Usage and Idioms

Learning Objectives

In this section, you will learn how to: 

• Define usage and idiom and recognize commonly tested errors of usage and idiom
• Explain what it means for the GMAT to prefer writing to be direct, clear, and to the point
• Apply the Kaplan Method for Sentence Correction to sentences that may have errors of usage, idiom, or style

The principle of usage concerns the “right” way to use words to say things as determined by users of English over time. There is no overarching grammar rule that applies across situations; each word or phrase is governed by its own rule. 

Idioms are combinations of words that together have a meaning distinct from the definition of each word. For example, at the supermarket, you pick up some bread and pick out a kind of frozen pizza. The meanings of pick up and pick out are not much related to the meanings of up and out. 

How to Recognize Errors Involving Usage and Idioms

Usage and idioms are likely to show up on a handful of Sentence Correction questions. If you have had consistent exposure to “standard” written English, as generally defined in academic and journalistic circles, then you will be able to trust your ear to tell you what sounds right, and what sounds wrong, in a sentence. For example, if someone were to say, “I am aware about these problems, because I saw the newscast yesterday,” you’d pick up on the error right away. The correct idiom is “aware of,” not “aware about.” 

Even so, issues of usage and idiom frequently involve small, seemingly unimportant words, like prepositions, so it is easy to overlook these errors if you don’t keep alert for them—especially under time pressure as on the GMAT. Therefore, Attention to the Right Detail is important for success on questions involving usage and idioms. 

Moreover, there may be commonly tested words and phrases that you’ve simply been using wrong all your life. Kaplan GMAT teachers often get a surprise or two as they master this material! Some idioms are commonly used incorrectly in informal, everyday English. For example, your brother says to you, “Here’s a tip—Mom prefers platinum over gold.” Did you spot the error? The correct idiom is “prefers X to Y.” So it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for unfamiliar idioms during your GMAT studies and in all your reading so you can jot them down and learn them.

If you have not had long-standing exposure to standard written English, then you won’t be able to trust your ear as much. In this case, you’ll definitely want to learn the commonly tested words and phrases that appear in this chapter and in your online resources. Making flashcards with these words and phrases can help. You might pattern your flashcards after the exercises in this section, putting a sentence with a blank in it on the front of the card and the correct word or phrase to fill in the blank on the back. 

Common Errors of Usage and Idioms

When answering Sentence Correction questions on the GMAT, look out for the following:

• Prepositions (to, from, at, over, etc.) in the underlined portion of the sentence. Their usage is often dictated by idiomatic rules.
• Verbs whose idiomatic usage you’ve seen frequently tested. Common examples are prefer, credit, and regard.  
• Comparisons that aren’t expressed with the correct combination of words. One example is as many X as Y. It would be incorrect to say, for example, You know as many idioms than you need. 

See the Usage and Idioms exercises later in this section for practice with these and other constructions in which errors often lurk.

Also keep a lookout for sentences that use more words than necessary, as well as those that seem to bury the important idea behind less important wording. The GMAT prefers active voice and a clear, direct style. That said, sometimes the correct answer on the test will not be the way you would write the sentence but will be the only grammatically correct choice: grammar is a more important criterion than style when it comes to choosing correct answers. Nonetheless, sentences that demonstrate any of the following are unlikely to be correct:

• Unnecessary passive voice: The letter was written by John is not wrong, but better is John wrote the letter.  
• Unnecessary wordiness and redundancy. For example, the word because is better than the phrase in view of the fact that.
• Awkward, choppy, or clunky phrasing: if you can trust your “ear,” use it to identify sentences and phrases that simply don’t read well.

