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GMAT vocabulary Idioms DIFFERENCE-OR from Helen 2018

Terms in this set (70)

DIFFERENCE
RIGHT:
There is a DIFFERENCE IN ability BETWEEN us.
There is a DIFFERENCE BETWEEN what you can do AND what I can do.
There are DIFFERENCES IN what you and I can do.
WRONG:
There are DIFFERENCES BETWEEN what you and I can do.
DISCOVERY
RIGHT:
love the DISCOVERY THAT carbon CAN form soccer-ball molecules
.
SUSPECT:
I love the DISCOVERY OF carbon's ABILITY TO form soccer-ball molecules.
WRONG:
I love the DISCOVERY OF carbon BEING ABLE TO form soccer-ballmolecules.
DISINCLINED
RIGHT: She DISINCLINED TO WRITE to herparents.
WRONG: She HAS A DISINCLINATION TO WRITE to her parents.
There IS A DISINCLINATION ON HER PART TO WRITE to her parents.
Her busy schedule BRINGS OUT A DISINCLINATION IN HER TO WRITE to herparents.
DISTINGUISH / DISTINCTION
RIGHT:
The investor DISTINGUISHED BETWEEN trends AND fads.
There is a DISTINCTION BETWEEN trends AND fads.
SUSPECT:
The investor DISTINGUISHED trends FROM fads.
WRONG:
The investor DISTINGUISHED trends AND fads.
The investor DISTINGUISHED BETWEEN trends FROM fads.
There is a DISTINCTION BETWEEN trends WITH fads.
There is a DISTINCTION OF trends TO fads.
Trends HAVE a DISTINCTION FROM fads.
DO
RIGHT:
I did not eat the cheese, but my mother DID (or DID SO)
WRONG:
I did not eat the cheese, but my mother DID IT (or DID THIS).
DOUBLE
RIGHT:
Naomi wrote ten letters, DOUBLE THE NUMBER THAT Sara wrote.
Naomi's income DOUBLED in three years.
Naomi DOUBLED her income in three years.
WRONG:
Naomi wrote DOUBLE THE LETTERS THAT Sara
did.
DOUBT
RIGHT:
We DO NOT DOUBT THAT the apples are ripe.
We HAVE NO DOUBT THAT the apples are ripe.
She DOUTS WHETHER Jan will arrive on time
.
SUSPECT:
She DOUBTS THAT Jan will arrive on time
(The GMAT claimsthat DOUBT, used in a positive statement without
NOT or NO, should be followed by WHETHER or IF,not THAT)
WRONG:
We DO NOT DOUBT WHETHER the apples are ripe.
We HAVE NO DOUBTWHETHER the apples are ripe.
DUE TO
RIGHT:
The deficit IS DUE TO overspending.(= results from)
Our policy will not cover damage DUE TO fire. (= resulting from)
BECAUSE politicians SPEND money, we have a deficit.
WRONG:
DUE TO politicians SPENDING money, we have a deficit.
DUE TO THE FACT THAT politicians SPEND money, we have a deficit.
ECONOMIC
RIGHT:
The rise in gasoline prices has an ECONOMIC impact on consumers.
Our new car is more ECONOMICAL than our last. (= efficient)
WRONG:
The rise in gasoline prices has an ECONOMICAL impact on consumers.
EFFECT
RIGHT:
The new rules will AFFECT our performance .
SUSPECT:
The new rules will HAVE AN EFFECT ON our performance. (wordier)
WRONG:
The new rules will CAUSE AN EFFECT ON our performance.
EITHER ... OR
RIGHT:
I will take EITHER the subway OR the bus.
WRONG:
I will take EITHER the subway AND the bus.
ELECT
RIGHT:
She ELECTED TO WITHDRAW her money early.
SUSPECT:
She ELECTED early WITHDRAWAL OF her money.
WRONG: She ELECTED WITHDRAWING her money early.
** ENOUGH
RIGHT:
The book was SHORT ENOUGH TO READ in a night.
The book was SHORT ENOUGH FOR me TO READ in a night.
SUSPECT:
The power plant has found a way to generate energy at an unprecedented scale, ENOUGH FOR powering and entire city.
WRONG:
The book was SHORT ENOUGH THAT I could read it in a night.
