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What is the difference between ultrathin, layered 11 May 2012, 10:41
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What is the difference between ultrathin, layered construction and ultrathin AND layered construction in above sentence

a) the ultrathin, layered construction of a butterfly’s wings enables the insect
b) the ultrathin and layered construction of a butterfly’s wings enables the insect

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What is the difference between ultrathin, layered 11 May 2012, 23:20
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hi vikram4689, why don't you post the entire question. Sometimes, the context of the question can be a deciding factor in choosing the correct answer. From the information that you have given:

vikram4689

What is the difference between ultrathin, layered construction and ultrathin AND layered construction in above sentence

a) the ultrathin, layered construction of a butterfly’s wings enables the insect
b) the ultrathin and layered construction of a butterfly’s wings enables the insect
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a: ultrathin MAY refer to another aspect of the structure of the butterfly wings
b: ultrathin refers to/modifies construction; that is, the construction is ultrathin

Remember, in the GMAT, a correct answer choice in sentence correction is unlikely to hinge on the usage of punctuation.
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What is the difference between ultrathin, layered 12 May 2012, 05:20
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I see what you're getting at:

1. Ultrathin, layered construction: here, ultrathin is modifying layered
2. Ultrathin and layered construction: here, ultrathin and layered are modifying construction.

Both are grammatically correct constructions but have subtle differences in the meaning....
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What is the difference between ultrathin, layered 12 May 2012, 06:06
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Quote:
Scientists have recently discovered that the ultrathin, layered construction of a butterfly's wings, the same as the one making some butterflies shimmer via the phenomenon of iridescence, are enabling the insect to control how much heat energy is absorbed by its wings and how much is reflected away.
Show more

The above is the correct text of the example with the underlining. The issue in this sentence is not that of the ultra-thin, layered or ultrathin and layered because they are not underlined.

However, there is more grammar than that in this issue. Some series of adjectives are called coordinate adjectives, if they all modify a single noun – just as in this case– ultrathin, layered - both adjectives modifying the noun construction. Such coordinate adjectives can also be correctly used along with an and in between them without distorting the meaning. If there are more than two adjectives, as usual the last adjective will take the and before. Because they all equally modify the single noun, even if you reverse the order, the meaning will not suffer.
So ultrathin, layered and ultrathin and layered are both usable equitably. There is no difference
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What is the difference between ultrathin, layered 12 May 2012, 06:29
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hey daagh, can we get the options as well?

Also, I don't remember coming across this concept of coordinate adjectives...is this something I need to look out for on SC?
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What is the difference between ultrathin, layered 12 May 2012, 07:46
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just Google around, you will get it.
Whether coordinate adjectives are required for GMAT or not, it is better to know it
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What is the difference between ultrathin, layered 12 May 2012, 09:25
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daagh


The above is the correct text of the example with the underlining. The issue in this sentence is not that of the ultra-thin, layered or ultrathin and layered because they are not underlined.

However, there is more grammar than that in this issue. Some series of adjectives are called coordinate adjectives, if they all modify a single noun – just as in this case– ultrathin, layered - both adjectives modifying the noun construction. Such coordinate adjectives can also be correctly used along with an and in between them without distorting the meaning. If there are more than two adjectives, as usual the last adjective will take the and before. Because they all equally modify the single noun, even if you reverse the order, the meaning will not suffer.
So ultrathin, layered and ultrathin and layered are both usable equitably. There is no difference
Show more
Great daagh ... kudos to you :)

Here 's an excerpt from https://englishplus.com/grammar/00000072.htm

There is a two-part test for coordinate adjectives:
(1) Can you replace the comma with the word and?
(2) Can you reverse the order of the adjectives and keep the same meaning?

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