In one sentence, Sarah Sanders makes four amateur journalism mistakes
Michael E. Fitzgerald, CAE
Association and communications expert: For a perfect blend of management, strategic planning and advocacy
In her one-sentence statement explaining her decision to join Fox News as a contributor, former White House press secretary Sarah Sanders made four basic mistakes that professional journalists are trained to avoid.
No . 1 -- The name of Sanders' new employer is not "FOX News" with FOX in all capitals but "Fox News," according to the "Fox News" website and The Associated Press Stylebook.
No. 2 -- When indicating position or rank, number should be abbreviated, according to The AP Stylebook. Sanders used "number one" where she should have used "No. 1."
No. 3 -- Sanders' statement is a compound sentence, meaning that it consists of two stand-alone clauses tied together with a conjunction -- in this case, the conjunction and. By referring to the "Comma" entry in The AP Stylebook, Sanders would have been advised to use a comma before and.
No. 4 -- Although the "singular they" is becoming increasingly popular, The AP Stylebook advises limiting its use to situations in which "alternative wording is overly awkward or clumsy." The stylebook goes on to recommend, "However, rewording usually is possible and always is preferable." In the case of Sanders' statement, using the appropriate possessive, namely its, would have neither created overly awkward wording nor required rewording.
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5yThis looks like a quote written by a journalist. If so, mistakes 1,2, and 4 are actually the reporter’s (or their editors) mistakes. The run on sentence can be somewhat forgiven as a spoken comment.
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5yKaren Fitzgerald fouled by the Oxford comma! Or not?
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5yA very pithy post. What is your real point?
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5yMichael, The first mistake is not that big. The second mistake is what I was taught, Do not use abbreviations if possible." The third one is a grammar mistake, and I see it done all the time in journalism. The fourth error is not an error, because "their" is plural since "contributors is plural. Thank you for the information, though. I hope all is well.