The book was SHORT ENOUGH FOR IT TO BE read in a night.
The book was SHORT ENOUGH SO THAT I could read it in a night.
The book was SHORT ENOUGH AS TO BE read in a night.
ENSURE
RIGHT:
He ENSURES THAT deadlines ARE met (or WILL BE met).
WRONG:
He ENSURES THAT deadlines MUST BE met (or SHOULD BE met).
EQUIPPED
RIGHT:
They are EQUIPPED TO FIGHT on any terrain.
WRONG:
They are EQUIPPED FOR FIGHTING on any terrain.
ESTIMATE
RIGHT:
She ESTIMATES the cost TO BE ten dollars.
The cost IS ESTIMATED TO BE ten dollars.
WRONG:
She ESTIMATES the cost AT ten dollars.
She ESTIMATES the cost AT ten dollars.
EVEN
RIGHT:
I am EVEN RICHER THAN a prince.
I earn AS MUCH money AS EVEN the wealthiest king.
WRONG:
I am RICHER EVEN THAN a prince.
I earn EVEN AS MUCH money AS the wealthiest king.
EVER
RIGHT:
The economy is MORE fragile THAN EVER BEFORE.
WRONG:
The economy is MORE fragile THAN NEVER BEFORE.
The economy is MORE fragile AS NEVER BEFORE.
The economy is MORE THAN EVER BEFORE fragile.
EVERY
RIGHT:
FOR EVERYdollar SAVED, THREE dollars ARE WASTED.
SUSPECT:
FOR EVERY dollar SAVED, you WASTE THREE
dollars.
WRONG:
FOR EVERY dollar SAVED WASTES THREE dollars.
EXCEPT
RIGHT:
EXCEPT FOR a final skirmish, the war was over.
SUSPECT:
BESIDES a final skirmish, the war was over.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF a final skirmish, the war was over.
EXCEPTING a final skirmish, the war was over.
**EXPECT
RIGHT:
We EXPECT the price TO FALL.
The price IS EXPECTED TO FALL.
We EXPECT THAT the price WILL FALL.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT the price WILL FALL.
Inflation rose more than we EXPECTED.
There IS an EXPECTATION THAT the price will fall.
SUSPECT:
There IS an EXPECTATION the price WILL FALL.
There IS an EXPECTATION OF the price FALLING.
Inflation rose more than we EXPECTED IT TO.
Inflation rose more than we EXPECTED IT WOULD.
WRONG:
The price IS EXPECTED FOR IT TO FALL.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT the price SHOULD FALL.
EXPEND
RIGHT:
We EXPEND energy ON neighborhood development.
WRONG:
We EXPEND energy FOR neighborhood development.
EXTENT
RIGHT:
We enjoyed the film TO some EXTENT.
"Thumbs part up" is the EXTENT TO WHICH we enjoyed the film
WRONG:
"Thumbs part up" is the EXTENT THAT we enjoyed the film.
FACT THAT
RIGHT:
It is important to recognize THAT our strategy is working.
We have succeeded BECAUSE we work hard.
SUSPECT:
It is important to recognize THE FACT THAT our strategy is working.
THE FACT THAT our strategy is working is important to recognize.
WRONG:
We have succeeded DUE TO THE FACT THAT we work hard.
FAULT
RIGHT:
The criminals ARE AT FAULT FOR BREAKING the law.
SUSPECT: BREAKING the law IS THE FAULT OF the criminals.
WRONG:
THAT the criminals BROKE the law IS AT FAULT.
IT IS THE FAULT OF the criminals WHO BROKE the law.
FIND
RIGHT:
The scientist FOUND THAT the reaction WAS unusual.
SUSPECT:
The scientist FOUND the reaction TO BE unusual.
WRONG:
The scientist FOUND the reaction WAS unusual
FORBID
RIGHT:
The law FORBIDS any citizen TO VOTE twice.
WRONG:
The law FORBIDS any citizen FROM VOTING twice.
FROM ... TO
RIGHT:
The price fell FROM 10 euros TO 3 euros.
The price fell TO 3 euros FROM 10 euros.
WRONG:
The price fell FROM 10 euros DOWN TO 3 euros.
The price rose FROM 3 euros UP TO 10 euros.
GOAL
RIGHT:
The GOAL IS TO EXPAND the company.
