[Grammar] as

[Nathan Mckane]

Hi there!

The prices at the Economy center are as reasonable, if not more
reasonable, as those at comparable discount store.

I have been told that the word ''as'' in the above sentence is used wrongly but I don't know why.
Would you please tell me why is that so?
Thanks very much indeed.

 

[phrasemix]

There are two patterns that are competing here:

"as ___ as"
"more ___ than"
​

The most grammatically correct and clear way to combine these is:

The prices at the Economy Center are as reasonable as, if not more

reasonable than, those at comparable discount stores.
​

In more casual English speech, English speakers are most likely to use the preposition that fits with the structure that appears last. So for this example, I'd probably say:

The prices at the Economy Center are as reasonable, if not more reasonable, than those at comparable discount stores.
​