smartguy595 wrote:
Hi Friends,
I have a doubt on this Comparison marker "More X than Y"
Normally, in above comparison marker we need to make X & Y logically and grammatically parallel.
Please advise how to apply above strategy to below sentence:
Because of their lack of negotiating clout, tiny outfits pay up to 18% more per worker than paid by larger employees for the same health insurance policy.
1. Case A
The sentence would be better from parallelism aspect if it were:
Because of their lack of negotiating clout, tiny outfits pay up to 18% more per worker than pay larger employees for the same health insurance policy.
Here
X = tiny outfits pay
Y = larger employees pay ( the subject and verb are flipped.. stylistically acceptable)
Parallelism is maintained properly.
2. Case B:
Another possible construction could be:
Because tiny outfits lack negotiating clout, the amount paid by them is up to 18% more per worker than (that) paid by larger employees for the same health insurance policy.
X = the amount paid by them
Y = (that) paid by larger employees
Parallelism is maintained properly.
3. Case C:
In the sentence you cited:
Because of their lack of negotiating clout, tiny outfits pay up to 18% more per worker than paid by larger employees for the same health insurance policy.
X = tiny outfits pay
Y = (that) paid by larger employees.
In my opinion, the example is not a great one from parallelism aspect. However it can be compared with the following:
I pay 18% more (salary) than (that) paid by your company.
X = (salary)
Y = (that) paid by your company.
The example you cited once again:
Because of their lack of negotiating clout, tiny outfits pay up to 18% more (salary) per worker than (that) paid by larger employees for the same health insurance policy.
X = (salary)
Y = (that) paid by larger employees
I hesitate to say that this is a wrong comparison, but the first 2 are simpler and better.