse because they escape rather than a confrontation with Although this answer choice corrects the original Redundancy mistake by getting rid of because which is redundant when we already have the reason, it is grammatically incorrect. The construction A rather than B requires that A and B belong to the same part of speech. In this answer choice, A is a verb (escape) whereas B is a noun (confrontation). What helps us identify this question as a Parallelism question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: A rather than B People are drawn into substance abuse because it provides an escape rather than confronting Although this answer choice corrects the original Redundancy mistake by getting rid of the reason which is redundant when we already have because, it is grammatically incorrect. The construction A rather than B requires that A and B belong to the same part of speech. In this answer choice, A is a noun (escape) whereas B is an unconjugated verb (confronting). What helps us identify this question as a Parallelism question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: A rather than B

The reason for which Grace O'Malley, who was an Irish noblewoman who lived in the 16th century, received the title "The Sea Queen" was because of her formidable control of ship routes and her aggressive and courageous attacks on both English and Irish noblemen's fortresses. The reason for which Grace O'Malley, who was an Irish noblewoman who lived in the 16th century, received the title "The Sea Queen" was because of The reason for which Grace O'Malley, an Irish noblewoman who lived in the 16th century, received the title "The Sea Queen" was The reason for which Grace O'Malley, an Irish noblewoman who has lived in the 16th century, received the title "The Sea Queen" was Grace O'Malley, an Irish noblewoman who lived in the 16th century and received the title "The Sea Queen" was The reason that Grace O'Malley, an Irish noblewoman who lived in the 16th century, received the title "The Sea Queen" was because of

B Very good!

In anticipation of the hurricane season, the Housing Department has recommended that all county residents check their storm windows, arrange for emergency provisions and an alternative energy supply, such as a small generator or kerosene heater, and remembering to renew their insurance policies to protect their property. an alternative energy supply, such as a small generator or kerosene heater, and remembering to renew an alternative energy supply, such as a small generator or kerosene heater, and remember to renew an alternative energy supply, such as a small generator or kerosene heater, other than remember renewing alternative energy supplying, such as a small generator or kerosene heating, and remembering to supplying alternative energy from a small generator or kerosene heater, and remember the renewal of

B Very good! You took 1 minutes and 37 seconds to answer this question. Well done! This answer choice corrects the Parallelism mistake in the original sentence by changing the V+ing form remembering to the base form remember, which matches the first two items on the list (check, arrange). What helps us identify this question as a Parallelism question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: A list of 3 items or more, separated by commas and and/or before the last item. In a list of 3 or more items, all the items should be the same part of speech (all nouns, all verbs, or all adjectives). Note that this sentence contains multiple parallel structures, some of which are nested within others.

The structure and dynamics of the financial market are complex to such a large degree that even experts find the task of making accurate predictions extremely difficult. complex to such a large degree that even experts find the task of making accurate predictions extremely difficult so complex that even experts find the task of making accurate predictions extremely difficult complex to such a large degree that even experts find the task of making predictions that are accurate extremely difficult so complex as to make the task of making accurate predictions extremely difficult even for experts so complex that not even experts find the task of making accurate predictions extremely difficult

B You overestimated the time this question took you. You actually solved it in 55 seconds. Great work! The phrase to such a large degree is redundant. This answer choice corrects the redundancy by replacing it with the word so. +++++++++++ complex to such a large degree that even experts find the task of making accurate predictions extremely difficult This answer choice is stylistically flawed. To such a large degree is redundant. Look for a more concise answer choice. What helps us identify this question as a redundancy question as well as identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign: to such a large degree / to a large enough degree complex to such a large degree that even experts find the task of making predictions that are accurate extremely difficult This answer choice is stylistically flawed and repeats the mistake in the original sentence. To such a large degree is redundant. Replacing accurate predictions with the longer phrase predictions that are accurate creates further redundancy. What helps us identify this question as a redundancy question as well as identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign: to such a large degree / to a large enough degree so complex as to make the task of making accurate predictions extremely difficult even for experts Although this answer choice corrects the original redundancy error, it contains the incorrect construction so...as to. Be careful not to choose answers that contain this construction. Example: Incorrect: John was so determined to win the game as to cause his competitors to actually fear him. Correct: John was so determined to win the game that his competitors actually feared him. so complex that not even experts find the task of making accurate predictions extremely difficult Although this answer choice corrects the redundancy of the original sentence, it changes its meaning completely by adding the negation word not.

Due to the creation of the Spanish National Transplant Organization, which is responsible for the coordination of transplants as well as for public education and outreach, organ donations in Spain today are three times as much as in 1989. three times as much as triple as many as they were a tripling of what it had triple the number three times greater than

B You slightly overestimated the time this question took you. You actually solved it in 1 minutes and 31 seconds. Incorrect. This answer choice is stylistically flawed. The pronoun they is ambiguous because it agrees with two plural nouns that appeared before it - donations and transplants. What helps us identify this question as a Pronoun question as well as identify the ambiguity mistake is the following Stop Sign: Every pronoun in the underlined part of the sentence or after it D Well done! This answer choice corrects the redundancy mistake in the original sentence by changing three times to triple. The idiom triple the number is correctly used to compare the number of (countable) organ donations today and in 1989. ++++++++++++++++ three times as much as Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect and stylistically flawed. The article much can describe only non-count nouns whereas organ donation is a count noun. What helps us identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign: much, (a) little, less, the amount of In addition, three times is redundant as the same meaning can be expressed in fewer words. Look for a more concise answer choice. a tripling of what it had Incorrect. This answer choice is illogical and stylistically flawed. It is illogical to say that a country -- Spain -- had organ donations. In addition, the pronoun it is ambiguous because it agrees with several singular nouns that appeared before it - organization, education, outreach, and Spain. What helps us identify this question as a Pronoun question as well as identify the ambiguity mistake is the following Stop Sign: Every pronoun in the underlined part of the sentence or after it three times greater than Incorrect. This answer choice changes the meaning of the original sentence. The phrase greater than refers to organ donations but the original sentence mean that the number of organ donations was greater, not the organ donations themselves. In addition, three times is redundant as the same meaning can be expressed in fewer words. Look for a more concise answer choice.

☺Requiring a number of gyroscopic motion recalibrations which may amount to a sum of 100 per minute, an electric personal assistive mobility device☺ employs delicate motors in order to maintain its passenger balanced while travelling on two parallel wheels. Requiring a number of gyroscopic motion recalibrations which may amount to a sum of 100 per minute, an electric personal assistive mobility device An electric personal assistive mobility device requires up to 100 gyroscopic motion recalibrations per minute and Requiring a number of gyroscopic motion recalibrations which may amount up to 100 per minute, an electric personal assistive mobility devices Requiring a number of gyroscopic motion recalibrations which may amount up to 100 per minute, an electric personal assistive mobility device has to An electric personal assistive mobility device requires a number of gyroscopic motion recalibrations which may amount up to an extraordinary sum of 100 per minute

B You underestimated the time this question took you. You actually solved it in 2 minutes and 3 seconds. Correct! This answer choice solves the redundancy issue in the original sentence. +++++++++

The Passage Tomb at Newgrange, considered one of the world's most outstanding remains of the Megalithic period, an underground burial chamber that lies under a kidney-shaped mound surrounded by 97 decorated kerbstones, attracts some 200,000 visitors every year. The Passage Tomb at Newgrange, considered one of the world's most outstanding remains of the Megalithic period, an underground burial chamber that lies under a kidney-shaped mound surrounded by 97 decorated kerbstones, Considered one of the world's most outstanding remains of the Megalithic period, the Passage Tomb at Newgrange, an underground burial chamber that lies under a kidney-shaped mound surrounded by 97 decorated kerbstones, The Passage Tomb at Newgrange, an underground burial chamber that lies under a kidney-shaped mound surrounded by 97 decorated kerbstones, considered one of the world's most outstanding remains of the Megalithic period, the Passage Tomb at Newgrange, Considered to be one of the world's most outstanding remains of the Megalithic period, an underground burial chamber that lies under a kidney-shaped mound surrounded by 97 decorated tombstones, the Passage Tomb at Newgrange Considered as being of the world's most outstanding remains of the Megalithic period, the Passage Tomb at Newgrange, a burial chamber that lies underground a kidney shaped mound surrounded by 97 decorated tombstones,

B You underestimated the time this question took you. You actually solved it in 2 minutes and 47 seconds. Well done! This question deals with readability. This sentence presents a noun (the Passage Tomb at Newgrange) with two modifiers: considered one of the world's ... an underground burial chamber ... These modifiers should be placed in the most readable construction. This answer choice corrects the original logical mistake by placing one modifier (Considered one of the world's ...) directly before the noun (the Passage Tomb at Newgrange) and the other modifier (an underground burial chamber..) directly after the same noun. ++++++++++ The Passage Tomb at Newgrange, considered one of the world's most outstanding remains of the Megalithic period, an underground burial chamber that lies under a kidney-shaped mound surrounded by 97 decorated kerbstones, Incorrect. This answer choice is illogical. The modifier an underground burial chamber[...] is incorrectly placed after the modifier considered one of the world's [...], and therefore seems to modify the noun the Megalithic period rather than the Passage Tome at Newgrange. However, the Megalithic period is not an underground chamber. The Passage Tomb at Newgrange, <-- considered one of ... the Megalithic period, <-- an underground burial chamber ... As you can see, placing the modifiers one after the other creates a reference problem. The Passage Tomb at Newgrange, an underground burial chamber that lies under a kidney-shaped mound surrounded by 97 decorated kerbstones, considered one of the world's most outstanding remains of the Megalithic period, the Passage Tomb at Newgrange, Incorrect. This answer choice repeats the original logical mistake. The modifier considered one of the world's [...] is incorrectly placed after the modifier an underground burial chamber[...] , and therefore seems to modify the noun kerbstones rather than the Passage Tome at Newgrange. However, the kerbstones are not one of the world's most outstanding remains - the passage tomb is. The Passage Tomb at Newgrange, <-- an underground burial chamber ... kerbstones <-- considered one of ... As you can see, placing the modifiers one after the other creates a reference problem. Considered to be one of the world's most outstanding remains of the Megalithic period, an underground burial chamber that lies under a kidney-shaped mound surrounded by 97 decorated tombstones, the Passage Tomb at Newgrange Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The Dangling Modifier considered one of the world's [...] should be followed by the noun it modifies (the Passage Tomb at Newgrange) in the main clause. However, it is followed by another modifier: an underground burial chamber[...]. Even though this reference does not change the meaning, an underground burial chamber [...] is a modifier and not a noun subject of a clause as it is not followed by a conjugated verb. Considered one of ... , --> an underground burial chamber ... [?] , the Passage Tomb at Newgrange As you can see, placing the modifiers one after the other creates a reference problem. Considered as being of the world's most outstanding remains of the Megalithic period, the Passage Tomb at Newgrange, a burial chamber that lies underground a kidney shaped mound surrounded by 97 decorated tombstones, Incorrect. While this answer choice corrects the original logical mistake, it is grammatically incorrect and stylistically flawed: the phrase considered as being is wordy and redundant the phrase lies underground a .. mound is grammatically incorrect as underground is an adjective and not a preposition.

