Say What?

[seal_clubber]

Can you find the grammatical or syntactic error in this sentence? The standard of living has increased.

I couldn't find it. But according to this article in the Toronto Star, that's just one of the grammar questions in the International English Language Testing System exam we'll soon be giving to anyone wishing to immigrate to Canada (we already

Comments

[wraithgirl]

When I was taking my editing certificate, we were asked to bring in samples of errors in published materials. We were told that we could not use the Toronto Star as a source. Why? It was too easy.

I would argue that there is nothing wrong with the use of "increased" in this context. Perhaps "risen" is more commonly used, but "increase" is still defined as "advance in quality". If the question is referring specifically to a standard of living index - that is, a specific measurement system, then risen would be more appropriate. For example, "The Dow Jones has risen."

This is a ridiculous question to use to test knowledge of English. Poor, poor choice indeed.

[alivicwil]

I would argue that The standard of living has improved should also be acceptable.

To increase is to multiply or get larger. To improve is to rise or become better... (Yes, I know that you know both of those words. Don't worry - I wasn't thinking you didn't.)

Technically, a standard can't multiply. It can, however, drop or rise/increase. I want to say that it has something to do with the type of noun that "standard of living" is, but I'm grasping at straws.

My first M.Ed dealt with a lot of prep for the IELTS exam, but I don't think about grammar too often these days. If I had my Collins Cobuild here, I'm sure it would help me get to the bottom of it, but it's at mum's.

[gmajor]

Then there's this sentence in the Star's article:

The rigorous language test that will be a requirement is vital to be fair to the influx of newcomers or vastly discriminatory and fatally flawed, depending on whom you talk to.

I can sort of tell what they intended the sentence to say, but it doesn't actually say it, and it's confusing.