Despite the doctor’s urgings that she consider surgery, Marilyn decide

Question

Despite the doctor’s urgings that she consider surgery, Marilyn decided not to go to the hospital because  she believed that herbal remedies would prove not only economical but  ultimately effective in curing her malady.

(A) she believed that herbal remedies would prove not only economical but

(B) herbal remedies will prove both economical and also

(C) she believed herbal remedies would prove themselves to be both economical and

(D) she believed herbal remedies would prove to be both economical and

(E) herbal remedies will prove her belief that they are both economical and

Italiandrummer97 · Answer

Time needed: 1min, 26s

Process of elimination: 
1)The correct idiom is "Not only X but also Y". Eliminate A.
2)In B there is a change in meaning, since the "she believed..." part is not included.
3)In C "themselves" is useless. Eliminate C.
4)E uses the future tense, which is incorrect if you analyze the meaning of the sentence, and is unnecessarily wordy. Eliminate E.

D is concise, uses the correct parallelism and conveys the right meaning.

Correct answer: D

Please, give kudos if you found this post helpful and quote if you have any doubt: I'll be happy to help!

Bunuel · Answer

MANHATTAN REVIEW OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

The correct expression is ‘not only...but also...’. Eliminate A. B changes the meaning by eliminating ‘she believed’. Choice C is inefficient as it uses the word ‘themselves’. Choice E uses the wrong tense, the present. Choice D is the correct answer.

ballest127 · Answer

I wonder why the idiom "not only .... but" is incorrect?

I saw another example in which the idiom "not only .... but" is correct.

By pressing a tiny amount of nitrogen between two diamonds to a pressure of 25 million pounds per square inch, scientists not only were able to transform the gas into a solid, but they also created a semiconductor similar to silicon.

(A) not only were able to transform the gas into a solid, but they also created
(B) not only were able to transform the gas into a solid but also creating
(C) were able not only to transform the gas into a solid but to create
(D) were able not only to transform the gas into a solid but also creating
(E) were not only able to transform the gas into a solid, but they were also able to create

The correct answer is C.

Expert please explain.

Thank you

srij13 · Answer

Please help why the Idiom, not only-but is incorrect. It is used in GMAT.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Despite the doctor’s urgings that she consider surgery, Marilyn decide

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Despite the doctor’s urgings that she consider surgery, Marilyn decide

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