The Stop Sign to look out for is a combination of reason and conclusion words or phrases:

Because/Since/Due to/As later followed by so/therefore/thus/consequently Whenever you come across this Stop Sign, eliminate answer choices that use both a reason word and a conclusion word. Choose a more concise answer choice that uses just one of the two. Example: Incorrect: Since the company made substantial profits, so yearly bonuses were awarded to all employees. Correct: Since the company made substantial profits, yearly bonuses were awarded to all employees. Correct: The company made substantial profits, so yearly bonuses were awarded to all employees.

John often complains that Jane never takes him nowhere interesting. never takes him nowhere interesting never take him nowhere interesting never takes him anywhere interesting never take him anywhere interesting never takes him anywhere but boring places

C Correct!

The reason children play is because they enjoy learning about the world around them. is because they enjoy learning about the world around them is because to learn about the world around them, they must enjoy is that they enjoy learning about the world around them that they enjoy learning about the world around them is because they find joy in learning about the world around them.

C Correct!

The annual cost of government healthcare can easily reach $7,600 a year. The annual cost of government healthcare can easily reach $7,600 a year Annual government healthcare can easily reach $7,600 a year in costs The cost of government healthcare can easily reach $7,600 a year The annual costs of government healthcare easily reaches $7,600 Annual government healthcare easily cost $7,600 a year.

C Good work! The annual costs of government healthcare easily reaches $7,600 While this answer choice corrects the original redundancy, it is grammatically incorrect. Replacing the singular cost with the plural costs creates a Subject Verb Agreement mistake. The plural subject costs does not agree with the singular verb reaches. What helps us identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign: An X of Y subject The subject is The annual costs of government healthcare. In the case of an X of Y subject, the verb should agree with X. Thus, the core subject is costs, which is plural. Also, the omission of the word can changes the meaning of the original sentence.

Prior to every presidential election, each of the presidential candidates is running a massive promotion campaign, costing millions of dollars, in order to win the votes of citizens. each of the presidential candidates is running a massive promotion campaign every presidential candidate is running a massive promotion campaign every presidential candidate runs a massive promotion campaign a massive promotion campaign is being run by each of the presidential candidates each of the presidential candidates is campaigning massively

C Good! This answer choice correctly uses the Present Simple to describe a habitual action, one that occurs at a certain frequency, that is, prior to every presidential election. ++++++++++++ each of the presidential candidates is running a massive promotion campaign Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. It uses the Present Progressive, which is a tense used to denote an action that is in progress at present. However, this does not agree with the beginning of the sentence, which states that the action occurs prior to every presidential elections. every presidential candidate is running a massive promotion campaign Incorrect. This answer choice repeats the original mistake. It uses the Present Progressive, which is a tense used to denote an action that is in progress at present. However, this does not agree with the beginning of the sentence, which states that the action occurs prior to every presidential elections. a massive promotion campaign is being run by each of the presidential candidates Incorrect. This answer choice repeats the original mistake. It uses the Present Progressive, which is a tense used to denote an action that is in progress at present. However, this does not agree with the beginning of the sentence, which states that the action occurs prior to every presidential elections. Furthermore, this answer is stylistically flawed. Changing the sentence to passive results in expressing the original meaning in more words, creating redundancy. each of the presidential candidates is campaigning massively Incorrect. This answer choice repeats the original mistake. It uses the Present Progressive, which is a tense used to denote an action that is in progress at present. However, this does not agree with the beginning of the sentence, which states that the action occurs prior to every presidential elections.

Modern historians have challenged the common belief that suicide rates soared after the Great Wall Street Crash of 1929 by presenting various pieces of evidence, ☺out of which the most interesting, arguably, is that the number of suicide cases per 100,000 people in 1928, a year before the Great Crash, already amounted to a sum of 17☺, only one less than the same number in 1929. out of which the most interesting, arguably, is that the number of suicide cases per 100,000 people in 1928, a year before the Great Crash, already amounted to a sum of 17 out of whom the most interesting, arguably, is that the number of suicide cases per 100,000 people in 1928, a year before the Great Crash, already amounted to 17 out of which the most interesting, arguably, is that the number of suicide cases per 100,000 people in 1928, a year before the Great Crash, already amounted to 17 out of which the most interesting argument is that the number of suicide cases per 100,000 people in 1928, a year before the Great Crash, already amounted to a sum of 17 out of which the most interesting, arguably, is that the number of suicide cases per 100,000 people in 1928, a year before the Great Crash, already amounted to 17 suicide cases

C Great! This answer choices corrects the original redundancy without making any further, unnecessary adjustments to the sentence. ++++++++ out of which the most interesting, arguably, is that the number of suicide cases per 100,000 people in 1928, a year before the Great Crash, already amounted to 17 suicide cases Although it corrects the originalredundancy, this answer choice is still stylistically flawed as a result of repeating the words suicide cases. The sentence already indicates that the number 17 refers to the number of suicide cases. Repeating the words suicide cases after the number 17 is redundant.

Because of the complexity of the foreign exchange market, there are many factors affecting currency values, and while risk can be calculated, it is never clear if the profit from a particular trade will exceed expectations. Because of the complexity of the foreign exchange market, there are many factors affecting currency values, and while risk can be calculated, it is never clear if the profit from a particular trade will exceed expectations Because of the complexity of the foreign exchange market, there are many factors that affect currency values, and while risk can be calculated, it is never clear whether the profit from a particular trade will exceed expectations or not There are many factors that affect currency values because of the complexity of the foreign exchange market, and while risk can be calculated, it is always unclear whether the profit from a particular trade will exceed expectations Because of the complexity of the foreign exchange market, there is many factors affecting currency values, and while risk can be calculated, it is never clear whether the profit from a particular trade will exceed expectations There are many factors affecting currency values because of the complexity of the foreign exchange market, and while risk can be calculated, it is never clear whether the profit from a particular trade will exceed expectations or not

C Very good! You took 1 minutes and 26 seconds to answer this question. Excellent choice! In the GMAT, the word if should be used in Conditionals only. Since in this question there is no condition, this answer choice correctly replaces if with whether. Think of whether as a choice between two possibilities dealing with the same subject or as a yes/no question. Example: I do not know whether this will work. (yes or no) He was not sure whether he wanted banana or chocolate cake. (a choice between 2 possibilities)

Unless government supervision is installed, ☺every year food prices will continue to rise by approximately 20% annually.☺ every year food prices will continue to rise by approximately 20% annually every year food prices have continued to rise by approximately 20% food prices will continue to rise by approximately 20% every year food prices would continue to rise every year by approximately 20% food prices will continue to increase in number by approximately 20% annually

C Very well done! Using the phrase every year and the word annually in the same sentence is redundant since they mean the same thing. This answer choice corrects the error by using the phrase every year alone. It also correctly uses the Future Simple tense for the result part of this Conditional 1 sentence (will continue). +++++++++

In the Victorian era, all those who frequented a Gentleman's club, an exclusively male province of middle and upper class privilege, were expected to dress elegantly, carry on witty intellectual conversation, and not least, they had to enjoy gambling. were expected to dress elegantly, carry on witty intellectual conversation, and not least, they had to enjoy gambling was expected to dress elegantly, carry on witty intellectual conversation, and not least, they had to enjoy gambling were expected to dress elegantly, carry on witty intellectual conversation, and not least, enjoy gambling were expected to be elegantly dressed, carry on witty conversation, and enjoy gambling at least were expected to be elegant dressers, witty conversationalists, and, not least, enjoyable gamblers

C Well done! This answer choice corrects the Parallelism mistake in the original question and also eliminates the redundancy, by changing the clause they had to enjoy to the non-conjugated to V verb [to] enjoy. What helps us identify this question as a Parallelism question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: A list of 3 items or more, separated by commas and and/or before the last item. In a list of 3 or more items, all the items should be the same part of speech (all nouns, all verbs, or all adjectives). ++++++++ were expected to dress elegantly, carry on witty intellectual conversation, and not least, they had to enjoy gambling Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The first two items in the sentence's list are non-conjugated verbs (to dress, carry on), but the last item is a clause (they had to enjoy). The original sentence is also redundant because the clause they had to repeats the same idea already expressed with the words were expected to. was expected to dress elegantly, carry on witty intellectual conversation, and not least, they had to enjoy gambling Incorrect. This answer choice repeats the Parallelism mistake in the original question. The first two items in the sentence's list are non-conjugated verbs (to dress, carry on), but the last item is a clause they had to enjoy. The original sentence is also redundant because the clause they had to repeats the same idea already expressed with the words were expected to. In addition, by changing were to was, this answer choice introduces a new Subject Verb Agreement mistake. The singular verb was does not agree with the plural subject of the original sentence those who frequented a Gentleman's club. were expected to be elegantly dressed, carry on witty conversation, and enjoy gambling at least Incorrect. While this answer choice corrects the Parallelism mistake in the original question, by changing the list mixing two verbs (to dress, to carry on) and a clause (they had to enjoy) to a list of verbs only (to be elegantly dressed; carry on; enjoy gambling), it is stylistically flawed and changes the meaning of the original sentence. The phrase were expected to be elegantly dressed in the corrected sentence is wordier than the original expected to dress elegantly, and is also in the passive form. At least does not have the same meaning as not least. were expected to be elegant dressers, witty conversationalists, and, not least, enjoyable gamblers Incorrect. This answer choice is stylistically flawed and creates an unnecessary meaning change. While this answer choice corrects the Parallelism mistake in the original question, by changing the list mixing two verbs (to dress, to carry on) and a clause (they had to enjoy) to a list of nouns (dressers, conversationalists, gamblers), it creates a new stylistic mistake and meaning change by rephrasing enjoy gambling to enjoyable gamblers. They had to enjoy gambling means that the gentlemen had to enjoy this activity. The corrected sentence's [to be]... enjoyable gamblers, not only sounds awkward, but also illogically implies that other people had to enjoy the gentlemen gamblers. In addition, this answer choice is stylistically flawed. The phrase were expected to be elegant dressers in is wordier than the original expected to dress elegantly, and is also in the passive form.

