Power Charge Your Professionalism: Make Logical Comparisons

When making comparisons in your writing, be sure they are logically worded. Keep these points in mind:

Be sure your comparison is complete. If you use a word like "more," "faster," or "easiest," be sure to say or clearly imply the rest

of the comparison $("$more$"$ or "faster" than what? "Easiest" out of what group of things?$).$

Be sure your comparison is logical$.$ Things being compared must be the same kinds of things. Consider this sentence: "Unlike

Gap's Facebook page, Athleta uses models of many different ages." It contains an illogical comparison because it compares

Gap's page to the company Athleta. The sentence should read "Unlike Gap's Facebook page; Athleta's $[$or 'Athleta's page'$]$ uses

models of many different ages."

Make comparisons that use more$/$less$/-$er and most$/$least$/-$est correctly. The rule is to use "more," "less," or $"-$er$"$ when comparing

only two things. When comparing more things, use "most," "least," or $"-$est."

Assess the comparisons in the following sentences. If the sentence contains a comparison error, correct it$.$ If you think the sen$-$

tence can be left as is$,$ explain why.

This smartphone, offered only by Verizon, is the fastest.

CrudAway will clean your engine better, and at a fraction of the cost.

In a blind taste test with the other leading brand, consumers rated Tums the highest.

This campaign was less successful than last' year.

Our toothpaste now has even more whitening power!

Our technicians and service managers are the most honest and ethical auto$-$repair shop in the city.

Our competitive pricing makes us one of the more popular landscaping firms.

We will need more donations to be able to fund the child care center.