usage: except, identical, insist, centers

[avishal]

Hello,

Except:

I've seen three usage scenarios for except: except for, except that, and except to. I understand where "except for" is used but I'm not sure about the other two usages. Are they valid? if so, could you help explain their usage?

Identical:

What's the difference between identical to and identical with?

Insist/Centers Upon:

Are they valid? If so, how do they differ from Insist/Centers on?

Thanks,
Vishal[/list]

[avishal]

Hello,

A few more doubts:

1) concerned with / concerned for

The Manhattan SC guide has only mentioned "concerned with" in the idioms list. However, I saw "concerned for" in some other place too. Apparently, "concerned for" is when someone is worried/anxious about someone/something, while "concerned with" is used in conditions where a person/entity is related to some other person/entity/idea. Is this correct?

2) depends on / depend on?

Though "depends on whether" is correct, is depends on correct too? I've seen many examples of depend on (though not in Manhattan SC). Also, is "depend on whether" correct as well?

3) differ from / differ with (idea)

The Manhattan SC says the correct idiom is differ from. Is it true also for ideas, as it is for people? I mean, are both of the following correct?
- My hairstyle differs from Jim's.
- My product improvement ideas differ from Jims'.

4) help

Is it correct to say: could you help me write my novel? or should i always say - could you help me to write my novel?

5) what's the difference between identical to and identical with?

6) what's the difference (if any) between invest in and invest into?

7) which is correct (I think it should be 'as'):

- he walks like Joe walks.
- he walks as Joe walks.

8) is it always "rates for" and never "rates of"?

Thanks a ton!
Vishal

[RonPurewal]

Except:
For the last two usages, just consider "except" by itself, and the 'to' or 'that' part of the following item. For instance:
This passage is incomprehensible, except to those who can read Estonian.
Read as 'incomprehensible, EXCEPT [prepositional phrase]'

'Identical to' is standard usage. As far as I know, 'identical with' is nonstandard (although you should certainly leaf through your OG and check out whether it's ever used - I can't imagine seeing 'identical with' on the GMAT)

Insist/centers is fine with both 'on' and 'upon' - it's just a matter of style.

(1) Correct.

(2) 'Depends on' and 'depend on' are used in exactly the same situations. The only difference is that 'depends' is used with singular subjects, and 'depend' is used with plural subjects.

(3) Both correct. 'Differ with' is used for people:
My opinions on taxation differ from Joe's.
I differ with Joe on the issue of taxation.

(4) I think I've seen both of those usages on the GMAT. In the interests of concision, you can omit the 'to' - especially in cases where there's an indirect object (like the 'me' in your example sentence).

(5) See above.

(6) 'Invest in' is the standard usage.

(7)Yes. Look here.

(8) No, you can have 'rates of', if you're talking about the rates at which something happens. (The rates of childbirth in all Western European countries have been falling for the last few decades.) 'Rates for' is normally used when talking about price points, etc., as in 'The rates for advertisements in our monthly magazine will increase on 1 January'.