☺Consistent application of rules by an administration, even if deciding on a case-by-case basis could lead to a preferred solution, guarantees exemption from accusations of impartiality as are likely to arise.☺ Consistent application of rules by an administration, even if deciding on a case-by-case basis could lead to a preferred solution, guarantees exemption from accusations of impartiality as are likely to arise An administration that consistently applies rules, even if deciding on a case-by-case basis could lead to a preferred solution, guaranteed it will be exempt from accusations of impartiality that are bound to arise Consistent application of rules, even when deciding on a case-by-case basis could lead to a preferred solution, guarantees that an administration will be exempt from accusations of impartiality that are bound to arise An administration's consistent application of rules is guaranteed to exempt it from accusations of impartiality as are bound to arise, even if it could lead to a preferable solution to decide on a case-by-case basis Preferable than solutions based on case-by-case decisions, rules that are consistently applied by an administration are guaranteed to exempt it from accusations of impartiality that are bound to arise

C You grossly underestimated the time this question took you. You actually solved it in 3 minutes and 3 seconds. Correct. This answer choice corrects the original grammatical mistake by using the relative pronoun that (accusations of impartiality that are bound to arise) instead of as. ++++++++ Consistent application of rules by an administration, even if deciding on a case-by-case basis could lead to a preferred solution, guarantees exemption from accusations of impartiality as are likely to arise Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The conjunction as (as are likely to arise) should be followed by a clause, but there is no subject in the following clause. Clauses that lack a subject are usually relative clauses (e.g. that are likely to arise). An administration that consistently applies rules, even if deciding on a case-by-case basis could lead to a preferred solution, guaranteed it will be exempt from accusations of impartiality that are bound to arise Incorrect. While this answer choice corrects the original grammatical mistake, it is still grammatically incorrect. The Past Simple tense (guaranteed) is used to describe actions taken in the past, but this sentence presents a generalization, which should be described using Present Simple. An administration's consistent application of rules is guaranteed to exempt it from accusations of impartiality as are bound to arise, even if it could lead to a preferable solution to decide on a case-by-case basis Incorrect. This answer choice repeats the original grammatical mistake. The conjunction as (as are bound to arise) should be followed by a clause, but there is no subject in the following clause. Clauses that lack a subject are usually relative clauses (e.g. that are bound to arise). In addition, the pronoun it in the last part of the sentence is ambiguous as it can refer to both administration and application. Preferable than solutions based on case-by-case decisions, rules that are consistently applied by an administration are guaranteed to exempt it from accusations of impartiality that are bound to arise Incorrect. While this answer choice corrects the original grammatical mistake, it is still grammatically incorrect. First, the phrase preferable than is non-idiomatic. The correct idiom is preferable to. Than is mainly used in comparisons and should only follow a comparative (e.g. More preferable, greater, lower, etc.).

One of the ironies of contemporary history is that legitimate democratic processes have been exploited for the creation of anti-democratic regimes and when they promulgated and enforced laws denying the right to non-violent political opposition. that legitimate democratic processes have been exploited for the creation of anti-democratic regimes and when they promulgated and enforced laws denying the right to non-violent political opposition that legitimate democratic processes have been exploited for the creation of anti-democratic regimes and for the promulgation and enforcement of laws denying the right to non-violent political opposition the exploitation of legitimate democratic processes to create anti-democratic regimes and the promulgation and enforcement of laws denying the right to non-violent political opposition that legitimate democratic processes have been exploited for the creation of anti-democratic regimes as well as the promulgation and enforcing of laws denying the right to non-violent political opposition how legitimate democratic processes have been exploited for the creation of anti-democratic regimes and their promulgating laws that deny the right to non-violent political opposition and enforcing them

C You grossly underestimated the time this question took you. You actually solved it in 6 minutes and 36 seconds. Incorrect. While this answer choice corrects the grammatical mistake in the original question it is illogical. By changing that....exploited to exploitation, and when they promulgated and enforced laws to the promulgation and enforcement of laws, the corrected sentence creates a correct grammatical parallelism between A (exploitation) and B (promulgation and enforcement). However, these changes damage the logical parallelism of the original sentence. The original sentence describes one irony of modern history - the exploitation of democracy for anti-democratic purposes. This one irony is divided into two parts (1) the creation of anti-democratic regimes, (2) promulgation and enforcement of anti-democratic laws. By making exploitation parallel to promulgation and enforcement, the corrected sentence becomes illogical, because it lists three ironies instead of one. A Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The construction A and B (creation and when) requires that A and B belong to the same part of speech. In this case, A (creation) is a noun, whereas B (when) is a relative pronoun, which starts a relative clause. However, this relative clause needs to be attached or followed by a main clause, and since no main clause ever "arrives" until the end of the sentence - because of the faulty parallelism, we are left with a fragment, that is we are still waiting for the answer to what happens when they promulgated and enforced laws? What helps us identify this question as a Parallelism question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: A and/or/but B When you identify this structure, make sure it follows these rules: 1. A and B must be of the same part of speech. 2. A and B must be logically parallel. In addition, the pronoun they is ambiguous as it can refer grammatically to any of the preceding plural nouns (ironies, processes, regimes). What helps us identify Pronoun mistakes is the following Stop Sign: Every pronoun in the underlined part of the sentence or after it E Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The construction A and B (creation and their) requires that A and B belong to the same part of speech. In this case, A (creation) is a noun, whereas B (their promulgating) is an unconjugated verb. In addition, the use of the pronouns their and them makes this answer choice ambiguous. Their can refer to any of the previous plural nouns ironies, processes, or regimes. Them can refer to any of the above nouns or to laws. What helps us identify Pronoun mistakes is the following Stop Sign: Every pronoun in the underlined part of the sentence or after it B Well done! This answer choice corrects the Parallelism mistake in the original question by correctly constructing the nested parallelism: for the creation and for the [promulgation and enforcement].

It has been proven that ☺buying shares in the ACME Corporation can result in a loss of double or even more than double☺ your initial investment. buying shares in the ACME Corporation can result in a loss of double or even more than double to buy shares in the ACME Corporation can result in a loss of double or even more than double buying shares in the ACME Corporation results in a loss of at least twice buying shares in the ACME Corporation can result in a loss of at least double buying shares in the ACME Corporation can result in loss of at least twice

C You overestimated the time this question took you. You actually solved it in 1 minutes and 20 seconds. While this answer choice corrects the original redundancy, it changes the meaning of the original sentence as a result of the omission of the word can. Did you notice this omission? Yep, sure did. Nope, missed it. B The lesson to be learned here is the importance of paying close attention to details in the answer choices. Do not assume that the only thing that changes in the answer choices is the part which was flawed in the original sentence. Different answer choices can make changes in various parts of the sentence. Did you go over the remaining answer choices? Yes No A Good, that's what you should have done. D Well done! ++++++++++++ buying shares in the ACME Corporation can result in a loss of double or even more than double This answer choice is stylisically flawed. The phrase double or even more than double is redundant. Look for a more concise answer choice. to buy shares in the ACME Corporation can result in a loss of double or even more than double This answer choice repeats the original mistake: the phrase double or even more than double is redundant. Look for a more concise answer choice. buying shares in the ACME Corporation can result in loss of at least twice While this answer choice corrects the original redundancy, it is grammatically incorrect. The singular count noun loss must be preceded by an article (e.g., a loss, the loss).

The current real estate market exerts a greater pull on small investors, many of which had avoided buying rental properties when market values were high, but, since it dropped, have reassessed the profitability of becoming landlords. which had avoided buying rental properties when market values were high, but, since it dropped who had avoided buying rental properties when market values were high, but, since the drop in market values whom had avoided buying rental properties before the high market values dropped, and since whom avoided buying rental properties when market values were high, but since they dropped which avoided buying rental properties before the previously high market values dropped, and since

C You overestimated the time this question took you. You actually solved it in 1 minutes and 52 seconds. Excellent! This answer choice corrects the Relative Pronoun mistake in the original question, by changing which to whom. It also corrects the pronoun mistake, by changing since it dropped to before the high market values dropped. +++++++++++ which had avoided buying rental properties when market values were high, but, since it dropped Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The relative pronoun which can describe non-humans only, while investors is human. In addition, the pronoun it is clearly intended to refer to market values - however, it is singular whereas values is plural. What helps us identify Pronoun mistakes is the following Stop Sign: Every pronoun in the underlined part of the sentence or after it who had avoided buying rental properties when market values were high, but, since the drop in market values Incorrect. While this answer choice corrects the pronoun mistake in the original question, by changing since it dropped to since the drop in market values, it is grammatically incorrect. This answer choice appears to correct the original sentence by changing the non-human pronoun which to the human pronoun who (to refer to investors). However, the corrected sentences makes incorrect grammatical use of who. When deliberating between the relative pronouns who and whom, who is the default choice, and we use whom instead in one of two cases: 1. A preposition appears between the noun and the relative clause that modifies it. 2. The noun that the relative clause modifies is not the subject of the relative clause, but rather its object (the receiver of the action). In this sentence, the preposition of makes us choose whom over who. What helps us identify this question as a Relative Clause question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: who, which, that, whose, whom The relative pronoun who should not be used if it is preceded by a preposition. whom avoided buying rental properties when market values were high, but since they dropped Incorrect. While this answer choice corrects the Relative Pronoun mistake in the original question, by changing which to whom, it is stylistically flawed. The pronoun they is ambiguous as it can refer to both plural nouns that precede it in the sentence - rental properties and market values. What helps us identify Pronoun mistakes is the following Stop Sign: Every pronoun in the underlined part of the sentence or after it which avoided buying rental properties before the previously high market values dropped, and since Incorrect. While this answer choice corrects the pronoun mistake in the original question by changing since it dropped to before the high market values dropped, it repeats the relative pronoun mistake in the original question. The relative pronoun which can describe non-humans only, while investors is human.

