Correcting Grammar Errors in Comparative Sentences: A Case Study in Air Freight vs. Sea Freight

While discussing the logistics of transporting goods, it's essential to use grammatically accurate sentences to convey information clearly and effectively. One common mistake made in comparing costs between different transportation methods is using inappropriate comparisons. For instance, a sentence like:

At the same time, some countries announced that they would send products by air but this is about three times more expensive as sending it by ship.

contains a grammatical error that undermines its clarity and correctness. Let's break down the issues and provide a detailed explanation of how to correct this sentence.

Understanding the Mistakes in the Original Sentence

The original sentence mixes two patterns – "as expensive as" and "more expensive than." This mix-up is a clear sign of grammatical inaccuracy. Here's how the sentence breaks down:

Grammar issue: The phrase "three times more expensive as" is incorrect. Subject-verb agreement: "Sending it" should be "sending them" as "products" is plural. Tense and agreement: The tense and form are mismatched for the situation being described.

Correcting the Sentence: Proper Usage of Comparative Phrases

There are two correct ways to phrase the comparison in this sentence:

"At the same time, some countries announced that they would send products by air, but this is about three times as expensive as sending them by ship."

"At the same time, some countries announced that they would send products by air, but this is about three times more expensive than sending them by ship."

Let's explain these corrections in detail:

1. Three times as expensive as Here, we use "as" before the comparative adjective "expensive." "As" indicates that the comparison is between two equal values, and "times" multiplies that value. For example, "three times as expensive as" means the cost is four times the original cost (1 3 4).

2. Three times more expensive than This phrase uses "more" to indicate an increase over a base value. For instance, "three times more expensive than" means the cost is four times the original cost (original 3 * original 4 * original).

Both phrases are grammatically correct, and the choice between them depends on the exact meaning you want to convey.

Consistency in Tense and Form

In the original sentence, the tense is inconsistent, which can confuse the reader. Here are the corrected sentences with proper tenses and forms:

Current situation:

At the same time, some countries have announced that they will send products by air, but this is about three times more expensive than sending them by ship.

Impending situation:

At the same time, some countries have announced that they would have to send products by air, but this would be about three times more expensive than sending them by ship.

Past situation:

At the same time, some countries announced that they were to send products by air, but this was about three times more expensive than sending them by ship.

Using "have announced," "will," "would have to," "would be," and "were to" ensures that the sentence aligns with the context and tense of the information being conveyed.

A Direct Approach to Improving Readability

To make the sentence more direct and clear, a concise and precise phrasing could be:

Some countries have announced that products would instead be airfreighted despite being three times higher in cost than seafreight.

This sentence is more straightforward and avoids the grammatical issues present in the original sentence. It conveys the intended meaning effectively and succinctly.