marine wrote:
A recent review of pay scales indicates that CEO's now earn an average of 419 times more pay than blue-collar workers, compared to a ratio of 42 times in 1980.
(A) that CEO's now earn an average of 419 times more pay than blue-collar workers, compared to a ratio of 42 times
(B) that, on average, CEO's now earn 419 times the pay of blue-collar workers, a ratio that compares to 42 times
(C) that, on average, CEO's now earn 419 times the pay of blue-collar workers, as compared to 42 times their pay, the ratio
(D) CEO's who now earn on average 419 times more pay than blue-collar workers, as compared to 42 times their pay, the ratio
(E) CEO's now earning an average of 419 times the pay of blue-collar workers, compared to the ratio of 42 times
A recent review of pay scales indicates that CEO’s now earn an average of 419 times more pay than blue-collar workers, compared to a ratio of 42 times in 1980.
A. that CEO’s now earn an average of 419 times more pay than blue-collar workers, compared to a ratio of 42 times
PROBLEM: It's not "a ratio of 42 times" (which doesn't mean anything). Also, "419 times more pay" is awkward.
B. that, on average, CEO’s now earn 419 times the pay of blue-collar workers, a ratio that compares to 42 times
PROBLEM: 42 times in 1980? that doesn't make any sense...
C. that, on average, CEO’s now earn 419 times the pay of blue-collar workers, as compared to 42 times their pay, the ratio
ANSWER: It's not pretty, but there are no actual mistakes here ("their" correctly refers to "workers", and "the ratio..." is correctly modifying "42 times their pay", which is a ratio. This is called an appositive modifier, when a noun modifies a noun.
D. CEO’s who now earn on average 419 times more pay than blue-collar workers, as compared to 42 times their pay, the ratio
PROBLEM: You need "that" after "indicate".
E. CEO’s now earning an average of 419 times the pay of blue-collar workers, compared to the ratio of 42 times
PROBLEM: You need "that". This sentence also isn't complete, and the comparison is wrong.
Hope that helps!
-t