A known cause for the failure of barley crops is poor aeration of the soil and in particular the seedlings' root zone, but since the introduction of new strains, which are more resistant to waterlogging, barley has survived better after seasonal floods. aeration of the soil and in particular the seedlings' root zone, but since the introduction of new strains, which are more resistant to waterlogging, barely has survived better after seasonal floods soil aeration, particularly the seedlings' root zone, but barley is surviving the seasonal floods better, after new strains were introduced, which are more resistant to waterlogging aeration of the soil and particularly that of the seedlings' root zone, but since the introduction of new strains, which are more resistant to waterlogging, barley has survived better after seasonal floods soil aeration and in particular that of the seedlings' root zone, but barley are surviving better after seasonal floods, since the introduction of new strains which are more resistant to waterlogging aeration of the soil, but since the introduction of new waterlogging-resistant strains and in particular of the seedlings' root zone, barley crops are better surviving seasonal floods

C You underestimated the time this question took you. You actually solved it in 4 minutes and 16 seconds. Excellent work! This answer choice corrects the original Parallelism mistake by changing in particular the seedlings' root zone to particularly that of the seedlings' root zone. The new construction creates a grammatically correct and logical parallelism between two items that describe causes for crop failure. Note that the parallelism consists of aeration of the soil and that of the seedlings' root zones. The pronoun that refers to aeration. What helps us identify this question as a Parallelism question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: A and/or/but B When you identify this structure, make sure it follows these rules: 1. A and B must be of the same part of speech. 2. A and B must be logically parallel. +++++++++++ aeration of the soil and in particular the seedlings' root zone, but since the introduction of new strains, which are more resistant to waterlogging, barely has survived better after seasonal floods Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The construction A and B (poor aeration of the soil and ... the seedling's root zone) requires that A and B be grammatically parallel and logically parallel. However, while poor aeration of the soil is a logical cause for crop failure, the seedling's root zone is not. This indicates that the logical parallelism should be between aeration of the soil and [aeration] of the seedlings' root zones. Look for answer choice that constructs this parallelism logically and grammatically. soil aeration, particularly the seedlings' root zone, but barley is surviving the seasonal floods better, after new strains were introduced, which are more resistant to waterlogging Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The relative clause which are more resistant to waterlogging logically refers to the noun strains and should therefore immediately follow it. However, it follows the verb introduced. What helps us identify this question as a Relative Clause question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: whose, which, that, whose, whom In addition, this answer choice is illogical. The modifier particularly the seedlings' root zone does not logically modify the noun soil aeration, which precedes it. It should logically be soil aeration, particularly the aeration of the seedlings' root zone. soil aeration and in particular that of the seedlings' root zone, but barley are surviving better after seasonal floods, since the introduction of new strains which are more resistant to waterlogging Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. It introduces a Subject Verb Agreement mistake: the singular noun barley does not agree with the plural verb are. aeration of the soil, but since the introduction of new waterlogging-resistant strains and in particular of the seedlings' root zone, barley crops are better surviving seasonal floods Incorrect. This answer choice changes the original meaning of the sentence. Moving the phrase in partucular of the seedling's root zone makes it parallel to new waterlogging-resistant strains, but it should be parallel to poor aeration of the soil: Original: ... is (a) poor aeration of the soil and [in particular] (b) the seedlings' root zone ... This answer choice: ... but since the introduction (a) of new waterlogging-resistant strains and [in particular] (b) of the seedlings' root zone ...

Take a look at the following example: Even though studying may not seem like an energy-consuming activity, nevertheless it is important to eat and drink regularly. Focusing on redundancy, can you find anything wrong with this sentence? It's redundant

Correct! The redundancy is created by using both Even though and nevertheless. Both indicate the same type of relation between the two parts of the sentence - opposition. Using more than one indicator of opposition is redundant. This means that if this sentence were an answer choice in a GMAT sentence correction question, you'd have to eliminate it and choose the following, more concise, sentence instead: Incorrect: Even though studying may not seem like an energy-consuming activity, nevertheless it is important to eat and drink regularly. Correct: Studying may not seem like an energy-consuming activity; nevertheless, it is important to eat and drink regularly. Correct:Even though studying may not seem like an energy-consuming activity, it is important to eat and drink regularly.

Now consider the following sentence: Due to a drop in net profits last year, consequently the company decided to initiate budget cuts. Focusing on redundancy, can you find anything wrong with this sentence? It's redundant.

Correct! The redundancy is created by using both the reason phrase Due to and the conclusion word consequently. Both indicate the same type of relation between the two parts of the sentence - cause and effect. Using more than one indicator of this relation is redundant. This means that if this sentence were an answer choice in a GMAT sentence correction question, you'd have to eliminate it and choose the following, more concise, sentence instead: Incorrect: Due to a drop in net profits last year, consequently the company decided to initiate budget cuts. Correct: Due to a drop in net profits last year, the company decided to initiate budget cuts.

Every year, around June or July, John and Jane, sometimes joined by friends, go on their annual vacation, that they usually spend in Indonesia. Every year, around June or July, John and Jane, sometimes joined by friends, go on their annual vacation, that they usually spend in Indonesia John and Jane, sometimes joined by friends, go on their annual vacation, that they usually spend in Indonesia, around June or July Every year, around June or July, John and Jane, usually accompanied by friends, go on vacation, usually spent in Indonesia Around June or July, John and Jane, sometimes accompanied by friends, go on their annual vacation, which they usually spend in Indonesia John and Jane, sometimes joined by friends, go on their annual vacation, which they usually spend in Indonesia, around June or July every year

D Close enough - you took 1 minutes and 53 seconds to answer this question. Well done! Replacing joined with accompanied does not constitute a meaning change since these words have the same meaning. +++++++++++++

The chances of sighting large groups of the North Atlantic Right Whale off the coast of Cape Cod will be lower this fall than last because the numerous shipping lanes passing through these waters are growing busier every year. will be lower this fall than last because the numerous shipping lanes passing through these waters are growing busier every year will be lower this fall than last because each year the numerous shipping lanes passing through these waters are growing annually busier this fall will be lower from last because of the annual growth in the number of busy shipping lanes passing through these waters this fall will be lower than last because the number of shipping lanes passing through these waters are growing busier yearly will be lower this year than of last because the numerous shipping lanes passing through these waters are growing busier every year

D Close enough - you took 3 minutes and 10 seconds to answer this question. Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect and changes the meaning of the original question. By changing the adjective numerous to the number of, the subject of the second clause changes from shipping lanes (plural) to the number of shipping lanes (singular). As a result the plural verb are no longer agrees with the subject. A Well done! This answer choice makes correct use of the comparative term than (lower than), and correctly constructs the parallelism of the comparative construction: lower this fall than last [fall]. +++++++++ will be lower this fall than last because each year the numerous shipping lanes passing through these waters are growing annually busier Incorrect. This answer choice is stylistically flawed. Using both each year and annually is redundant. What helps us identify this question as a Redundancy question as well as identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign: annual + year this fall will be lower from last because of the annual growth in the number of busy shipping lanes passing through these waters Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The correct comparative construction is adjective+er than and not adjective+er from (lower from). In addition, the corrected sentence changes the meaning of the original question. The original question says that the shipping lanes are growing busier every year. However, by introducing the noun phrase annual growth in the number of shipping lanes, the corrected sentence is saying that the number of shipping lanes is growing every year. will be lower this year than of last because the numerous shipping lanes passing through these waters are growing busier every year Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The preposition of is an unnecessary addition to the sentence. By changing than last to than of last, the corrected sentence violates the parallelism of the comparative construction lower this fall than last [fall].

While Shamanism, a system of religious practices and beliefs involving individuals who communicate with the spirit world and cure disease, has been documented all over the world, the term has been derived from Siberian tribal culture, in which the human intermediaries were known as Shamans. While Shamanism, a system of religious practices and beliefs involving individuals who communicate with the spirit world and cure disease, has been documented all over the world, the term has been derived from Siberian tribal culture, in which the human intermediaries were known as Shamans. While Shamanism, a system of religious practices and beliefs involving individuals who communicate with the spirit world and cure disease, has been documented all over the world, the term was derived from Siberian tribal culture, in which the human intermediaries were known as Shamans. Even though religious practices and beliefs involving individuals that communicate with the spirit world and cure disease have been documented all over the world, but the term Shamanism was derived from Siberian tribal culture, in which the human intermediaries were known as Shamans. Although the term Shamanism has been derived from Siberian tribal culture, in which the human intermediaries were known as Shamans, religious practices and beliefs involving individuals, who communicate with the spirit world and cure disease, are documented all over the world Documented all over the world, the term Shamanism, referring to a system of religious practices and belief that involves individuals communicating with the spirit world and curing disease, was being derived from the tribal culture of Siberia, where the human intermediaries were known as Shamans.

D Close enough - you took 3 minutes and 8 seconds to answer this question. Incorrect. This answer choice repeats the tense mistake in the original question: it uses the Present Perfect has been derived to describe something that occurred in the past. The derivation of the term Shamanism occurred in the past, but is already in established usage in English, and does not continue to be derived in the present. In addition, this answer choice incorrectly places a comma before the defining relative pronoun who. The information in the relative clause who communicate with the spirit world and cure disease is crucial for understanding the meaning of the sentence - if this information were left out the sentence would not make sense. The relative clause defines precisely what type of individuals are involved in Shamanistic religion. A Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The Present Perfect verb has been derived is used to describe an action that occurred in the past (the derivation of the term Shamanism occurred in the past, but is already in established usage in English, and does not continue to be derived in the present). C Incorrect. While this answer choice corrects the tense mistake in the original question, it is stylistically flawed. Using two opposition conjunctions when referring to the same relation is redundant. Double conjunctions is one of the specific redundancies that should always be eliminated. Stop Sign: Though/Although/Even though/Despite/In spite of... later followed by but/yet/however/still/nevertheless B Excellent work! This answer choice corrects the tense mistake in the original question, by changing the Present Perfect tense (has been derived) to the Past Simple (was derived). +++++++++ Documented all over the world, the term Shamanism, referring to a system of religious practices and belief that involves individuals communicating with the spirit world and curing disease, was being derived from the tribal culture of Siberia, where the human intermediaries were known as Shamans. Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. It uses the Past Progressive (was being derived) to describe an action that occurred in the past and ended (the deriving of the term Shamanism), but this tense is used to describe continuous actions in the past. In addition, the dangling modifier Documented all over the world, at the beginning of the sentence describes what immediately follows it - the term Shamanism - but the term Shamanism has not been documented all over the world - the religious system Shamanism has. What helps us identify this question as a Dangling Modifier question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: A modifier, characterized by all of the following: 1. Verb+ing or Verb in 3rd form 2. Separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma 3. Appears at the very beginning of the sentence Whenever you see this Stop Sign, focus on the modifier: check whether the noun right after the modifier is indeed the noun that the modifier describes. If it isn't - you've found your mistake.

