writing question about gardners...calling writing experts

Test Preparation
1

<p>what did u guys put for the question that was like:</p>

<p>"gardners would use fertilizers more (if they can be shown to increase crop production)"</p>

<p>() = underlined</p>

<p>I said A (as it is) because all the answers seemed wrong because they were awkwardly constructed...</p>

<p>also, all of the choices had "them" or "they" (which is not a clear reference because it could refer to gardners or fertilizers), so i chose the one that was least awkward... choice A. </p>

<p>Is anyone a writing expert who is sure of the answer...I'm sure many would like to know...</p>

2

<p>I don't know what the choices were, but the "can" should be changed to "could" to parallel "would."</p>

3

<p>was that a choice...anyone?</p>

4

<p>anyone have trouble with this.../ remembers the answer??</p>

5

<p>Are you sure that's the exact sentence? Also, without seeing the other choices, it's almost impossible to answer. A lot of the problems with the multiple choice aren't necessarily grammatically wrong, but that they are awkward and wordy. It's quite possible that one of the answers that sounded wrong to you was correct.</p>

<p>I also don't think think that parallel structure applies here or that "could" is supposed to parallel "would." The condition is whether or not gardeners would use fertilizer, not whether one could show fertilizer to increase crop production.</p>

<p>If I were correcting that sentence, I'd rewrite it like this:</p>

<p>Gardners would use fertilizer more if they were shown to increase crop production.</p>

<p>or even:</p>

<p>Gardners would use fertilizer more, were they shown to increase crop production.</p>

<p>Then again.. I could be talking out of my ass :) Writing is very finicky, so it can be hard to know all the rules, and all the exceptions.</p>

6

<p>I put A also, I didn't really like the wording, but it was definitely the best choice out of the five.</p>

7

<p>kristin....</p>

<pre><code>exactly! that's how i felt...anyone else who TOOK the test and is very good at writing remember what they put...
</code></pre>

8

<p>anyone...i am sure ppl know...</p>

9

<p>I think I put C or D</p>

<p>one sounded a bit better and was less wordy</p>

10

<p>bump...anyone...else.</p>

11

<p>It has nothing to do with "structure." That's not the only thing that can be parallel.</p>

12

<p>bump...bump...bump</p>

13

<p>someone has to know the answer to this question...</p>

14

<p>This is a subjunctive sentence structure right? So it's the If+were- would combination would work.</p>

15

<p>do u remember if that was A (as it is)...or did u have to change it..??</p>