SUSPECT:
The GOAL IS EXPANSION OF the company.
WRONG:
The GOAL IS EXPANDING the company.
HEAR
RIGHT:
She HEARD THAT her investment HAD PAID off
.
WRONG:
She HEARD OF her investment PAYING off.
HELP
RIGHT:
He HELPS RAKE the leaves.
He HELPS TO RAKE the leaves.
He HELPS me RAKE the leaves.
He HELPS me TO RAKE the leaves.
His HELP IN RAKING the leaves has been welcome.
WRONG:
He HELPS me IN RAKING the leaves.
I need him AS HELP TO RAKE the leaves.
HOLD
RIGHT:
The law HOLDS THAT jaywalking is illegal.
SUSPECT:
The law HOLDS jaywalking TO BE illegal
WRONG:
The law HOLDS jaywalking is illegal
IF
See also WHETHER.
RIGHT:
Inflation can hurt profits IF costs increase. (IF = condition)
I can eat ice cream, PROVIDED THAT my doctor approves. (= ONLY IF)
SUSPECT:
Inflation can hurt profits WHEN costs increase. (WHEN = time period)
WRONG:
I can eat ice cream, PROVIDED my doctor approves. (requires THAT)
** IN ORDER TO
RIGHT:
She drank coffee IN ORDER TO STAY awake.
She drank coffee TO STAY awake (infinitive TO STAY indicates purpose).
SUSPECT:
She drank coffee IN ORDER THAT or SO THAT she MIGHT stay awake.
She drank coffee SO AS TO STAY awake.
WRONG:
She drank coffee FOR STAYING awake.
Coffee was drunk by her IN ORDER TO STAY awake or TO STAY awake.
Note: the subject COFFEE is not trying TO STAY awake.
**INDICATE
RIGHT:
A report INDICATES THAT unique bacteria LIVE on our skin.
SUSPECT:
A report INDICATES the presence of unique bacteria on our skin.
(Note: this correct form seems to be avoided in right answers.)
A report IS INDICATIVE OF the presence of unique bacteria on our skin.
WRONG:
A report INDICATES unique bacteria LIVE on our skin. (THAT is needed.)
A report IS INDICATIVE THAT unique bacteria LIVE on our skin.
A report INDICATES unique bacteria AS present on our skin.
A report INDICATES unique bacteria TO LIVE on our skin.
INFLUENCE
RIGHT:
His example INFLUENCED me.
SUSPECT:
His example IDtS INFLUENTIAL TO me (orAN INFLUENCE ON me).
WRONG:
His example IDtS INFLUENTIAL ON me.
INSPIRE
RIGHT:
His example INSPIRED me.
SUSPECT:
His example WAS INSPIRATIONAL TO me (or AN INSPIRATION TO me).
INSTANCE
RIGHT:
We eat out often; FOR INSTANCE, last week we ate out every night.
WRONG:
We eat out often; AS AN INSTANCE, last week we ate out every night.
INSTEAD
RIGHT:
They avoided the arcade and INSTEAD went to a movie.
WRONG:
They avoided the arcade and RATHER went to a movie.
They avoided the arcade, RATHER going to a movie.
INSTEAD OF
RIGHT:
He wrote with pencils RATHER THAN with pens.
SUSPECT:
He wrote with pencils INSTEAD OFpens.
Note: The GMAT seems to avoid INSTEAD OF even when it is correct.
He wrote with pencils, BUT NOT pens.
WRONG:
He wrote with pencils INSTEAD OF with pens.
INTENT
RIGHT:
I went with the INTENT (or INTENTION) OF LEAVING soon.
I went with the INTENT TO LEAVE soon.
SUSPECT:
I went with the INTENT THAT I WOULD LEAVE soon.
INTERACT
RIGHT:
These groups often INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER (or EACH OTHER).
WRONG:
These groups often INTERACT AMONG ONE ANOTHER
These groups often INTERACT WITH THEMSELVES.
INTERACTION
RIGHT:
The INTERACTION OF two nuclei COLLIDING releases energy.
WRONG:
SUSPECT: The INTERACTION BETWEEN two nuclei COLLIDING releases energy.
WRONG:
The INTERACTION WHERE two nuclei COLLIDE releases energy.