Most indoor plants should be watered four or more than four times a month to prevent them from dying. watered four or more than four times a month to prevent them from dying watered at least four times a month to prevent it from dying given water at least four times a month to prevent them from dying watered at least four times monthly to prevent them from dying watered at least four times a month so that it does not die

D Good! This answer choice corrects the original redundancy flaw by replacing four or more than four with at least four. What helps us identify this question as a redundancy question as well as identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign: x or more than x ++++++++++ watered four or more than four times a month to prevent them from dying This answer choice is stylisically flawed. Four or more than four times is redundant. Look for a more concise answer choice. watered at least four times a month to prevent it from dying While this answer choice corrects the original redundancy, it is grammatically incorrect. The singular pronoun it does not agree with the plural noun plants to which it refers What helps us identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign: Any pronoun in the underlined part of the sentence or after the underlined part given water at least four times a month to prevent them from dying While this answer choice corrects the original redundancy, it is still redundant as a result of the replacing the single word watered with the two-word phrase given water. watered at least four times a month so that it does not die While this answer choice corrects the original redundancy, it is grammatically incorrect. The singular pronoun it does not agree with the plural noun plants to which it refers What helps us identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign: Any pronoun in the underlined part of the sentence or after the underlined part

☺The earth's resources are being wasted so significantly by corporate industries that replenishing these resources will be a difficult, if not impossible, task.☺ The earth's resources are being wasted so significantly by corporate industries that replenishing these resources will be a difficult, if not impossible, task Corporate industries are wasting the earth's resources so significantly that replenishing these resources will be a difficult task, or probably even an impossible one Corporate industries are wasting the earth's resources to such a large degree that replenishing these resources will be a difficult, if not impossible, task Corporate industries are wasting the earth's resources so significantly that replenishing these resources will be a difficult, if not impossible, task Replenishing the earth's resources will be a difficult, if not impossible, task as these resources are being wasted so significantly by corporate industries

D Nice work! This answer choice eliminates the original Stylistic error by changing the sentence from passive to active. ++++++++ The earth's resources are being wasted so significantly by corporate industries that replenishing these resources will be a difficult, if not impossible, task This answer choice is stylistically flawed. Using the passive form (are being wasted) creates Redundancy. Since there is another grammatically correct answer choice that does not use the passive form, it is preferable to this one. Corporate industries are wasting the earth's resources so significantly that replenishing these resources will be a difficult task, or probably even an impossible one Although this answer choice eliminates the original Stylistic error by changing the sentence from passive to active, it is not the most concise answer choice. Corporate industries are wasting the earth's resources to such a large degree that replenishing these resources will be a difficult, if not impossible, task Although this answer choice eliminates the original Stylistic error by changing the sentence from passive to active, it creates Redundancy by using the phrase to such a large degree. This phrase is one of the Specific Redundancies and should always be removed. Try to look for a more concise answer choice. What helps us identify this as a Redundancy question as well as identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign: to such a large degree / to a large enough degree Replenishing the earth's resources will be a difficult, if not impossible, task as these resources are being wasted so significantly by corporate industries This answer choice repeats the original Stylistic flaw. Using the passive form (are being wasted) creates Redundancy. Since there is another grammatically correct answer choice that does not use the passive form, it is preferable to this one.

Aluminum, ☺that is a commonly used metal, fulfills many functions in the aerospace and consumer product☺ industries. that is a commonly used metal, fulfills many functions in the aerospace and consumer product which is a commonly used metal, fulfills many functions in the aerospace as well as the consumer product which is a commonly used metal, fulfills an abundance of functions in the aerospace and consumer product which is a commonly used metal, fulfills many functions in the aerospace and consumer product who is a commonly used metal, fulfills many functions in the consumer product and aerospace

D Nice! The relative pronoun that cannot follow a comma. That can only begin defining (also called restrictive) relative clauses. The clause does not define aluminum so it is a non-defining relative clause.This answer choice corrects the original Relative Clause error by using a non-defining relative clause, beginning with which.

Salmon oil is an excellent source of Omega-3, one of the essential fatty acids that supports the immune system and promotes health of the heart. supports the immune system and promotes support the immune system as well as promote support the immune system and is a promoter of support the immune system and promote support the immune system and are the promoters of increased

D Very good! This answer choice corrects the original Relative Clause error by using the plural verbs support and promote to match the plural noun fatty acids. ++++++++++++ supports the immune system and promotes Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The relative clause which supports the immune system and promotes heart health describes the noun that appears immediately before it, namely, one of the essential fatty acids (that) and since this is plural, the verb that follows it also needs to be plural. However, supports and promotes are singular. support the immune system as well as promote Incorrect. Although this answer choice corrects the original Relative Clause error by using the plural verbs support and promote to match the plural noun one of the essential fatty acids (that), it creates redundancy by using as well as instead of and. What helps us identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign: as well as support the immune system and is a promoter of Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect and repeats the original Relative Clause error. The relative clause which supports the immune system and promotes heart health describes the noun that appears immediately before it, namely, one of the essential fatty acids (that), and since this is is plural, the verb that follows it also needs to be plural. However, is and a promoter are singular. support the immune system and are the promoters of increased Incorrect. Although this answer choice corrects the original Relative Clause error by using the plural verbs support and are to match the plural noun fatty acids (one of the essential fatty acids (that)), it creates redundancy with the wordy phrase the promoters of increased.

☺Even though through technology numerous practical inventions have been created to assist people, there is still many barriers preventing the complete integration of the disabled into the working sphere and☺ other sectors of society. Even though through technology numerous practical inventions have been created to assist people, there is still many barriers preventing the complete integration of the disabled into the working sphere and Even though through technology numerous practical inventions have been created to assist people, there are still many barriers preventing the complete integration of the disabled into the working sphere as well as Through technology, numerous practical inventions have been created to assist people although there is still many barriers that prevent the complete integration of the disabled into the working sphere and Through technology, numerous practical inventions have been created to assist people although there are still many barriers that prevent the complete integration of the disabled into the working sphere and Numerous practical inventions have been created to assist people through technology although there are still many barriers that prevent the complete and full integration of the disabled into the working sphere and

D Very good! You took 1 minutes and 57 seconds to answer this question. Fabulous! This answer choice corrects the original Subject Verb Agreement error by replacing is with are in the phrase there are still many barriers. It is also the most concise of the answer choices. +++++++ Numerous practical inventions have been created to assist people through technology although there are still many barriers that prevent the complete and full integration of the disabled into the working sphere and Although this answer choice corrects the original Subject Verb Agreement error by replacing is with are in the phrase there are still many barriers, it creates redundancy by using two adjectives that mean the same thing: complete and full. Since there is another answer choice that is both grammatically correct and concise, it is better than this one.

The suppression of the student demonstrations in Beijing's Tienanmen square in 1989 left not only hundreds injured but also 2000 or more than 2000 dead as estimated by the Chinese Red Cross. The suppression of the student demonstrations in Beijing's Tienanmen square in 1989 left not only hundreds injured but also 2000 or more than 2000 dead The suppression of the student demonstrations in Beijing's Tienanmen square in 1989 left hundreds injured but also at least 2000 dead The suppression of the student demonstrations in Beijing's Tienanmen square in 1989 left not only hundreds injured but also killed at least 2000 In 1989, the suppression of the student demonstrations in Beijing's Tienanmen square left not only hundreds injured but also at least 2000 dead The suppression of the student demonstrations in Beijing's Tienanmen square in 1989 left not only hundreds injured but at least 2000 dead

D Very good! You took 2 minutes to answer this question. Fantastic! The phrase 2000 or more than 2000 is redundant. This answer choice corrects the Redundancy by using at least while keeping X and Y parallel in the structure not only X but also Y . ++++++ The suppression of the student demonstrations in Beijing's Tienanmen square in 1989 left not only hundreds injured but also 2000 or more than 2000 dead This answer choice is stylistically flawed. 2000 or more than 2000 is redundant. Look for a more concise answer choice. What helps us identify this question as a Redundancy question as well as identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign: x or even more than x The suppression of the student demonstrations in Beijing's Tienanmen square in 1989 left hundreds injured but also at least 2000 dead Although this answer choice corrects the original Redundancy by deleting or more than 2000, it is grammatically incorrect. But also must be preceded by not only. What helps us identify this question as a Parallelism question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: not only... but also... The suppression of the student demonstrations in Beijing's Tienanmen square in 1989 left not only hundreds injured but also killed at least 2000 Although this answer choice corrects the original Redundancy by deleting or more than 2000, it is grammatically incorrect. The same part of speech that follows not only must also follow but also. In this answer choice, not only is followed by the adjective injured. But also, however, is followed by the verb killed. What helps us identify this question as a Parallelism question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: not only... but also... The suppression of the student demonstrations in Beijing's Tienanmen square in 1989 left not only hundreds injured but at least 2000 dead Although this answer choice corrects the original Redundancy by deleting or more than 2000, it is grammatically incorrect. Not only must be followed by but also, not just but. What helps us identify this question as a Parallelism question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: not only... but also...

☺Feeling fatigued and dizzy, having pale skin, an irregular heartbeat, and shortness of breath☺ are among the standard symptoms of anemia, a condition in which the blood lacks sufficient healthy red blood cells. Feeling fatigued and dizzy, having pale skin, an irregular heartbeat, and shortness of breath Feeling fatigued, dizzy, having pale skin, an irregular heartbeat, and shortness of breath A feeling of fatigue and dizziness, pale skin, an irregular heartbeat, and shortness of breathing Fatigue, dizziness, pale skin, an irregular heartbeat, and shortness of breath Fatigue, dizziness, paleness of skin, heartbeat irregularity, and shortness of breath

D Well done! What helps us identify this question as a Parallelism question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: A list of 3 items or more, separated by commas and and/or before the last item. In a list of 3 or more items, all the items should be the same part of speech (all nouns, all verbs, or all adjectives). This answer choice corrects the Parallelism mistake in the original question by replacing the redundant verb feeling (fatigued) and the adjective dizzy with the nouns Fatigue and dizziness, and by changing the redundant verbal phrase having pale skin with the noun phrase pale skin. The resulting list is comprised of parallel nouns. +++++++++++ Feeling fatigued and dizzy, having pale skin, an irregular heartbeat, and shortness of breath Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. In this list the first two items are verbs (feeling, having) and the second two are nouns (heartbeat, shortness). Feeling fatigued, dizzy, having pale skin, an irregular heartbeat, and shortness of breath Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. In this list the items are not the same parts of speech: feeling, having are verbs, dizzy is an adjective and an irregular heartbeat and shortness of breath are nouns. A feeling of fatigue and dizziness, pale skin, an irregular heartbeat, and shortness of breathing Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. While this answer choice corrects the Parallelism mistake in the original question, by changing the verb feeling to a noun a feeling and changing the adjective dizzy to a noun dizziness, it creates a new grammatical mistake and is stylistically flawed. Verb+ing (breathing) can be used as a noun replacement only when there's no actual noun. Since there is a real noun - breath - it should be used. Fatigue, dizziness, paleness of skin, heartbeat irregularity, and shortness of breath Incorrect. This answer choice is stylistically flawed. The phrase paleness of skin is redundant and awkward. The same meaning can be expressed more concisely by simply using an adjective+noun pale skin. In addition, heartbeat irregularity is non-idiomatic in English.