Finally, here’s a specific tip: be alert for verbs that trigger the subjunctive mood. The subjunctive mood is called for in two situations:

1. Orders and recommendations: With verbs such as order, demand, insist, recommend, ask, suggest, etc. or sentences that indicate a request or requirement, what follows the verb should be that, a new subject, and the infinitive form of a verb but without the to. Examples: 
   • He asked that the door be left open.
   • She suggests that her clients read all documents carefully.
   • It is important that applicants pass a background check. 
2. Hypothetical situations: When contemplating hypothetical or contrary-to-fact situations in the present, use were (singular and plural) and would. For such situations in the past, change the verb tense accordingly. Examples: 
   • If I were rich, I would quit my job.
   • If only I were there with you, I would be happy.
   • If James had been in charge, he would not have allowed excess expenditures.

Usage and Idioms Exercise, Part I

Answers follow this exercise.

Fill in the blank with the correct word or phrase that completes the idiom correctly in the sentence. In some cases, the correct idiom may not require any additional words.

1. He modestly attributed his business’s success _______ good luck.
2. My dictionary defines “idiom” _______ the usual way in which the words of a particular language are joined together.
3. Alexander Graham Bell is credited _______ inventing the telephone.
4. Some people with color-blindness cannot distinguish red _______ green.
5. Other people with color-blindness cannot distinguish _______ yellow _______ blue.
6. Although his story seems incredible, I believe it _______ the truth.
7. She is regarded _______ an expert on public health policy.
8. He is considered _______ a close friend of the president.
9. I like to contrast my plaid pants _______ a lovely paisley jacket.
10. According to Aristotle, contentment is different _______ happiness.
11. The oldest rocks on Earth are estimated _______ 4.6 billion years old.
12. Louisiana’s legal system is modeled _______ the Napoleonic code.
13. I don’t mean for my comments to be perceived _______ criticism.
14. Cigarette ads aimed _______ children have been banned by the FDA.
15. The mass extinction of dinosaurs has been linked _______ a large meteor impact.
16. Don’t worry _______ all the idioms that might appear on the GMAT. Just learn the ones you come across between now and Test Day.

Usage and Idioms Exercise, Part II

Answers follow this exercise.

Fill in the blank with the correct word or phrase that completes the idiom correctly in the sentence. In some cases, choose the option that correctly completes the idiom.

1. I sold more glasses of lemonade _______ my neighbor sold.
2. She sold as many glasses of lemonade _______ she could.
3. The bigger they come, _______ they fall, or so it is said.
4. According to my diet, I can have either cake or/and ice cream, but not both.
5. Given my choice, I would have both cake _______ ice cream.
6. I must decide between one _______ the other.
7. Neither the coach _______ the players was/were happy with the team’s performance.
8. I couldn’t decide if/whether he was kidding or not.
9. Between/Among the three candidates, he has the more/most impressive record.
10. There are less/fewer students in class today than there were yesterday.
11. However, the amount/number of students enrolled in this class has increased.
12. People are forbidden from entering/to enter the park at night.
13. The ruling prohibits the defendant from discussing/to discuss the case.
14. Most politicians do not want to be seen associating with/among convicted felons.
15. We should treat others as/like we would want them to treat us.
16. I would prefer a salty treat like/such as potato chips over/to a candy bar.
17. The annual meeting was a situation where/in which the leadership team needed to use its influence.
18. My great-grandmother was born sometime/somewhere around 1880.
19. Scores on the GMAT range from 200 _______ 800.
20. Most local residents view the monument _______ an eyesore.
21. In the United States, there is less opposition _______ the use of genetically modified foods than in Europe.
22. Stress can lower one’s resistance _______ cold and flu viruses.
23. The rise in inflation has become so significant _______ constitute a threat to the economic recovery.
24. The actress’s performance was so poignant _______ the entire audience was moved to tears.
25. Just try _______ do as well as you can on the test.

