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Snappy Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Comparison
1. This fax machine is 20% lighter than conventional ones.
2. This fax machine is 20% lighter than a conventional one.
If the weight of this fax machine is 20% lighter than the weight of any conventional fax machine, which one of the above is better? Either will do?
2. This fax machine is 20% lighter than a conventional one.
If the weight of this fax machine is 20% lighter than the weight of any conventional fax machine, which one of the above is better? Either will do?
Top answer
Use the first one. The second one sounds like it's lighter than ONE of the conventional ones - there could be others ones that it's heavier than.
- Use the first one.
- The second one sounds like it's lighter than ONE of the conventional ones - there could be others ones that it's heavier than.
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4 Answers
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Use the first one.
The second one sounds like it's lighter than ONE of the conventional ones - there could be others ones that it's heavier than.
The second one sounds like it's lighter than ONE of the conventional ones - there could be others ones that it's heavier than.
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Thanks.
Why I was confused is that I thought sentence 1 (This fax machine is 20% lighter than conventional ones.) sounded like the comparison of the weight of a single fax machine (this fax machine) and the weights of a number of fax machines (conventional fax machines).
Why I was confused is that I thought sentence 1 (This fax machine is 20% lighter than conventional ones.) sounded like the comparison of the weight of a single fax machine (this fax machine) and the weights of a number of fax machines (conventional fax machines).
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In truth, either will serve, but no one will think you mean that this one machine is lighter than all the other ones put together. That's so obvious as to be nonsense.
My friends Tom is stronger than my other friends. No one would think that you mean Tom is stronger than all your other friends working together.
My friends Tom is stronger than my other friends. No one would think that you mean Tom is stronger than all your other friends working together.
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Grammar GeekIn truth, either will serve, but no one will think you mean that this one machine is lighter than all the other ones put together. That's so obvious as to be nonsense.Thank yo
My friends Tom is stronger than my other friends. No one would think that you mean Tom is stronger than all your other friends working together.
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