The light in John's office is so dim that he can scarcely see nothing. The light in John's office is so dim that he can scarcely see nothing So dim is the light in John's office that he can scarcely see nothing The light in John's office is so dim that he can barely see nothing So dim is the light in John's office that he can barely see anything The light in John's office is so dim that he scarcely see anything

D You grossly overestimated the time this question took you. You actually solved it in 1 minutes and 27 seconds. Well done! This answer choice corrects the original double negative mistake by changing nothing to anything, thus eliminating one of the double negatives. Scarcely and barely are interchangeable as they mean the same thing and are both negation words. +++++++++++

In 2005, a patent was issued on a device ☺that enables people with limited muscular power to be able to pour liquid from a container without having☺ to lift the container from a support surface. that enables people with limited muscular power to be able to pour liquid from a container without having that enables people with limited muscular power to be able to pour liquid from a container without the need enabling people with limited muscular power to be able to pour liquid from a container without the need that enables people with limited muscular power to pour liquid from a container without having that enables people with limited muscular power to pour liquid from a container without

D You overestimated the time this question took you. You actually solved it in 1 minutes and 56 seconds. Good! +++++++++++++ that enables people with limited muscular power to be able to pour liquid from a container without having This answer choice is stylistically flawed. Using both enables and to be able is redundant. that enables people with limited muscular power to be able to pour liquid from a container without the need This answer choice repeats the original mistake. Using both enables and to be able is redundant. Further redundancy is created by replacing the single word having with the three-word phrase the need to. enabling people with limited muscular power to be able to pour liquid from a container without the need This answer choice repeats the original mistake. Using both enables and to be able is redundant. Further redundancy is created by replacing the single word having with the three-word phrase the need to. that enables people with limited muscular power to pour liquid from a container without While this answer choice corrects the original redundancy mistake, it does not fit into the original sentence as a result of omitting the word having.

☺As John was so hysterical that he could not articulate well and Jane☺ was unable to understand the cause for his hysteria over the phone, so she dropped everything at work and drove home. As John was so hysterical that he could not articulate well and Jane Because John was so hysterical that he could not articulate well and Jane John was hysterical to such a large degree that he could not articulate well and Jane As John was so hysterical that he could not articulate well, Jane John was so hysterical that he could not articulate well and Jane, who

D You slightly overestimated the time this question took you. You actually solved it in 2 minutes and 7 seconds. Brilliant! This answer choice corrects the original Double Conjunction mistake, by omitting the connector and adding a comma before the word Jane. As a result of this change to the punctuation and sentence structure, the conjunction so (outside the underlined section) is no longer a redundant conjunction: it now is given a new function. What helps us identify this specific redundancy is the following Stop Sign: Because/Since/Due to/As later followed by so/therefore/thus/consequently In the original sentence, the conjunctions as and so were redundant - because they were used together to indicate the same relationship of cause and effect. Incorrect: [Cause]: As John was so hysterical that he could not articulate well and Jane was unable to understand the cause for his hysteria over the phone, [Effect]: so she dropped everything at work and drove home. For the sentence to be correct, only ONE conjunction is needed, either as or so. But there are also other ways to correct the sentence: notice that corrected sentence doesn't simply get rid of one conjunction - it in fact keeps both conjunctions, making the change harder to see. Nevertheless, by changing the sentence structure, it changes the role of the conjunctions without changing the overall meaning of the sentence: Correct: [Cause] As John was so hysterical that he could not articulate well, [Effect] Jane was unable to understand the cause for his hysteria over the phone, [Result] so she dropped everything at work and drove home. In the corrected sentence, the cause and effect relationship is expressed with the use of the conjunction as alone - eliminating the redundancy. The conjunction so has a new role: it now introduces the sentence's final clause (so she dropped everything at work and drove home) - as a consequence of the previous actions. +++++++++++++++ As John was so hysterical that he could not articulate well and Jane Incorrect. This answer choice is stylistically flawed. As both as and so describe a relationship of cause and effect, using one of them is enough to express this relation between the two parts of the sentence. Using a Double Conjunction is redundant. Because John was so hysterical that he could not articulate well and Jane Incorrect. This answer choice repeats the original Double Conjunction. As both because and so describe a relationship of cause and effect, using one of them is enough to express this relation between the two parts of the sentence. Using both is redundant. John was hysterical to such a large degree that he could not articulate well and Jane Incorrect. This answer choice is still stylistically flawed. Although this answer choice corrects the original Double Conjunction mistake, it introduces a new Specific Redundancy. The phrase to such a large degree is wordy and redundant; look for a more concise answer choice. What helps us identify the redundancy is the following Stop Sign: to such a large degree / to a large enough degree John was so hysterical that he could not articulate well and Jane, who Incorrect. This answer choice does not fit into the original sentence because it creates a fragment where there should be a clause. By adding ,who at the end of the underlined section, the corrected sentence introduces a relative clause that modifies Jane. However, if we look at main clause without the relative clause we are left with the following ungrammatical sentence: John was so hysterical that he could not articulate well and Jane [,who...,] so she dropped everything at work and drove home. By ignoring the extra information in the relative clause we can see that the two parts of the main clause do not fit together: the fragment and Jane so is non-grammatical. The words and Jane should have been followed by a verb, in order to construct a grammatical clause.

☺Estimated damages caused by Hurricane Katrina amounted to a sum of $81.2 billion.☺ Estimated damages caused by Hurricane Katrina amounted to a sum of $81.2 billion Hurricane Katrina caused estimated damages that amounted to a sum of $81.2 billion Hurricane Katrina estimated damages that amounted to $81.2 billion Hurricane Katrina caused estimated damages amounting to $81.2 billion Estimated damages amounting to the sum of $81.2 billion were caused by Hurricane Katrina

D You're right! ++++++++++ Hurricane Katrina estimated damages that amounted to $81.2 billion While this answer choice corrects the original redundancy, omitting the word caused changes the meaning of the original sentence and produces an illogical sentence.

Because of the increase in exposure to innovative forms of education, consequently many parents are unsure whether the traditional schooling method is best for their children. Because of the increase in exposure to innovative forms of education, consequently many parents are unsure whether the traditional schooling method is best for their children Because of the increase in exposure to innovative forms of education, many parents are unsure if the traditional schooling method is best for their children There has been an increase in exposure to innovative forms of education, and consequently many parents are unsure whether the traditional schooling method is best for their children or not Because of the increase in exposure to innovative forms of education, many parents are unsure whether or not the traditional schooling method is best for their children There has been an increase in exposure to innovative forms of education; therefore, many parents are unsure whether the traditional schooling method is best for their children

E Great! Including both a reason conjunction (Because) and a conclusion conjunction (consequently) to express the relation between two parts of a sentence is redundant. This answer choice removes the conclusion conjunction (consequently) and uses a reason conjunction (therefore) to correct the Redundancy.

The reason that tourists on safari are warned to keep a distance from elephants is because elephants are just as dangerous as predators are. The reason that tourists on safari are warned to keep a distance from elephants is because elephants are just as dangerous as predators are The reason that tourists on safari are warned to keep a distance from elephants is that elephants are just as dangerous than predators are Tourists on safari are warned to keep a distance from elephants because elephants are just as dangerous as predators are The reason that tourists on safari are warned to keep a distance from elephants is that elephants are just as dangerous as predators The reason that tourists on safari are warned to keep a distance from elephants is that elephants are just as dangerous as other predators are

E Incorrect. Although this answer choice corrects the original Redundancy mistake by getting rid of because which is redundant when we already have the reason, it changes the meaning of the original sentence by adding the word other in the phrase as other predators are. This addition implies that elephants are predators too. Apart from being incorrect, this statement does not appear in the original sentence. C Very good work! Using both the reason and because is redundant. This answer choice removes the words The reason while making correct use of the Comparative form with the phrase as dangerous as predators are.

The founding of Buddhism and the emergence of Zoroastrianism as a religious philosophy ☺at roughly the same time, are one of the historical coincidences that has led philosopher Karl Jaspers to designate the period between 800-200 B.C.E the Axial Age.☺ at roughly the same time, are one of the historical coincidences that has led philosopher Karl Jaspers to designate the period between 800-200 B.C.E the Axial Age at roughly around the same time, is one of the historical coincidences that have led philosopher Karl Jaspers to designate as the Axial Age the period between 800-200 B.C.E at roughly the same time are one of the historical coincidences that have led philosopher Karl Jaspers to designate the period between 800-200 B.C.E as the Axial Age simultaneously is one of the historical coincidences that have led philosopher Karl Jaspers to designate the period between 800-200 B.C.E by the name the Axial Age at around the same time being one of the historical coincidences that have led to the designation of the period between 800-200 B.C.E as the Axial Age by philosopher Karl Jaspers

E Incorrect. While this answer choice corrects the original Relative Clause mistake by changing the singular verb has to have (to match coincidences), this answer choice is grammatically incorrect. By changing the conjugated verb are to the non-conjugated verb being it turns the complete sentence into a fragment. The way to find out whether a sentence is a fragment is to read until the end of the sentence and search for a conjugated verb that agrees grammatically and logically with the subject of the corrected sentence. C Well done! This answer choice corrects the Relative Clause mistake in the original sentence by changing the singular verb has to the plural verb have. ++++++++++++ at roughly the same time, are one of the historical coincidences that has led philosopher Karl Jaspers to designate the period between 800-200 B.C.E the Axial Age Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. In addition, this answer choice contains another grammatical mistake because of incorrect punctuation: a single comma separates the subject The founding of Buddhism, etc. and the conjugated verb are. at roughly around the same time, is one of the historical coincidences that have led philosopher Karl Jaspers to designate as the Axial Age the period between 800-200 B.C.E Incorrect. While this answer choice corrects the Relative Clause mistake in the second part of the original sentence by changing the singular verb has to the plural verb have, it introduces another grammatical mistake in the first part of the sentence by changing the plural verb are to the singular verb is. The founding of Buddhism and the emergence of Zoroastrianism is a plural subject. What helps us identify this question as a Subject Verb Agreement question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: plural subject built of singular nouns connected by and In addition, this answer choice is redundant because of the use of the words roughly around, which both mean the same thing. simultaneously is one of the historical coincidences that have led philosopher Karl Jaspers to designate the period between 800-200 B.C.E by the name the Axial Age Incorrect. While this answer choice corrects the Relative Clause mistake in the original sentence by changing the singular verb has to the plural verb have, it introduces another grammatical mistake. The singular verb is does not agree with the plural subject The founding of Buddhism and the emergence of Zoroastrianism. Moreover, this answer choice is stylistically flawed because it is redundant and it also slightly changes the meaning of the sentence. The words by the name in the corrected sentence are redundant because they repeat the meaning of the word designate. On the other hand, around the same time and simultaneously are not precisely equivalent in meaning. Simultaneously means "at exactly the same time", roughly the same time means "approximately at the same time".