Usage and Idioms Exercise, Part I: Answers

1. He modestly attributed his business’s success to good luck.
2. My dictionary defines “idiom” as the usual way in which the words of a particular language are joined together.
3. Alexander Graham Bell is credited with inventing the telephone.
4. Some color-blind people cannot distinguish red from green.
5. Other color-blind people cannot distinguish between yellow and blue.
6. Although his story seems incredible, I believe it to be the truth.
7. She is regarded as an expert on public health policy.
8. He is considered a close friend of the president. [This blank takes nothing.]
9. I like to contrast my plaid pants with a lovely paisley jacket.
10. According to Aristotle, contentment is different from happiness.
11. The oldest rocks on Earth are estimated to be 4.6 billion years old.
12. Louisiana’s legal system is modeled after the Napoleonic code.
13. I don’t mean for my comments to be perceived as criticism.
14. Cigarette ads aimed at children have been banned by the FDA.
15. The mass extinction of dinosaurs has been linked to a large meteor impact.
16. Don’t worry about all the idioms that might appear on the GMAT. Just learn the ones you come across between now and Test Day.

Usage and Idioms Exercise, Part II: Answers

1. I sold more glasses of lemonade than my neighbor sold.
2. She sold as many glasses of lemonade as she could.
3. The bigger they come, the harder they fall, or so it is said.
4. According to my diet, I can have either cake or ice cream, but not both.
5. Given my choice, I would have both cake and ice cream.
6. I must decide between one and the other.
7. Neither the coach nor the players were happy with the team’s performance.
8. I couldn’t decide whether he was kidding or not.
9. Among the three candidates, he has the most impressive record.
10. There are fewer students in class today than there were yesterday.
11. However, the number of students enrolled in this class has increased.
12. People are forbidden to enter the park at night.
13. The ruling prohibits the defendant from discussing the case.
14. Most politicians do not want to be seen associating with convicted felons.
15. We should treat others as we would want them to treat us.
16. I would prefer a salty treat such as potato chips to a candy bar.
17. Scores on the GMAT range from 200 to 800.
18. The annual meeting was a situation in which the leadership team needed to use its influence.
19. My great-grandmother was born sometime around 1880.
20. Most local residents view the monument as an eyesore.
21. In the United States, there is less opposition to the use of genetically modified foods than in Europe.
22. Stress can lower one’s resistance to cold and flu viruses.
23. The rise in inflation has become so significant as to constitute a threat to the economic recovery.
24. The actress’s performance was so poignant that the entire audience was moved to tears.
25. Just try to do as well as you can on the test.

Applying the Kaplan Method: Usage and Idioms

Now let’s use the Kaplan Method on a Sentence Correction question dealing with usage and idioms:

1. Growth in the industry is at an all-time low, with less than 68,000 people employed and fewer opportunity in the field than there has been during any of the past ten years.
   1. less than 68,000 people employed and fewer
   2. fewer than 68,000 people employed and fewer
   3. lesser than 68,000 people employed and fewer
   4. fewer than 68,000 people employed and less
   5. less than 68,000 people employed, and there is less

Step 1: Read the Original Sentence Carefully, Looking for Errors

Notice that the underlined portion of the sentence contains the words “less” and “fewer.” These words are often tested on the GMAT because they are often used incorrectly. “Less” can only refer to non-countable items, such as soup or confidence. “Fewer” must refer to countable items, such as chairs or peanuts. In this sentence, since “people” can be counted, there are “fewer” people, and since “opportunity” cannot be counted, there is “less” opportunity.

Step 2: Scan and Group the Answer Choices

Even if that didn’t occur to you as the issue in the sentence, you should note that some of the choices use “less” (or “lesser”) and others use “fewer,” and group accordingly into a 3-2 split. This step should prompt you to think about the associated usage rule.

