Hi,
“In 2013, he tweeted that his IQ was “much higher” than Barack Obama and George W Bush.”
–If my memory serves me well, I was taught to follow the pattern ‘his’—‘Obama’s’'Bush’s’. Or ‘…than that of Obama\Bush’.
On the original’s reading though (and the sentence was the author’s, not a quotation), what we have is comparing his IQ with the height of Mr Obama.
Did I miss anything?
I don’t really understand your question. Yes, the correct grammar is “higher than Barack Obama’s and George W Bush’s”, but the meaning of your quote is still clear.
That was really my question. Since it’s clear you can well snub the grammar, but how far can you go?
If the original doesn’t seem to be grating on your ears, could I take it aboard?
Nice meeting you again, after my long absence, Eugene and Luschen! Have a nice time.
[color=red]His IQ was much higher than Barack Obama and George W Bush. (To me, it is unacceptable since the sentence conforms to neither grammar nor logic)
This sentence can be refined in two ways:
A
His IQ was much higher than Barack Obama’s IQ and George W Bush’s IQ.
To avoid redundancy: [color=green]His IQ was much higher than Barack Obama’s and George W Bush’s.
B
His IQ was much higher than the IQ of Barack Obama and the IQ of George W Bush.
His IQ was much higher than the IQs of Barack Obama and George W Bush
To avoid redundancy: [color=green]His IQ was much higher than those of Barack Obama and George W Bush.
I’m in accord with Eugene, Luschen.
What does “take it aboard” mean here?
To take something aboard (a ship, car or other vehicle) means to place a load of something on or in a ship, vehicle etc.
Similar sounding but with a different meaning: if you take on board an idea or a piece of information, you begin to accept it or understand it.
In my message, I have used ‘take aboard’ referring to an idea, but judging by no reaction on it, Luschen has read it right.
Yes, sorry I never responded. I agree you could take it aboard, but personally I would probably leave it on the dock and use the apostrophes. But then, I also use “whom” whenever appropriate, a practice almost completely abandoned based on what I hear around me.