Grammar

The following is a very long post, but it will be of lot more help for users in this forum if these things are taken up for discussion. I've a set of ten questions (sentences to be exact) posted recently in the copyediting newsletter. I've given the answers for these sentences below each and the reason for my answer within brackets. I want people to confirm if the reasons I've given are actually correct. If not correct, please suggest why it is incorrect and give solution too.

Correct the following sentences for grammar.

1. 1. The firm can either reduce expenses by curtailing its working force or postpone factory renovations.

Ans: The firm can reduce expenses either by curtailing its working force or by postponing factory renovations.

[Reason: Applying the rule of correlative conjunctions.]

1. 2. Miss Lang had not directed many plays, and she knew how to manage an inexperienced cast.

Ans: Miss Lang had not directed many plays, but she knew to manage an inexperienced cast.

[Reason: I felt there was no relation between the first independent clause and the second independent clause with the conjunction “and,” but with the conjunction “but” I felt these two clauses were related. I felt “how” was unnecessary as the meaning is retained without “how” and hence I deleted it.]

1. 3. Because their principal crop was potatoes and the potato season was poor, the farmers managed to avoid going into debt.

Ans: Because their principal crop was potatoes and the potato season was good, the farmers managed to avoid getting into debt.

[Reason: Logically it should be “good” rather than “poor” to make the clause “the farmers managed … debt” valid.]

Doubt: I know “their principal crops was potatoes” is correct, but any reason stating why it is correct .

1. 4. Macbeth’s mind was constantly imagining horrible things, and that frightened him.

Ans: Macbeth’s mind was constantly imagining horrible things, which frightened him.

Or should this be “Macbeth’s mind was constantly imagining horrible things that frightened him.”?

[Reason: I felt “that frightened him” cannot stand as independent clause and hence I changed it as a dependent clause.]

1. 5. He is a conscientious, hard-working man with an engaging personality, but it doesn’t make him any richer.

Ans: He is a conscientious, hardworking man with an engaging personality, but it doesn’t make him any richer.

[Reason: Other than the hyphen I don’t see any error in this sentence. But I have seen in different forums about the argument that “conscientious” and “hardworking” have the same meaning and hence redundant in this case. But I don’t think they are synonyms and hence did not make any change in that regard.]

1. 6. The vice president flew to the Paris Conference, but few concrete results were accomplished by him.

The vice-president flew to the Paris Conference, but few concrete results were accomplished by him.

[Reason: Except for the hyphen, I don’t see any other error. Can anyone help me here?]

1. 7. The experienced yachtsman is aware of the danger of fire, and, when filling the gas tank, great precautions are taken not to spill gasoline in the bottom of the boat.

Ans: Experienced yachtsmen are aware of the danger of fire, but when filling the gas tank, more precautions should be taken not to spill the gasoline to the bottom of the boat.

[Reason: I’ve made many change here: pluralising “yachtsman” and deleting the article “the” (it is a general statement, and hence this was changed); changing “and” to “but” and deleting of the comma following (I felt “but” to be better in this case than “and” as I felt whatever follows “but” is something contrast to that before it; comma was deleted as the clause following “but” was an independent clause); changing “great precautions” to “more precautions” ; changing “are” to “should be”; introducing article “the” before “gasoline”; changing preposition “in” to “to”]

1. 8. Audiences appeared to enjoy the play, the reviews in the papers, however, were unfavorable.

Ans: Audience appeared to enjoy the play; however, the reviews in the papers were unfavorable.

Another Ans: Audience appeared to enjoy the play; the reviews in the papers, however, were unfavorable.

[Reason: “Audience” is a collective noun and hence I felt it should not be “Audiences,” but I know “Audience” is countable and hence it can be sometimes “Audiences” too. Please correct me if I’m wrong in the present case (justifying why I’m wrong). You cannot have two independent clauses separated by commas and hence comma is replaced with semicolon. But what is the difference between the two sentences (I feel both interpret the same meaning)?]

1. 9. Lacking sufficient capital to weather the depression, a rival firm with greater resources bought him out.

Lacking sufficient capital to weather the depression, his firm was bought out by a rival firm with greater resources.

[Reason: Dangling modifier. But is the way I’ve corrected correct?]

1. 10. Expecting bad news at any moment, the fact that long distance was calling me nearly frightened me to death.

Expecting bad news at any moment, I was nearly frightened to death by the fact that long distance was calling me.

[Reason: Misplaced modifier. But I’m not sure if the way I’ve corrected is correct.]