The principal feature of the redesigned checks is a series of printed

Hey All,

Lots of you are on this, but I'd just add a bit of explanation. One uses a comma to set off a modifying phrase, generally with either a participle, or a relative pronoun like "which". "By" is a preposition. It is very uncommon to introduce a prepositional phrase with a comma, because they aren't necessary. For example:

The house by the sea.

I'll do it by flying in at nightfall.

Hope that helps!

-t

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that the instructions will help merchants confirm a check’s authenticity by including reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view the watermark while holding the check to the light.

Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Meaning + Modifiers + Verb Forms + Parallelism + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• “to + base form of verb” is the correct infinitive verb form construction, which is used as a noun, to show purpose/intent of an action, and to modify adjectives and verbs.
• The infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing") for referring to the purpose/intent of an action.
• "who/whose/whom/which/where", when preceded by a comma, refer to the noun just before the comma.
• All elements in a list must be parallel.

A: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the noun phrase "check's authenticity" with the phrase "which includes reminders...", illogically implying that the instructions will help merchants confirm a check’s authenticity, and as a separate action this authenticity includes reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view the watermark while holding the check to the light; the intended meaning is that the instructions include reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view the watermark while holding the check to the light, and by doing so they will help merchants confirm a check’s authenticity; remember, "who/whose/whom/which/where", when preceded by a comma, refer to the noun just before the comma.

B: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "authenticity" with the plural verb "include". Further, Option B incorrectly refers to the noun phrase "check's authenticity" with the phrase "which include reminders...", illogically implying that the instructions will help merchants confirm a check’s authenticity, and as a separate action this authenticity includes reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view the watermark while holding the check to the light; the intended meaning is that the instructions include reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view the watermark while holding the check to the light, and by doing so they will help merchants confirm a check’s authenticity; remember, "who/whose/whom/which/where", when preceded by a comma, refer to the noun just before the comma. Additionally, Option B fails to maintain parallelism among "for watching the endorsement", "to compare signatures", and "(to) view the watermark..."; remember, all elements in a list must be parallel.

C: This answer choice refers to the purpose of the action "including reminders" with the present participle ("verb+ing" - "watching", "comparing", and "viewing" in this sentence); remember, the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing") for referring to the purpose/intent of an action. Further, Option C is needlessly wordy, as "by" can be deleted without a loss of clarity.

D: This answer choice fails to maintain a correct infinitive verb construction, as it utilizes the construction "to + present participle ("verb+ing" - "comparing" and "viewing" in this case)"; please remember, “to + base form of verb” is the correct infinitive verb form construction.

E: Correct. This answer choice avoids the subject-verb disagreement seen in Option B, as it uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "including" in this sentence) rather than an active verb. Further, Option E uses the "comma + present participle ("verb+ing" - "including" in this sentence)" construction, conveying the intended meaning - that the instructions include reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view the watermark while holding the check to the light, and by doing so they will help merchants confirm a check’s authenticity. Additionally, Option E uses the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - "watch", "compare", and "view" in this sentence) to refer to the purpose of the action "including reminders" and maintains the correct infinitive verb form construction, "to + base form of verb". Option E also maintains parallelism among "to watch the endorsement", "(to) compare signatures", and "(to) view the watermark...". Besides, Option E is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

Hence, E is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Infinitive" vs "Present Participle" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



To understand the use of "Which, Who, Whose, and Where" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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The referent for COMMA + "including" cannot be a general category.
Generally, COMMA + "including" must serve to refer to a SPECIFIC SET.

Official examples:
A study urged states to undertake "a number of remedies" to reverse a decline in the shark population, including establishing size limits for shark catches, closing state waters for shark fishing during pupping season, and requiring commercial fishers to have federal shark permits.
Here, the referent for COMMA + including is a specific set of remedies (the phrase within quotes).
The new image of Stone Age people has emerged from the examination of "tools found in Germany", including three wooden spears.
Here, the referent for COMMA + including is a specific set of tools (the phrase within quotes).

Coming back to orignal question :-

The principal feature of the redesigned checks is "a series of printed instructions" that the company hopes will help merchants confirm a check's authenticity, including reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view the watermark while holding the check to the light.
Here, the referent for COMMA + "including" cannot be "merchants" (a general category).
The only viable referent for COMMA + "including" is the portion within quotes (a specific set of instructions).
My POE
A and B are immediately out as its "not authenticity", but the "printed features includes".
Reasoning :- "which" incorrectly refers to "authenticity". what i meant was that it should refer to "printed instructions" instead.
left with C D E
in C use of preposition "by" is wrong.
Reasoning:- One uses a comma to set off a modifying phrase, generally with either a participle, or a relative pronoun like "which". "By" is a preposition. It is very uncommon to introduce a prepositional phrase with a comma, because they aren't necessary.

The participle "including" in (D) & (E) modifies the noun "printed instructions." This noun is followed by a vital noun modifier, the long "that" clause that goes up to the comma, and the participle "including" immediately follows the "that" clause. As you may appreciate, a vital noun modifier can come between a target noun and another modifier, creating for that second modifier a violation of the Modifier Touch Rule.
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The principal feature of the redesigned checks is a series of printed instructions that the
company hopes will help merchants confirm a check’s authenticity, which includes
reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view the watermark while
holding the check to the light.
A. which includes reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and
view
-"which" incorrectly refers to "printed instructions"
B. which include reminders for watching the endorsement, to compare signatures
and view
-"which" incorrectly refers to "printed instructions"
C. by including reminders for watching the endorsement, comparing signatures, and
viewing
-"by including" is not required here.
D. including reminders to watch the endorsement, comparing signatures and viewing
- to watch the endorsement,[to] comparing signatures and [to] viewing - incorrect right ?
E. including reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view
-correct

IMO 'E'

'C' is wrong.. read the above sentence as below(removing the sentence in bracket):

The principal feature of the redesigned checks is a series of printed instructions (that the
company hopes will help merchants confirm a check’s authenticity), which includes
reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view the watermark while
holding the check to the light.