INVEST
RIGHT:
She INVESTED funds IN research TO STUDY cancer.
WRONG:
She INVESTED funds INTO or FOR research TO STUDY cancer.
She INVESTED funds IN research FOR STUDYING cancer.
ISOLATED
RIGHT:
The culture was ISOLATED FROM outside CONTACT.
SUSPECT:
The culture was IN ISOLATION
WRONG:
The culture was IN ISOLATION FROM outside CONTACT.
JUST AS SO
RIGHT:
AS you practice, SO shall you play. (= in the same way or manner)
JUST AS you practice, SO shall you play. (= in the same way or manner)
JUST AS you practice piano regularly, you should study regularly.
(= in the same way; the situations are analogous)
WRONG:
You practice, SO shall you play.
JUST LIKE you practice, SO shall you play.
KNOW
RIGHT:
We KNOW her TO BE brilliant.
She is KNOWN TO BE brilliant.
We KNOW him AS "Reggie."
He is KNOWN AS "Reggie."
WRONG:
We KNOW her AS brilliant. (KNOW AS = named)
LACK
RIGHT:
Old gadgets ARE LACKING IN features.
Old gadgets LACK features.
The LACK OF features is upsetting.
SUSPECT:
There is A LACK OF engineers TO BUILD new gadgets.
WRONG:
Old gadgets LACK OF features.
It is hard to build bridges LACKING engineers.
LESS
RIGHT:
Our utilities add up to LESS THAN 10% of our income.
WRONG:
Our utilities add up to LOWER THAN 10% of our income.
LET
RIGHT:
My doctor LETS me SWIM in the ocean.
WRONG:
My doctor LEAVES me SWIM in the ocean.
The surgery WILL LEAVE me TO SWIM in the ocean.
**LIKE
RIGHT:
LIKE his sister, Matt drives fast cars. (= both
drive fast cars)
Matt drives fast cars LIKE his sister.
(= both drive fast cars, OR both drive fast cars in the same way)
Matt drives fast cars LIKE his sister's.
(= both drive similar cars; he does NOT drive his sister's car)
WRONG:
Matt drives fast cars LIKE his sister does.
LIKE his sister, SO Matt drives fast cars.
LIE
RIGHT:
Our strength LIES IN numbers. (= resides in)
Yesterday, our strength LAY IN numbers. (= resided in)
Tomorrow, our strength WILL LIE IN numbers.
I lose my books whenever I LAY them down (present tense of a different verb).
WRONG:
Tomorrow, our strength WILL LAY IN numbers.
**LIKELY
RIGHT:
My friend IS LIKELY TO EAT worms.
IT IS LIKELY THAT my friend WILL EAT worms.
My friend is MORE LIKELY THAN my enemy [is] TO EAT worms.
My friend is TWICE AS LIKELY AS my enemy [is] TO EAT worms.
MORE THAN LIKELY, my friend WILL EAT worms.
WRONG:
My friend IS LIKELY THAT he WILL EAT worms.
RATHER THAN my enemy, my friend is THE MORE LIKELY to EAT worms.
LOSS
RIGHT:
I have suffered a LOSS OF strengrh. (= decline of a quality)
They have suffered a LOSS IN the euro. (= decline of an investment).
WRONG:
I have suffered a LOSS IN strength.
MANDATE
RIGHT:
The general MANDATED THAT a trench BE dug. (subjunctive)
SUSPECT:
We HAVE A MANDATE TO CALL an election
soon. (= have authority)
WRONG:
The general MANDATED a trench TO BE dug.
The general MANDATES THAT a trench WILL BE dug.
We HAVE A MANDATE FOR an election in the near future.
MAKE
RIGHT:
The leader MADE the resistance POSSIBLE.
The leader MADE IT POSSIBLE TO RESIST oppression.
The leader MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR us TO RESIST oppression.
(Note: The IT properly refers to the infinitive TO RESIST.)
Windshields ARE MADE resistant to impact.
SUSPECT:
The leader MADE POSSIBLE the resistance.
Windshields ARE MADE TO BE resistant to impact.
WRONG:
The leader MADE POSSIBLE TO RESIST oppression.
MASS
RIGHT:
The truck HAS ten TIMES THE MASS of a small car.
WRONG:
The truck IS ten TIMES THE MASS of a small car.