Nuclear reactors are not only dangerous but also expensive, entailing construction costs that can amount to a sum of $8 billion per reactor. not only dangerous but also expensive, entailing construction costs that can amount to a sum of dangerous but also expensive, entailing construction costs that can amount to not only dangerous but also cost a lot and can amount to not only dangerous but expensive too with costs that can amount to not only dangerous but also expensive, entailing construction costs that can amount to

E Lovely stuff! Using both amounted to and a sum is redundant. This answer choice corrects the redundancy while keeping X and Y parallel in the structure not only X but also Y. +++++++++++ not only dangerous but also cost a lot and can amount to Although this answer choice corrects the original Redundancy by getting rid of a sum of which is a repetition of amount to, it is grammatically incorrect. The same part of speech that follows not only must also follow but also. In this answer choice, not only is followed by the adjective dangerous. But also, however, is followed by the verb cost. What helps us identify this question as a Parallelism question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: not only... but also...

Performing at least one hour of physical aerobic exercise a day is a must for children as it improves muscular fitness and bone health. at least one hour of physical aerobic exercise a day is a must for children as it at least one hour of physical aerobic exercise a day is a must for children as this one hour or more than one hour of physical aerobic exercise a day is a must for children as doing so at least one hour of physical aerobic exercise a day is a must for children because it at least one hour of physical aerobic exercise a day is a must for children as doing so

E Lovely! This answer choice corrects the original Pronoun error. If we wish to refer to a previously mentioned verb, in this case Performing, we need to use the phrase to do so or doing so. +++++++++ at least one hour of physical aerobic exercise a day is a must for children as it This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. A pronoun (in this case, it) refers to a previously mentioned noun. If we wish to refer to a previously mentioned verb, we need to use the phrase to do so or doing so. What helps us identify this question as a Pronoun question is the following Stop Sign: Any pronoun in the underlined part or after it. at least one hour of physical aerobic exercise a day is a must for children as this This answer choice is grammatically incorrect and repeats the original mistake. A pronoun (in this case, this) refers to a previously mentioned noun. If we wish to refer to a previously mentioned verb, we need to use the phrase to do so or doing so. What helps us identify this question as a Pronoun question is the following Stop Sign: Any pronoun in the underlined part or after it.

The reason that the Yongala shipwreck in Australia is considered the best dive site in the world is because of the abundance of underwater sea life that surrounds the sunken ship. The reason that the Yongala shipwreck in Australia is considered the best dive site in the world is because of The reason that the Yongala shipwreck in Australia is considered the best dive site is The reason that the Yongala shipwreck in Australia is considered best dive site in the world is The Yongala shipwreck in Australia is considered a best dive site in the world because of The Yongala shipwreck in Australia is considered the best dive site in the world because of

E Nice work! This answer choice corrects the original Redundancy by not using both the reason and because in the same sentence.

Despite our increased awareness of ecological consequences, ☺oceans as well as rivers are being heavily polluted by various industries.☺ oceans as well as rivers are being heavily polluted by various industries oceans and rivers are being heavily polluted by various industries rivers and oceans are being polluted heavily by various industries various industries are heavily polluting rivers as well as oceans various industries are heavily polluting rivers and oceans

E Very good! This answer choice eliminates both of the original Stylistic errors by changing the sentence from passive to active, and by replacing the phrase as well as with the more concise and. +++++++ oceans and rivers are being heavily polluted by various industries This answer choice corrects the original Redundancy by removing the phrase as well as, but it too is stylistically flawed. Using the passive form (are being heavily polluted) creates Redundancy. Since there is another grammatically correct answer choice that does not use the passive form, it is preferable to this one. rivers and oceans are being polluted heavily by various industries This answer choice corrects the original Redundancy by removing the phrase as well as, but it too is stylistically flawed. Using the passive form (are being polluted heavily) creates redundancy. Since there is another grammatically correct answer choice that does not use the passive form, it is preferable to this one.

One cannot take the GMAT more than one time in any calendar month. more than one time in any more than one time in a twice in any once or more in any more than once in any

E Very good! ++++++++++++ more than one time in any This answer choice is stylistically flawed. One time is redundant as the same meaning can be expressed in fewer words. Look for a more concise answer choice. What helps us identify this question as a redundancy question as well as identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign: (multiplied) one/two/three/four times more than one time in a This answer choice repeats the original redundancy. One time is redundant as the same meaning can be expressed in fewer words. Look for a more concise answer choice. What helps us identify this question as a redundancy question as well as identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign: (multiplied) one/two/three/four times twice in any This answer choice changes the meaning of the original sentence. More than once is not necessarily twice. It can also be three times (sorry, thrice), four times or ten times. once or more in any While this answer choice corrects the original redundancy, it also changes the meaning of the original sentence. More than once means at least twice whereas once or more means at least once.

Less accessible than in hieratic form, but precisely for this reason the cursive form of ancient Egyptian ideographic writing was more suitable for sacerdotal uses. Less accessible than in hieratic form, but precisely for this reason the cursive form of ancient Egyptian ideographic writing was more suitable for sacerdotal uses The reason the cursive form of ancient Egyptian ideographic writing was more suitable for sacerdotal uses than the hieratic form was is precisely because it was less accessible Ancient Egyptian ideographic writing in its cursive rather than hieratic form was more suitable for sacerdotal uses precisely because less accessible Being less accessible as compared to the hieratic form, the cursive form of ancient Egyptian ideographic writing was more suitable for sacerdotal uses precisely because of this. Precisely because it was less accessible than the hieratic form, the cursive form of ancient Egyptian ideographic writing was more suitable for sacerdotal uses

E Very good! You took 2 minutes and 34 seconds to answer this question. Well done! This answer choice makes correct use of the comparative construction less...than to compare the hieratic form of ideographic writing with that of the cursive form. Note that this sentence is made of two interchangeable clauses: [Precisely because it was less accessible than the hieratic form ] , [ the cursive form of ancient Egyptian ideographic writing was more suitable for sacerdotal uses. This is equivalent to: [ The cursive form of ancient Egyptian ideographic writing was more suitable for sacerdotal uses ] [ precisely because it was less accessible than the hieratic form ]. +++++++++++++ Less accessible than in hieratic form, but precisely for this reason the cursive form of ancient Egyptian ideographic writing was more suitable for sacerdotal uses Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The parallelism A but B requires that A and B belong to the same part of speech. In this case, A is a fragment that lacks a conjugated verb (less accessible than in hieratic form) whereas B is a clause with a subject+verb (...the cursive form...was...). What helps us identify this question as a Parallelism question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: A and/or/but B Due to sentence's incorrect parallelism, the comparative construction less accessible than is flawed, because what is compared (hieratic form and cursive form) cannot be logically understood. The reason the cursive form of ancient Egyptian ideographic writing was more suitable for sacerdotal uses than the hieratic form was is precisely because it was less accessible Incorrect. This answer is stylistically flawed. Using both the reason and because is redundant. What helps us identify this question as a Redundancy question as well as identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign: the reason + because Ancient Egyptian ideographic writing in its cursive rather than hieratic form was more suitable for sacerdotal uses precisely because less accessible Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The last words of this answer choice because less accessible create a fragment, lacking a conjugated verb. The reason conjunction because always begins a clause which requires a conjugated verb. Being less accessible as compared to the hieratic form, the cursive form of ancient Egyptian ideographic writing was more suitable for sacerdotal uses precisely because of this. Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect and stylistically flawed. The correct comparative construction is less [adjective] than, not less [adjective] as compared to. In addition, the pronoun this is ambiguous, as it is not clear whether this refers to the situation of the cursive form being less accessible or to another singular noun in the earlier part of the sentence, e.g. the hieratic form or ideographic writing.

In a recent public statement, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommended that adults perform ☺2.5 or even more than 2.5 hours of aerobic exercise per week, in order that one reduce one's☺ risk of coronary heart disease. 2.5 or even more than 2.5 hours of aerobic exercise per week, in order that one reduce one's more than 2.5 hours of aerobic exercise per week, in order that one reduce one's at least 2.5 hours of aerobic exercise per week, in order that one reduce their at least 2.5 hours of aerobic exercise per week, in order that one reduce his at least 2.5 hours of aerobic exercise per week, in order that one reduce one's

E Very good! You took 57 seconds to answer this question. Superb! This answer choice corrects the redundancy of the phrase 2.5 or more than 2.5 while adhering to the rule: the pronoun one agrees with itself only. ++++++++

On the table is a plate, a fork, and a knife. On the table is a plate, a fork, and On the tables are a plate, a fork, and On the table are a plate, a fork, and also On the table are a plate, a fork as well as On the table are a plate, a fork, and

E Well done!

Although overpopulation is commonly ascribed to densely populated regions, nevertheless this condition, which occurs when the population of a certain environment has grown to such a large degree that the environment cannot support the inhabitants, is seen also in sparsely-populated regions with few resources. nevertheless this condition, which occurs when the population of a certain environment has grown to such a large degree that the environment cannot support the inhabitants this condition, which occurs when the population of a certain environment has grown to such a large degree that the environment cannot support the inhabitants these conditions, which occur when the population of a certain environment has grown so much that the environment cannot support the inhabitants nevertheless this condition, which occurs when the population of a certain environment has grown so much that the environment cannot support the inhabitants this condition, which occurs when the population of a certain environment has grown so much that the environment cannot support the inhabitants

E You grossly overestimated the time this question took you. You actually solved it in 1 minutes and 30 seconds. Great! This answer choice does away with both original redundancy issues without creating new mistakes. +++++++++++++ nevertheless this condition, which occurs when the population of a certain environment has grown to such a large degree that the environment cannot support the inhabitants Incorrect. This answer choice contains two redundancies. The first is the phrase to such a large degree which is wordy and redundant; the second is using both Although and nevertheless. As both these words are opposition words, using one of them is enough to express the opposition relation between the two parts of the sentence. Using both is redundant. What helps us identify the first redundancy is the following Stop Sign: to such a large degree / to a large enough degree What helps us identify the second redundancy is the following Stop Sign: Though/Although/Even though/Despite/In spite of... later followed by but/yet/however/still/nevertheless this condition, which occurs when the population of a certain environment has grown to such a large degree that the environment cannot support the inhabitants Incorrect. Although this answer choice corrects one of the original redundancies, it repeats the other. The phrase to such a large degree which is wordy and redundant. Try to look for a more concise answer choice. What helps us identify the redundancy is the following Stop Sign: to such a large degree / to a large enough degree these conditions, which occur when the population of a certain environment has grown so much that the environment cannot support the inhabitants Incorrect. This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The plural subject conditions does not agree with the singular verb is (which appears after the underlined part). What helps us identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign: A long complex subject / long distance between the subject and the verb nevertheless this condition, which occurs when the population of a certain environment has grown so much that the environment cannot support the inhabitants Incorrect. Although this answer choice corrects one of the original redundancies, it repeats the other. Using both Although and nevertheless is redundant. As both these words are opposition words, using one of them is enough to express the opposition relation between the two parts of the sentence. What helps us identify this redundancy is the following Stop Sign: Though/Although/Even though/Despite/In spite of... later followed by but/yet/however/still/nevertheless

