second largest and other similar comparisons often lead writers astray: 'Japan is the second largest drugs market in the world after the United States' {The Times}. Not quite. It is the largest drugs market in the world after the United States or it is the second largest drugs market in the world. The sentence above could be fixed by placing a comma after 'world'.
Bill Bryson's book "Troublesome Words" discusses how comparisons in writing can lead to confusion and ambiguity. For instance, a statement such as "Japan is the second largest drugs market in the world after the United States" can mislead readers into misunderstanding the size of Japan's market. The phrasing can imply that Japan is second or misrepresent it as the largest after the U.S. This is an example of how clarity is often lost when writers rush to make comparisons without careful structuring.
To clarify statements like this, Bryson suggests the importance of punctuation. The insertion of a comma after "world" would guide the reader and eliminate confusion, making it clear that Japan holds a significant place in the hierarchy of drug markets globally. Such attention to detail in writing not only enhances understanding but also prevents potential misinformation, which is crucial in effective communication.
