Sentences, like radios, often require fine-tuning. Misplaced modifiers, ambiguous pronoun references and faulty parallelism can create static. How would you tweak each of these sentences to make its signal clear and strong? (One sentence contains no errors.)

1. Thousands of contestants, hoping to find wealth, adventure or to gain fame, try out for reality TV shows each year.

2. No matter what you think of the cellphone, you can't deny that they're convenient.

3. Despite declining audiences, evening news programs have and will continue to be influential in shaping public opinion.

4. Relying on political call-in programs to raise ratings, profits for AM radio stations have soared.

5. The argument between Joe and him, which lasted nearly five minutes, was broadcast in its entirety.

6. Many people scorn cellphones as annoying and intrusive, and their pervasiveness can't be denied.

7. After sitting in a chair all morning during Zoom conferences, I began to question its value.

Problems and Possible Revisions:

1. The phrase "to gain fame" is not parallel with other items in the phrase that begins with "hoping." Tweak: Thousands of contestants, hoping to find wealth, adventure or fame, audition for reality TV shows each year.

2. The plural pronoun "they" doesn't agree with its singular antecedent, "cellphone." Tweak: No matter what you think of cellphones, you can't deny that they're convenient.

3. The "have" in "evening news programs have" needs to include "been" to be parallel with the verb phrase "to be influential." Tweak: Despite declining audiences, evening news programs have been and will continue to be influential in shaping public opinion.

4. The participial phrase "relying on political call-in programs to raise ratings" doesn't modify the adjacent noun "profits." Profits don't rely on political call-in shows; stations do. Tweak: By relying on political call-in programs to raise ratings, AM radio stations have dramatically increased their profits.

5. No flaws. And, yes, "broadcast" is the preferred past tense of the verb "broadcast."

6. The pronoun "their" could refer either to "people" or "cellphones." Tweak: Many people scorn cellphones as annoying and intrusive, and the pervasiveness of these devices can't be denied.

7. It's not clear whether the pronoun "its" refers to the chair or to the experience of participating in the Zoom conferences. Tweak: After sitting in a chair all morning during Zoom conferences, I began to question their value.

Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Connecticut, invites your language sightings. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via email to WordGuy@aol.com or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.

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