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Anonymous Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

Please correct the question.

The following is a question from a school test. I don't understand what it means. Please explain it to me.What are the second largest cities in size in Malaysia?
  

Top answer

It isn't clear, or isn't properly written. When the cities are ranked by descending size, the "second largest" is the second one in the list. This question asks for more than one second largest city, which implies more than one way in which "largest" is measured, but this is not explained.

— GPY

  • It isn't clear, or isn't properly written.
  • When the cities are ranked by descending size, the "second largest" is the second one in the list.
  • This question asks for more than one second largest city, which implies more than one way in which "largest" is measured, but this is not explained.
  • "largest in size" is unhelpful.
  • This would be a correct way of asking a similar question: What is the second largest city in Malaysia by population?
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4 Answers
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It isn't clear, or isn't properly written. When the cities are ranked by descending size, the "second largest" is the second one in the list. This question asks for more than one second largest city, which implies more than one way in which "largest" is measured, but this is not explained. "largest in size" is unhelpful. This would be a correct way of asking a similar question:

What is
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As far to my knowledge the question is not framed correctly. Instead, it should be
"What is the second largest city, with respect to size, in Malaysia?
The question is asking you to name the city which has the second largest area among all cities of Malaysia.
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Niladri14"What is the second largest city, with respect to size, in Malaysia?
"with respect to size" does not add anything to "largest". It needs to say how size is measured -- though if no method is mentioned then population would normally be assumed.
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GPYWhat is the second largest city in Malaysia by population?
Actually, "second-largest city" is more strictly correct, though many people don't bother with the hyphen.
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