Although the organizers of the famous English rock festival Glass Town Berry have provided appropriate camping arrangements for festival-goers, ☺the number of attendants who chose to sleep in a tent over accommodation in nearby towns have amounted to a mere sum of 30,000☺, a meager 10% of the total number of tickets sold. the number of attendants who chose to sleep in a tent over accomodation in nearby towns have amounted to a mere sum of 30,000 the number of attendants, who chose to sleep in a tent over accommodation in nearby towns, has amounted to merely 30,000 the number of attendants who chose to sleep in a tent over accommodation in nearby towns has amounted to a mere sum of 30,000 attendants who chose to sleep in a tent over accommodation in nearby towns has amounted to merely 30,000 the number of attendants who chose to sleep in a tent over accommodation in nearby towns has amounted to a mere 30,000

E You overestimated the time this question took you. You actually solved it in 2 minutes and 17 seconds. Very good! This answer choice corrects both original mistakes without creating any new ones or altering the meaning of the original sentence. ++++++++++ the number of attendants who chose to sleep in a tent over accomodation in nearby towns have amounted to a mere sum of 30,000 This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The singular subject the number of attendants does not agree with the plural verb have. The following Stop Signs help us identify this question as a Subject Verb Agreement question as well as identify this mistake: - A subject in the form of X of Y - A long complex subject / A long distance between the subject and the verb Furthermore, this answer choice is stylistically flawed. Using both amounted to and a sum is redundant. What helps us identify this question as a redundancy question as well as identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign: amount to a sum the number of attendants, who chose to sleep in a tent over accommodation in nearby towns, has amounted to merely 30,000 Although this answer choice corrects both original mistakes, it is illogical. By adding the commas on both sides of the relative clause who chose to sleep in a tent over accommodation in nearby towns, this answer choice turns the defining relative clause into a non-defining relative clause. The original sentence with the defining relative clause focused on the number of attendants who slept in tents, which was only 10% of the total number of attendants. However, in this answer choice the relative clause is non-defining. Thus, this focus is lost and the sentence seems to refer to the number of attendants while noting that attendants slept in tents. Clearly, the number of attendants cannot be only 10% of the (very same) total number of attendants. the number of attendants who chose to sleep in a tent over accommodation in nearby towns has amounted to a mere sum of 30,000 Although this answer choice corrects the original Subject Verb Agreement mistake, it repeats the other original mistake: using both amounted to and a sum is redundant. What helps us identify this question as a redundancy question as well as identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign: amount to a sum attendants who chose to sleep in a tent over accommodation in nearby towns has amounted to merely 30,000 Although this answer choice corrects the original redundancy and eliminates the X of Y subject Stop Sign by changing the number of attendants to attendants, it is still grammatically incorrect. The now plural subject attendants does not agree with the singular verb has. What helps us identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign: A long complex subject / A long distance between the subject and the verb

Jane, who is a devout Buddhist, meditates twice or even more than twice a week who is a devout Buddhist, meditates twice or even more than twice a week who is a devout Buddhist, meditates at least twice a week a devout Buddhist, meditates at least twice weekly who is a devout Buddhist, meditates at least two times a week who is a devout Buddhist, meditates at least twice weekly

E You overestimated the time this question took you. You actually solved it in 45 seconds. While this answer choice corrects the original redundancy and is grammatically correct, stylistically it is not the best of the five answer choices. There is another answer choice which also corrects the original redundancy and is stylistically better than this answer choice. B While this answer choice corrects the original redundancy and is grammatically correct, it is not the best of the five answer choices. There is another answer choice which also corrects the original redundancy and is stylistically better than this answer choice. Did you go over all five answer choices? Yes, I did. No, I didn't. A Indeed, the easier part is getting rid of the grammatical erros. Once that is done it is a question of asking why one answer choice differs from the others, what in the wording has changed and why. C Excellent! This answer choice is the most concise of the five answer choices thanks to the omission of the words who is and replacing the two-word phrase a week with the single word weekly.

Many parents believe that television programs aimed at an audience of young children should not contain violence, foul language, or nothing of a sexual nature. should not contain violence, foul language, or nothing should not contain violence, foul language, and nothing should not contain violence, foul language, or will not contain violence, foul language, or anything should not contain violence, foul language, or anything

E You're right!

In English, it is grammatically incorrect to use more than one negation word in a clause, as in the following example: Incorrect: John does not know nothing. Correcting a double negative involves omitting one of the negation words: 1. Correct: John does not know anything. 2. Correct: John knows nothing. By the way, one negation word per clause is okay: Correct: [Although John knows nothing,] [he is not worried about it].

Okay. I will never choose none of the answer choices with double negation. Okay. I will do my best to avoid answer choices with double negation. B By choosing this reply, you already avoided a double negation. Never and none are both negation words, so the other reply had a double negative in it. To help you avoid such errors in the future, here's a complete list of negation words: no, not neither, never, none, nothing, nowhere, nobody, no one hardly, seldom, rarely, scarcely, barely If you see two of these words in the same clause in a Sentence Correction question, you can eliminate the answer choice as it creates the forbidden double negative. Note that words that begin with un- (e.g., unhappy, unhealthy), in- (e.g., inaccurate, insane), dis- (e.g., disappear, disbelieve), etc. are NOT negation words.

Continue to Stop Sign

Our Stop Sign is the following: x or (even) more than x The word even is in parentheses because it won't always appear. Example: Incorrect: John's brother is 32 or more than 32 years old. Correct: John's brother is at least 32 years old. Whenever you come across this Stop Sign, eliminate answer choices that repeat this structure. Choose an answer choice that instead uses the concise at least x.

The Stop Sign to look out for is any combination of the following opposition words:

The Stop Sign to look out for is any combination of the following opposition words: Though/Although/Even though/Despite/In spite of... later followed by but/yet/however/still/nevertheless Whenever you come across this Stop Sign, eliminate answer choices that use two opposition words. Choose a more concise answer choice, that is one that uses only one opposition word. Examples: Incorrect: Although John cut down on unhealthy food, yet he noticed that his weight remained the same. Correct: Although John cut down on unhealthy food, he noticed that his weight remained the same. Correct: John cut down on unhealthy food, yet he noticed that his weight remained the same.

So far, we have discussed redundancy as a general stylistic flaw in Sentence Correction questions. However, there are also specific redundancy mistakes in Sentence Correction questions that should be treated in the same compelling way as grammatical mistakes such as Subject Verb Agreement.

This means that in your Work Order, you should treat these mistakes as grammatical errors - they must be corrected and the correct answer choice will never contain them.

The numbers 1-4 are unique in that they have shortened multiplication expressions. For example, whereas there's no shorter way of saying five times, there is such a shorter way with one time (once), two times (double, doubly, twice), three times (triple, triply, thrice) and four times (quadruple, quadruply). This means that one time, two times, three times and four times are all redundant.

This redundancy becomes even more pronounced in expressions such as multiplied two times, which can - and should - be replaced by the concise doubled. Example: Incorrect: Thanks to the new marketing director, the company multiplied its profit two times. Correct: Thanks to the new marketing director, the company doubled its profit.

Our Stop Sign is the following: the reason + because

Whenever you come across this Stop Sign, make sure you eliminate answer choices that include both the reason and because and that you are left with answer choices that use the reason only. Example: Incorrect: The reason that John's computer is so slow is because it is old. Correct: The reason that John's computer is so slow is that it is old.

Take a look at the following sentence: An excellent score in the quantitative as well as the verbal section of the GMAT is required for acceptance into an Ivy League school. Can you see anything wrong with this sentence focusing on redundancy? It's redundant.

You're Right! It is redundant because the same meaning can be expressed in fewer words. Redundant: An excellent score in the quantitative as well as the verbal section of the GMAT is required for acceptance into an Ivy League school. Concise: An excellent score in the quantitative and the verbal section of the GMAT is required for acceptance into an Ivy League school.

Look at the following example: John's annual salary is $120,000 a year. Focusing on redundancy, do you think this sentence is OK? No, it's redundant.

You're right, of course. This sentence is indeed redundant. Annual and a year basically mean the same. This means that if this sentence were an answer choice in a GMAT sentence correction question, you'd have to eliminate it and choose either one of the following, more concise, sentences instead: Incorrect: John's annual salary is $120,000 a year. Correct: John's annual salary is $120,000. Correct: John's salary is $120,000 a year.

Look at the following example: The reason John loves Jane is because she is kind. Is this sentence correct? It may be grammatically correct, but it is stylistically flawed.

You're right. Although in spoken English, saying the reason... is because is fine and is commonly used, in standard written English, it is considered redundant since the causal relationship is expressed twice: once by using the reason and again by using because. And that's what redundancy is - repeating something unnecessarily. Correcting this sentence involves replacing because with the word that: Incorrect: The reason John loves Jane is because she is kind. Correct: The reason John loves Jane is that she is kind.

Look at the following example: The company's net profit last year amounted to a sum of $3,000,000. Focusing on redundancy, do you think this sentence is OK? It's redundant.

You're right. It is indeed redundant. Amounted to and a sum are basically the same. This means that if this sentence were an answer choice in a GMAT sentence correction question, you'd have to eliminate it and choose the following, more concise, sentence instead: Incorrect: The company's net profit last year amounted to a sum of $3,000,000. Correct: The company's net profit last year amounted to $3,000,000.

Take a look at the following example: Jane loves playing piano to such a large degree that she practices for hours every day. Focusing on redundancy, can you find anything wrong with this sentence? It's redundant.

You're right. This sentence is indeed redundant. The exact same meaning can be expressed in fewer words. A more concise way of phrasing this sentence is the following: Incorrect: Jane loves playing piano to such a large degree that she practices for hours every day. Correct: Jane loves playing piano so much that she practices for hours every day.

Our Stop Sign is the following: amount to a sum

amount to a sum Whenever you come across this Stop Sign, make sure you eliminate answer choices that include both amount to and a sum and that you are left with answer choices that use amount to only. Example: Incorrect: The cost of John and Jane's wedding amounted to a sum of $20,000. Correct: The cost of John and Jane's wedding amounted to $20,000.

Our Stop Sign is the following:

to such a large degree / to a large enough degree Whenever you come across this Stop Sign, eliminate answer choices that repeat this structure. Choose an answer choice that uses the more concise phrase so... that. Examples: Incorrect: Jane was tired to such a large degree that she forgot to brush her teeth. Incorrect: Jane was tired to a large enough degree that she forgot to brush her teeth. Correct: Jane was so tired that she forgot to brush her teeth. Be careful not to choose answers that contain the incorrect construction so...as to Example: Incorrect: John was so determined to win the game as to cause his competitors to actually fear him. Correct: John was so determined to win the game that his competitors actually feared him.