MAYBE
RIGHT:
This situation IS PROBABLY as bad as it can get.
This situation MAYBE as bad as it can get. (less certain than PROBABLY)
PERHAPS (or MAYBE) this situation IS as bad as it can get.
SUSPECT:
IT MAY BE THAT this situation IS as bad as it can get.
WRONG:
This situation IS MAYBE as bad as it can get.
MEANS
RIGHT:
Music education is A MEANS TO improved cognition.
WRONG:
Music education is A MEANS OF improved cognition.
Music education is A MEANS FOR improved cognition.
MISTAKE
RIGHT:
My spouse HAS MISTAKEN me FOR a wealthier person
.
WRONG:
My spouse HAS MISTAKEN me AS a wealthier person.
My spouse HAS MISTAKEN me TO a wealthier person.
MORE
RIGHT:
We observed A 10% INCREASE IN robberies last month.
MORE AND MORE we have observed violent robberies on weekends.
INCREASINGLY we have observed violent robberies on weekends.
SUSPECT:
We observed 10% MORE robberies last month.
MOST
RIGHT:
OF ALL the Greek gods, Zeus was THE MOST powerful. (superlative)
He was THE SECOND MOST attractive AND THE MOST powerful.
WRONG:
OF ALL the Greek gods, Zeus was THE MORE powerful.
He was THE SECOND MOST attractive AND MOST powerful
NATIVE
RIGHT:
The kangaroo is NATIVE TO Australia. (said of animals, plants)
My friend is A NATIVE OF Australia. (said of people)
WRONG:
The kangaroo is NATIVE IN Australia.
**NOT ... BUT
RIGHT:
She DID NOT EAT mangoes BUT ATE other kinds of fruit.
She DID NOT EAT mangoes BUT LIKED other kinds of fruit AND later BEGAN to like kiwis, too.
A tomato is NOT a vegetable BUT a fruit.
A tomato is NOT a vegetable BUT RATHER a fruit.
The agency is NOT a fully independent entity BUT INSTEAD derives its authority from Congress. (note that the verbs IS and DERIVES are parallel)
She DID NOT EAT mangoes; INSTEAD, she ate other kinds of fruit.
WRONG:
She DID NOT EAT mangoes BUT other kinds of fruit.
She DID NOT EAT mangoes; RATHER other kinds offruit.
** NOT ONLY ... BUT ALSO
RIGHT:
We wore NOT ONLY boots BUT ALSO sandals.
We wore NOT ONLY boots, BUT ALSO sandals. (comma is optional)
We wore NOT JUST boots BUT ALSO sandals.
SUSPECT:
We wore NOT ONLY boots BUT sandals.

We wore NOT ONLY boots BUT sandals AS WELL.
We wore boots AND ALSO sandals
WRONG:
We wore NOT ONLY boots AND ALSO sandals.
we wore NOT ONLY boots BUT, AS WELL, sandals.
NUMBER
RIGHT:
A NUMBER OF dogs ARE barking.
THE NUMBER OF dogs IS large.
THE NUMBER OF dogs HAS FALLEN, but THE NUMBER OF cats HAS RISEN.
The grey oyster nearly vanished, but ITS NUMBERS have rebounded.
SUSPECT:
There HAS BEEN A DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF dogs.
WRONG:
THE NUMBERS OF dogs HAVE fallen.
Dogs HAVE FALLEN IN NUMBER, but cats HAVE RISEN IN NUMBER.
OBJECT
RIGHT:
We OBJECT TO these proceedings.
SUSPECT:
we HAVE AN OBJECTION TO these proceedings.
ONCE
RIGHT:
We might ONCE have seen that band.
WRONG:
We might AT ONE TIME have seen that band.
**ONLY
RIGHT:
Her performance is exceeded ONLY by theirs. (modifies by theirs)
WRONG:
Her performance is ONLY exceeded by theirs. (technically modifies exceeded)
Note: ONLY should be placed just before the words it is meant to modify. In both speech and writing, we often place ONLY before the verb, but this placement is generally wrong, according to the GMAT, since we rarely mean that the verb is the only action ever performed by the subject.
OR
RIGHT:
I do NOT want water OR milk.
SUSPECT:
I do NOT want water AND milk. (implies the combination):
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