Word Usage which helps in Sentence Correction

Some pairs of words, like fewer and less, are often used incorrectly because they’re treated as synonyms. In fact, there is a solid rule that determines which one you should use, and the exam will test your ability to decide which is the correct option. The exam tests four such word pairs with particular frequency, so memorize the rules pertaining to them if you don’t know them already.

1.Fewer/Less

Which of the two following sentences is correct?

§The company fired no less than fifty employees.

§The company fired no fewer than fifty employees.

The second sentence is correct. Why? Because you use less when you’re talking about things you can’t count (less pollution, less violence) but fewer when you’re talking about things you can count (fewer pollutants, fewer violent acts).

2.Among/Between

Use between when only two options are available (between the red car and the blue car) and among when more than two options are available (among the five answer choices, among the many books).

3.If/Whether

Whether is correct when you’re discussing two options (whether to get chocolate or strawberry ice cream) and if is correct for more than two options (if she should get ice cream, frozen yogurt, or a cookie).

On the CAT, whether will (almost) always beat if

Incorrect: Her client didn’t tell her if he had sent his payment yet.

Correct: Her client didn’t tell her whether he had sent his payment yet

4.Compared to v/s. Compared with: To show comparison between unlike things, ‘compare to’ is used. To show comparison between like things, ‘compare with’ is used.

e.g.

§He compared her to a summer day.

§Scientists compare the human brain to a computer. (Unlike thing)

§The police compared the forged signature with the original. (Like things)

Compare to is used to stress the resemblance. Compare with can be used to show either similarity or difference but is usually used to stress the difference.

5.Each

This question tests one use of “each” which most of us ignore. The traditional rule still holds true i.e. “the subject of a sentence beginning with each is grammatically singular”.

But there is another rule which says that:

When each follows a plural subject, the verb and subsequent pronouns remain in the plural:

e.g. the apartments each have their own private entrances (not has its own private entrance)

§Three cats each eat …

§Three cats, each of which eats …,

In 1, each is postpositive Adj, whereas in 2, it is distributive determiner.

based on above solve this

Although it claims to delve into political issues, television can be superficial such as when each of the three major networks broadcast exactly the same statement from a political candidate.

(A) superficial such as when each of the three major networks

(B) superficial, as can sometimes occur if all of the three major networks

(C) superficial if the three major networks all

(D) superficial whenever each of the three major networks

(E) superficial, as when the three major networks each

6.That Vs Which

Most often than not, in CAT, which would be preceded by a comma in the sentence.

e.g. Get me the book, which is mine. Which is used to qualify the book i.e. which is mine. There may be many books in the room, but I want my book.

‘Which’ should always refer to a noun. E.g. Get me the book, which is mine. So, ‘which’ here refers to the noun ‘book’.

·Which should apply to things

·The other thing–which must replace a noun, not a sentence or idea.

another problem

Sales of United States manufactured goods to non-industrialized countries rose to $167 billion in 1992, which is 14 percent more than the previous year and largely offsets weak demand from Europe and Japan.

§which is 14 percent more than the previous year

§which is 14 percent higher than it was the previous year

§14 percent higher than the previous year’s figure

§an amount that is 14 percent more than the previous year was

§an amount that is 14 percent higher than the previous year’s figure

However, CAT is very tricky at times, and can of course create a question in which this rule does NOT apply. In fact, I’ve seen a question that used which without a comma, but ALL the answer choices violated the rule. I.e., none of the answer choices used that; they all used which without a comma.

7.Usual v/s. Is Usual: He is faster than is usual for any human being – Is correct.

He is faster than usual today – is correct

A Mercedes is more expensive than usual for a car – Incorrect

A Mercedes is more expensive than is usual for a car – Correct

When something is compared to a subgroup to which it belongs, is usual should be used. When something is compared to itself, usual is fine.

e.g. He is nicer than usual.

Can v/s. Could: If you are just assuming something, ‘could’ should be used

Could is used for: possibility (John could be the one who stole the money), condition (If I had more time, I could travel around the world), suggestion (You could spend your vacation here), polite request (Could I have something to drink?)

8.Like vs. Such As

Question: What’s the difference between like and such as?

Example of the “mistake” that we make in everyday speech: Can you buy me some fruit like oranges or grapefruit?

Using like in this answer choice mistakenly suggests that the utterer of the request does in fact not want oranges or grapefruit, but rather some other kind of fruit that is similar to oranges or grapefruit.

like means similar to, and such as means for example. Take a look at these examples:

·Can you buy me some fruit such as oranges or grapefruit?

Yes, this is what we’re supposed to say in CAT — oranges and grapefruit are examples of the type of fruit we want.

Thanks “Varun Khullar” from Pagalguy.

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