<p>Can somebody please tell me why "than steel" is incorrect in this sentence:</p>
<p>In the United States, the industrial use of plastics is greater than steel, aluminum, and copper combined.</p>
<p>I can't seem to put a finer on why its wrong? Is there anything wrong with using the word than when comparing more than 2 things?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>Edit: the question is in the blue book by the way.</p>
<p>Because you compare "industrial use" with "steel", which is illogical. The industrial use of plastics is greater than the industrial use of steel.</p>
<p>hmm.. could it possibly be you need it to be "than that of" because it is about the uses of plastics</p>
<p>idk</p>
<p>Exactly. Otherwise, you compare two different things.</p>
<p>^ it's because it's lacking a "that of" before steel. (It shouldn't compare the "industrial use of plastics" to "steel"</p>
<p>I should read:</p>
<p>
[quote]
In the United States, the industrial use of plastics is greater than that of steel, aluminum, and copper combined.</p>
<p>Longer version: In the United States, the industrial use of plastics is greater than the industrial use of steel, aluminum, and copper combined.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>ok.. thank you everyone for you help!</p>