2. Illogical Comparison Complied by Ms. Terri Yueh

3. Principles of comparison A comparison expresses a relationship between two things. Be complete Be complete Be logical Be logical Be comparable Be comparable Common errors Grammatically incomplete comparisons Grammatically incomplete comparisons Ambiguous comparisons Ambiguous comparisons Illogical comparisons Illogical comparisons Incomplete comparisons Incomplete comparisons

4. Grammatically incomplete comparisons ? Apples are better. (better than what?) ? Our new car gets better mileage. (better than what?)  Our new car gets better mileage than our old one did. ? Tainan features more park land per person than any other in Taiwan. (any other what?)  Tainan features more park land per person than any other city in Taiwan.

5. Ambiguous comparisons He enjoys watch basketball more than he enjoys watching baseball. He enjoys watch basketball more than he enjoys watching baseball. ? I admire her more than Tom.  I admire her more than I admire Tom.  I admire her more than Tom does. ? Tom loves his wife, so do I.  Tom loves his wife, and I love my wife, too.  Tom loves his wife and I love his wife, too.

6. Illogical comparisons Two things are not comparable: Two things are not comparable: ? A doctor’s income is greater than a teacher.  A doctor’s income is greater than a teacher’s.  A doctor’s income is greater than that of a teacher.  A doctor has a greater income than a teacher has.

7. Incomplete comparisons As.…as As.…as ? He is strong, if not stronger than, Tom.  He is as strong as, if not stronger than, Tom.  He is as strong as Tom, if not stronger. Other, any other  items in the same class of things Other, any other  items in the same class of things Mary is better than any other student in our class. Mary is better than any other student in our class. Any  items in different classes Any  items in different classes ? Mount Everest is higher than any Asian mountain.  Mount Everest is higher than any other Asian mountain.  Mount Everest is higher than other Asian mountains.  Mount Everest is higher than any American mountain. (comparing Mt. Everest, an Asian mountain, with American mountains, a different class) (comparing Mt. Everest, an Asian mountain, with American mountains, a different class)