660. Some biographers have not only disputed the common notion that Edgar Allan Poe drank to excess but also questioned whether he drank at all.
(A) have not only disputed the common notion that Edgar Allan Poe drank to excess but also questioned whether he drank
(B) not only have disputed the common notion that Edgar Allan Poe drank to excess but also over whether he drank
(C) have disputed not only the common notion that Edgar Allan Poe drank to excess but also whether he may not have drunk
(D) not only have disputed the common notion that Edgar Allan Poe drank to excess but also questioned whether or not he had drunk
(E) have disputed the common notion not only that Edgar Allan Poe drank to excess but also questioned whether he may not have drunk
Solution:
Parallelism + Modifier
In E, disputed the common notion not only that that must be closer to notion.
In D, or not is redundant.
In C, may not have drunk at all is awkward. In but also over whether a verb is missing after also.
B is incorrect because in but also over whether a verb is missing after also.
A is the best choice. A maintains the parallelism through not only disputed but also questioned
Sentence Correction - 1000 Questions with Solution:
(A) have not only disputed the common notion that Edgar Allan Poe drank to excess but also questioned whether he drank
(B) not only have disputed the common notion that Edgar Allan Poe drank to excess but also over whether he drank
(C) have disputed not only the common notion that Edgar Allan Poe drank to excess but also whether he may not have drunk
(D) not only have disputed the common notion that Edgar Allan Poe drank to excess but also questioned whether or not he had drunk
(E) have disputed the common notion not only that Edgar Allan Poe drank to excess but also questioned whether he may not have drunk
Solution:
Parallelism + Modifier
In E, disputed the common notion not only that that must be closer to notion.
In D, or not is redundant.
In C, may not have drunk at all is awkward. In but also over whether a verb is missing after also.
B is incorrect because in but also over whether a verb is missing after also.
A is the best choice. A maintains the parallelism through not only disputed but also questioned
Sentence Correction - 1000 Questions with Solution: