JbhB682 Wrote:Experts - Do you really use this rule quite a bit or is it a grey area ?
I was unfamiliar with this rule until I saw your post today! Although, as a native speaker, my ear does prefer the "of" example, I just didn't know (or didn't remember reading) that the rule was codified this way.
JbhB682 Wrote:Would this really be wrong on the GMAT for example ?
The income of a stockrboker is 50k
vs
A stockbroker's income is 50k
Even seeing that this is a "rule," I'd hesitate to eliminate the second example just for this. I can recall lots of examples in the OG where a wrong answer has this type of thing, but also some other problem(s).
JbhB682 Wrote:Hence would the GMAT consider this wrong ?
Right : Density of Canada is larger than the density of Germany.
Wrong : Canada's density is higher than Germany's density
To my ear, the "Right" example is better, but both examples here are wrong because a nation can't have a density ... the population of the nation can have a density, so these both need "population" to be clear. But to answer your intended question, consider these:
Right : The density of water is greater than the density of air.
Wrong : Water's density is greater than air's density.
Now the meaning is fine (in both examples), and I do think the GMAT would really consider the "wrong" example incorrect. But again, I suspect it's unlikely to be a stand-alone error like this.
