Comma

Comma's separate and independent and dependent clauses when separated by a FANBOY (for, and, nor, but, or, yet), items in a list, introductory phrases, and introduce or end quotes. They provide clarity to a sentence. Used incorrectly they can lead to confusion in a sentence. 

Example: April 2019 Vol 93 No. 4 of The Co-Operator

Explanation:

There should be a comma between the independent clause "Ted's greenhouse offers... "and dependent clause "...all carefully nurtured from the best. Because what comes after "and" is not an independent clause, it does not need a comma.

Revision:

Ted's Greenhouse offers the finest plants in the area, all carefully nurtured from the best seed and stock available and skillfully managed until they reach their final destination.

Bad Leads

A news lead draws the reader into the story article and addresses the who, what, when, where and why. If it is a bad lead the reader won't want to continue reading the story. They are the first two sentences of a story, usually straight to the point.

Example: The New York Times April 3

Explanation:

The current lead doesn't address the headline and is kind of unnecessary. The second paragraph becomes unecessary too or it can be shortened.

Revision:

 Sites including Roman and Hers make obtaining lifestyle drugs--libido pills-- embarrassment free and online dinner ordering easy. "E.D. meds prescribed online, delivered at your door starting at $2 per dose." "Low sex drive? That can be optional. Try today -- $99," ads promote on the sites.

Dead Constructions

 Dead constructions are sentences that contain or begin with the words "it is" or "there are" in past or present tense. Dead constructions force the writer to use a weak verb like "is" when a stronger verb could be used. They can force the subject toward the end of a sentence if they are placed in the beginning.

 Example:

From The Chicago Tribune March 28, 2019

Explanation: 

This sentence used the present singular tense of "is." The weak verb pushes the subject, Thomas Kokoraleis toward the end of the sentence. A stronger verb can be used in place of "is" to give the sentance more meaning. 

Revision:

Where Thomas Kokoraleis plans to live remains unclear.  Alternatively: It remains unclear where Thomas Koloraleis plans to live.

The verb "remains" replaced the weaker verb, "is." 

Dangling Modifiers

Modifiers are parts of a sentence that modify the nouns of a sentence. They are words or phrases that add detail, describe or provide information about the subject. When the noun or subject is not in the sentence but the modifier is, the modifier is called a dangling modifier. It is at the beginning or end of a sentence, modifying an action or inanimate object that is not the subject or noun.

Example:

From The Chicago Tribune February 22, 2019

Explanation:

Pinterest  is being modified as a company that has not taken a "hands-off approach to the problem" of users recieving harmful information about vaccines by blocking the results about them entirely. The sentence modifies Pinterest's tactic while talking about companies instead of Pinterest itself.

Revision:

While most companies have taken a more hands-off approach to the problem, citing free speech issues, Pinterest takes a radical alternative by banning all vacine-related content, one that makes it tougher for users to find accurate information about vacines even as it seeks to protect them. 

Cliche

Clichés are commonly used expressions that are seen or heard so many times they become boring and unoriginal.  You can't go wrong with a cliché, but in a profession where capturing the reader's attention is important the cliché will make them sigh and skip over it.

Example:

The New York Times February 14, 2019

Explanation:

The phrase "teetered on the brink" is a common phrase to describe something is close to happening or almost about to happen. It is most commonly used to modify a collapse or destruction of some kind. It is an overused statement and lacks originality.

Revision:

The Spanish government threatened to dissolve--deeply divided over the status of the prosperous region of Catalonia on Wednesday--stymying the passage of a national budget and almost throwing the country into another round of protracted political uncertainty. 

This statement gives the same information without the unoriginal phrase.

Passive Voice

Passive Voice is when the subject is acted upon, instead of active voice where the subject is taking action. Active voice is usually preferred in journalism unless the subject is unknown or unimportant.

Example: 

                      The New York Times February 22

Explanation:

The yearbook was edited by Nichole Carroll, she is acted upon. What is really important, her being the editor of USA Today, is pushed toward the end and loses its impact. Nichole Carroll being the current editor of USA Today and in the past editing this yearbook with racist images is more important than the yearbook itself. 

Revision : 

"USA Today's current editor in chief, Nichole Caroll edited that yearbook when she was 21."

Active voice cuts down on a few words in the process and impacts more than the first sentence. 

Parallelism

Parallelism is the grammatical balance of a sentence. It allows for the sentence to flow and have rhythm when read. A sentence that lacks parallelism causes confusion in the focus of the sentence and the rhythm.

Example: Great Parallelism

                                    The New York Times February 22

Explanation:

The use of the infinitive "to be" in the sentence is paired with complement nouns "sponsor" and supplier. Both words start with s and happen to end in an "--er" sound adding to the balance of the sentence. If supplier was changed to " to supply"  it would not be balanced, supplier would be changed to a verb where sponsor is a noun.