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On Behalf Of Nancy Allison was heard to ask:
> which version would you use? And, please tell me if
> you would add or remove any punctuation:
>
> ---The bank should have clear standards for the collection and
> modification of all elements, and should combine these elements in a
> manner that most effectively enables it to quantify its exposure to
> operational risk.
>
> ---The bank should have clear standards for the collection and
> modification of all elements, and combine these elements in a manner
that
> most effectively enables it to quantify its exposure to operational
risk.
>
> I always want to repeat the modal auxiliary; it seems too hard to wade
> through the first long noun phrase and instantly remember that
auxiliary
> when you hit the second base verb form. However, I have been informed
that
> this type of repetition is "bad English."
>
> Whaddya say?
I say that my vote goes to your "bad English" version. I would repeat
the "should", for exactly the reason that you cite.
But then, I also retain "that" in a lot of places that others would drop
it, ostensibly for the benefit of ESL readers and for the benefit of
translators (but really because I just prefer it).
I like parallelism. Parallelism rocks. It helps some and it hurts none.
Kevin
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