Broken sentences
In this subediting exercise, you're given 30 deliberately broken sentences. The aim is to edit these sentences, picking up on bad spellings, punctuation and incorrect or confusing word use.
The sentences aren't particularly elegant, so as a follow-up you could consider rewriting them for greater clarity.
The answers to this exercise are provided as a bonus with the ebook 'Journalism Careers - Your questions answered'.
The sentences to correct
- Microsoft have been steadily increasing investment in intellectual property, and claim to be making it more widely and cheaply available.
- Joe Bloggs was found guilty of stealing a marrow at Plymouth Magistrate's Court yesterday.
- Alot of shareholders have been selling their stock; because of the chairman's resignation
- Whom would you think are exhibiting at the show?
- Driving around a bend, the tree hit his car.
- Unemployment conditions in the south might be as bad, if not worse than, any in the north.
- President, Bill Clinton, said the incident is a disgrace.
- Bulgarian childrens' food is different than English.
- The packed lunch comprised of sandwiches, cheese and biscuits and coffee.
- To be a good subeditor, one must have patience with PC's and learn to use your eyes.
- The criteria for choosing financial advisors should be independence, not friendliness.
- There are less people using public transport now than ever before.
- The vice chairman wrestled with a six foot man eating shark.
- There were less applicants for the editors job than anticipated.
- Mr Jones said his company has acheived its success in his time as chairman by combining their quality products with inventive internet marketing.
- Their going to hate this
- Its a quiet time for the Rolling stones, though there new album should draw attention.
- Between you and I, Fred's work was better than Jim, who did not even try.
- "Thank's very much", Sheila said, "I never wanted to cause trouble".
- I am the oldest of three boys, but my brothers are already as tall as I.
- The companies profit was lower than planned. So it has put off building a new plant in Shrewsbury.
- Due to bad weather the bus who's driver is always happy, has been cancelled.
- Following the argument, he packed his bags and went even further away
- Tony Blair said he would try and lower inflation.
- The newscaster inferred by his body language that troops had blocked his entry to the country.
- The fire caused extensive damage, but the house was ensured.
- I was surprised to hear that the party transpired twice a week.
- Linux allows users to have greater control over their computers.
- He avoided trouble by walking away from the gang.
- The thief gave police the alibi that he had been suffering from stress.