HTH.

Hey Angel,

Not so far as I can see: watch, compare, and view are just as parallel as watching, comparing, and viewing. What makes you feel like one is more parallel than the other?

-t

Hi, Tom, (well maybe you won't see this post anymore.I just try)

could you clarify the usage of Ving here?

I read some rules about the usage of this on Manhattan forum, which is following:

the "comma + ing" modifier should only be used when:

(A)
it MODIFIES THE ENTIRE ACTION of the preceding clause, and it APPLIES TO THE SUBJECT of that clause;
AND
(B)
one of the following is true:
(1) the "ing" action is SIMULTANEOUS with the main action;
- i ran down the sidewalk, flapping my arms wildly
(2) the "ing" action is a DIRECT CONSEQUENCE of the main action;
- i got a 100 on the most recent exam, bringing my average up to 91

But the Ving here in Choice E doesn't fit in the above rules, right?

Also, presuming the choise A is using "include", will it be the best answer? Thank you very much!

Hey Kaja,

It's not modifying the previous clause, per se, but it's modifying such an ENORMOUS noun (already modified), that the -ing helps us clarify it.:

The principal feature of the redesigned checks is (a series [of printed instructions {that the company hopes will help merchants confirm a check’s authenticity}])...

The part in parentheses is all one noun with modifiers set off by different parentheses. We want to modify that ENTIRE thing. Using just a relative pronoun wouldn't work, because it's so FAR from the word it's really modifying ("series"). And technically, the next modifier IS happening simultaneously (it's describing those very rules). I agree it's a bit of a stretch based on the rules we give, but it's far closer to the rules for -ing words than the rules for relative pronouns.

Hope that helps!

-t

I am just rearranging the clause to make aware about usage of clause.

The principal feature of the redesigned checks is a X, that the compnay hopes will help merchant confirm a check's authenticity.

We are looking for the correctness of clause X.

C=> "a series of printed instructions by including reminders for watching the endorsement, comparing signatures, and viewing the watermark while
holding the check to the light."

E=> a series of printed instructions including reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view. Correct.

Hii Vishu.
Answer choice C has several errors. I am listing tem here:
1) Nowhere it seems that we are supposed to check the authenticity by watching the endorsement, by comparing signatures etc. If you have a doubt, please check the original sentence. On choosing C, you will be diverting from the original meaning.
2) Precedes the prepositional phrase by a comma.
3) There is a huge difference between "for verbing" and "to verb". The former implies that the action is taking place at present whereas the latter implies the "intent or more specifically Purpose".

Hope that helps.
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hi,
you are correct about..


yes 'include' is talking/modifying a series of printed instructions, but can this be done by 'which'.. NO
which can modify the nearest or a slight away noun ..
verb+ing is the correct usage if you ar etalking of the entire clause in general..
and hence 'including'..
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Responding to a pm: Between (A) and (E), I would still go with (E) because the relative pronoun "which" seems to be modifying "authenticity". It is very far from "series" - the noun it is actually modifying.
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The principal feature of the redesigned checks is a series of printed instructions that the company hopes will help merchants confirm a check's authenticity, which includes reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view the watermark while holding the check to the light.

A. which includes reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view
B. which include reminders for watching the endorsement, to compare signatures and view
C. by including reminders for watching the endorsement, comparing signatures, and viewing
D. including reminders to watch the endorsement, comparing signatures and viewing
E. including reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view

Hi experts, can you please explain what is "including" in choices D & E modifying? If it is modifying the "series of printed instructions" then how can it jump over the "that" clause preceding it?

Thank you for your help!!

Dear Conquergmat5,

I'm happy to respond.

My friend, you appear relatively new to GMAT Club. Please do NOT start a brand new thread for any question that has already been posted. I guarantee you that every official question is already somewhere here on GMAT Club. Please always search extensively: if your question is not already answered in the discussion on that thread, add it to the thread, and all the experts who have already responded on the thread will see it. I have merged your post into in a much larger thread about this very same question.

The participle "including" in (D) & (E) modifies the noun "printed instructions." This noun is followed by a vital noun modifier, the long "that" clause that goes up to the comma, and the participle "including" immediately follows the "that" clause. As you may appreciate, a vital noun modifier can come between a target noun and another modifier, creating for that second modifier a violation of the Modifier Touch Rule. See:
GMAT Grammar: Vital Noun Modifiers

Does all this make sense?
Mike
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The principal feature of the redesigned checks is a series of printed instructions that the company hopes will help merchants confirm a check’s authenticity, which includes reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view the watermark while holding the check to the light.
A. which includes reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view --> which refers to authenticity; if you don't know whether this is correct you have to zoom out, cool down and understand what the sentence tries to transfer
B. which include reminders for watching the endorsement, to compare signatures and view
C. by including reminders for watching the endorsement, comparing signatures, and viewing
D. including reminders to watch the endorsement, comparing signatures and viewing
E. including reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view
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Dear Experts,
How 'ing' modifier here is in agreement with the subject of the sentence , please explain.

Hi anje29 ,

"Including reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view" is giving extra information about the printed instructions.

Note that it is acting as a modifier, which is giving more information about the clause before the comma.

Does that make sense?
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Hi,
But only noun modifiers can provide extra information , what do you think here ? And since it logically fits to modify printed instructions and therefore correct.

Hi anje29 ,

We can use gerunds also to provide extra information.

Here we have two gerunds "including and holding". Hence, These modifiers have been correctly used.

Let me know in case of more queries.
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