Why is this sentence wrong? Thank you!

Question

It can hardly be said that it is the fault of educators who have not anticipated the impact of microcomputer technology.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Hi;

Why do you think it is wrong?

Jiangyueming · Answer

Because it is a wrong answer in a sentence correction in GMAT. The original explanation is that Construction "that is…who have not" is wordy and awkward; it also distorts meaning and lacks completion. But I don't understand and still believe it is right. So I ask you guys who   can help me.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

There is no grammatical error in the sentence, but as your guide tells you, it is an example of circumlocution.

BarbaraPA · Answer

Bad style is not the same as grammatically incorrect.

CalifJim · Answer

jiangyuemingIt can hardly be said that it is the fault of educators who have not anticipated the impact of microcomputer technology.

I was expecting another that-clause because I took 'it' in 'it is the fault' as a dummy 'it' (likely because the sentence also begins with a dummy 'it'), as in

It is the fault of educators that the students are poorly prepared.

In other words,

(The fact) that the students are poorly prepared is the fault of educators.

So I was expecting something like

It can hardly be said that it is the fault of educators (who have not anticipated the impact of microcomputer technology) that classrooms are still poorly equipped with computers.

I set off the relative clause in parentheses so you can see the structure better.

This is why your guide says the sentence seems incomplete.
_________________

Only after hitting a brick wall at the end of the sentence did I realize that 'it' is not a dummy, but a reference to something outside the sentence entirely -- some situation that had to have been mentioned earlier in the text.

So, because the sentence does have a valid interpretation, it is not wrong. It's just problematic for the reader to work out a way that makes it correct. It's awkward.

CJ

Jiangyueming · Answer

Thank you.

Why is this sentence wrong? Thank you!

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