I'm comparing an object A to 2 other objects B and C.
Objects names are somehow long so It seems to me that adding another "than" makes the sentence clearer:
A also had a significantly better predictive value on these outcomes
than its simplified version B and than the alternative version C.
A colleague told me I should remove the second than.
Is there a rule stating I should remove it ? Else, is the sentence really clearer this way ?
Best Answer
You can keep the second than. It's clearer with the second than since without it there is some ambiguity about the meaning of and.
Are we to understand a place to stay and a motorcycle as a "package deal" or as separate comparands?
P.S. Of course you can always use or instead of and (and with or without the second than) if B and C are not a duo but separate items each being compared in turn to A.