Symmetry
Symmetry between the two parts of a sentence is must.
Look at this sentence.
• To advance was difficult: retreating was impossible.
Here, in the first part of the sentence, an infinite has been used.
While in the second part of the sentence only a gerund has been used.
This sentence does not have symmetry.
In order to restore that, this sentence should be restructured as follows.
• To advance was difficult: to retreat was impossible.
Or this sentence can be written in another form.
• Advancing was difficult; retreating was impossible.
Example-1:
• To visualize success is not the same as achieving it.
There is no symmetry in this sentence.
The correct forms are:
• To visualize success is not the same as to achieve it.
• Visualizing success is not the same as achieving it.
Example-2:
Incorrect:
• To say that the songs patterns of the common robin are less complex than
those of the indigo bunting is doing a great disservice to both birds.
Correct:
• To say that the songs patterns of the common robin are less complex than
those of the indigo bunting is to do a great disservice to both birds.
Example-3:
Incorrect:
• I spent three weeks in France, and my images of that country range from pastoral to the cosmopolitan.
Correct:
• I spent three weeks in France, and my images of that country range from the pastoral to the cosmopolitan.
Example-4:
Incorrect:
• In the Chinese restaurant in our town, the food is fascinating and the liquor exquisite.
Correct:
• In the Chinese restaurant in our town, the food is fascinating and the liquor is exquisite.
Example-5:
Incorrect:
• Because young children do not organize their attention or perceptions systematically like adults,
they may notice and remember details that their elders ignore.
Correct:
• Because young children do not organize their attention or perceptions systematically as adults do,
they may notice and remember details that their elders ignore.
NOTE:
The word ‘like’ is only a preposition. It is not a conjunction. The proper conjunction is only ‘as’.
Example-6:
Incorrect:
• There is growing demand in the state for initiative and referendum, a procedure that allows the voters to propose laws
as well as repealing them.
Correct:
• There is growing demand in the state for initiative and referendum, a procedure that allows the voters to propose laws
as well as to repeal them.
Go to the Advanced English Index to continue
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