To avoid confusion between oral medications, different pills’ coatings

Hello, everyone. In the interest of assisting the community, I will offer my thoughts on the question. Remember, only the non-underlined portion conveys the intended meaning of the sentence. I like to say that the other parts are all interchangeable, like Legos of the same dimension that simply come in different colors. Otherwise, (A) would be the answer more often than proves to be the case. Then, regarding idioms, just because a "list" idiom tends to follow a certain pattern does not mean it must always fall in a particular order in a given sentence. The GMAT™ prefers the clear and concise expression of vital meaning, that is all. With that said, how about we look at the sentence?


There is nothing wrong with the grammar of the sentence, but the possessive pills' coatings in the beginning is a little hard to follow. Then, notice that we have three separate uses of the word different. Surely, there must be a way to restrict such usage. If you felt unsure about this one, you could hang on to it, but I would keep looking.


This is much cleaner, with different from before transformed into a single verb. We have three qualities named in which pills should differ: color, shape, and size. This list happens to branch more on the right, and both sides are perfectly parallel. Instead of A and B, as well as C, we get, A, as well as B and C. Perhaps the sentence means to convey that color is the most important quality for differentiating pills. Who can say whether that is incorrect, given that this information falls within the underlined portion of the sentence? In short, there is nothing to argue against from either a grammatical or semantic standpoint in this one. It is a keeper in the first sweep of the answer choices.


We are reverting to the previous different (*3) construct, and there is a clear problem with the verb tense in should has. I am assuming this is not a typo. Moreover, you should be questioning whether the article the at the head of the underlined portion is absolutely necessary. Does it add clarity that choice (A), for example, lacks? Not really. If we have a few reasons to doubt an answer, that should be enough to see it off.


Again, there is nothing absolutely wrong here, but be able to be is poorly expressed and arguably redundant. Would should be distinguishable not work better instead? Another one down, with one more to go.


Well, we get the same unnecessary the at the head, and we are falling back on be able to be. Both are just as bad as they were before. Get rid of this one.

There you have it. Of the choices presented, (B) is a clear winner. The takeaways? Focus on the clear expression of vital meaning. Three appearances of a descriptive word in the same sentence ought to raise a caution flag. Also, do not write off answer choices on the basis of some arcane "rule." Many so-called rules are simply conventions, appearing commonly in one way when they can operate just as well in some lesser-known way. Finally, trust only the non-underlined portion of the sentence to convey the intended meaning. Everything else is negotiable.

I hope that helps. I would be happy to answer any questions on this one. Good luck with your studies.

- Andrew

The answer says, Pill should be of different color... However the question says that the coating should be of different colors... Pills could be of same color..
B) should not be the correct answers.
Please review.

Thanks
S