10c. In comparisons
Comparisons should be made between items that are alike. To compare unlike items is illogical and distracting.
Forests must be compared with forests, not with all of Europe.
Ella Fitzgerald’s renditions cannot logically be compared with a singer. The revision uses the possessive form singer’s, with the word renditions being implied.
Sometimes the word other must be inserted to make a comparison logical.
Jupiter is a planet, and it cannot be larger than itself.
Sometimes the word as must be inserted to make a comparison grammatically complete.
The construction as old is not complete without a second as: as old as . . . the neighboring city of Lawrence.
Comparisons should be complete enough to ensure clarity. The reader should understand what is being compared.
| incomplete | Brand X is less salty. |
| complete | Brand X is less salty than Brand Y. |
Finally, comparisons should leave no ambiguity for readers. If a sentence lends itself to more than one interpretation, revise the sentence to state clearly which interpretation you intend. In the following ambiguous sentence, two interpretations are possible.
| ambiguous | Ken helped me more than my roommate. |
| clear | Ken helped me more than he helped my roommate. |
| clear | Ken helped me more than my roommate did. |