Step 3: Eliminate Choices Until Only One Remains

Eliminate choice (A) because the original sentence misuses “less” and “fewer.” Choices (C) and (E) make similar errors. Choice (C)’s “lesser than” would be unidiomatic in any context. In addition to using “less” in front of “people,” (E) breaks off “opportunity in the field” into a new independent clause, adding unnecessary extra words and an awkward repetition of “there.” Choice (B) uses “fewer” correctly to refer to the people but also uses it to refer to the uncountable “opportunity,” so eliminate this choice. That leaves (D), which is correct: it uses “fewer” to describe the countable noun “people” and “less” to describe “opportunity.” Read (D) back into the original sentence:

Growth in the industry is at an all-time low, with fewer than 68,000 people employed and less opportunity in the field than there has been during any of the past ten years.

Takeaways: USAGE AND IDIOMS

• Avoid using more words when a choice that uses fewer words to express the same meaning is available.
• Passive voice is not wrong, but if all else is equal, choose active voice over passive.
• Avoid clunky, choppy, or awkward-sounding sentences.
• Be alert for incorrect idiomatic usage. Idioms are word combinations that, based on common usage, have established themselves as correct in standard written English. Many GMAT idiom questions require you to use the right prepositions.

Practice Set: Usage and Idioms

33. In addition to winning the Nobel Prize in Physics for his accomplishments in quantum electrodynamics, Richard Feynman worked on both the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos as well as the Rogers Commission, which investigated the space shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986.
    1. as well as the Rogers Commission, which investigated
    2. and also on the Rogers Commission that investigated
    3. and on the Rogers Commission, which investigated
    4. and the Rogers Commission, which is investigating
    5. and the Rogers Commission, which investigated
34. To boost the nation’s economy, it is at least as important for businesses to focus on developing worker productivity than it is for them to hire new employees.
    1. at least as important for businesses to focus
    2. at least as important for businesses focusing
    3. no less important for businesses to focus
    4. no less important that businesses focusing 
    5. as important, if not more important, for businesses to focus 
35. The “Mpemba effect” refers to the fact that hot water freezes more quickly in comparison to cold water; the researchers who investigated this effect also discovered that cold water heats more quickly in relation to warm water and named that phenomenon the “inverse Mpemba effect.”
    1. more quickly in comparison to cold water; the researchers who investigated this effect also discovered that cold water heats more quickly in relation to warm water
       
    2. faster; the researchers who investigated this effect also discovered that cold water heats faster
       
    3. more quickly than cold water; the researchers who investigated this effect also discovered that cold water would heat more quickly than warm water
       
    4. faster than cold water; the researchers who investigated this effect also discovered that cold water heats faster than warm water
       
    5. faster than cold water; the researchers who investigated this effect also discovered that the opposite is true
       

Advanced Practice Set: Usage and Idioms

36. The entrepreneurs credited the website that helped owners of small businesses find suppliers to keep their new enterprise viable when cash flow was neither ample or steady.
    1. to keep their new enterprise viable when cash flow was neither ample or steady
    2. toward keeping their new enterprise viable at a time when cash flow was not ample or steady
    3. with keeping their new enterprise viable when cash flow was neither ample nor steady
    4. to keeping their new enterprise viable when cash flow was neither ample nor steady
    5. with keeping their new enterprise viable when there was not ample or steady cash flow
37. All parents who wish to hold a leadership position in the Boy Scouts are required, regardless of whether or not their child is a member, for taking youth protection training.
    1. for taking youth protection training
    2. for making sure youth protection training is taken
    3. to take youth protection training
    4. to have taken of the youth protection training
    5. of taking youth protection training
38. The United States would achieve a 10 percent reduction in gasoline consumption if Congress will raise fuel economy standards to 31.3 miles per gallon for passenger cars and to 24.5 miles per gallon for light trucks.
    1. would achieve a 10 percent reduction in gasoline consumption if Congress will raise
    2. will achieve a 10 percent reduction in gasoline consumption if Congress were to raise
    3. will have achieved a 10 percent reduction in gasoline consumption if Congress will raise
    4. would achieve a 10 percent reduction in gasoline consumption if Congress were to raise
    5. would achieve a 10 percent reduction in gasoline consumption if Congress were raising