Dave, first of all, I apologize for only now seeing your question (though I thought I remembered typing one out!): yes, often the sentence has to be completely rewritten for maximum clarity. Thanks for reading and for taking time to reply!

In each case, you are making an inference or drawing a conclusion that the text leaves open-ended. It is certainly true that a reader can often fill in the blanks and discern the intended meaning, but it’s also true that the responsibility for being as clear as possible falls to the writer, not the reader. Precision is a hallmark of strong writing. We can certainly communicate without being as precision as possible, but doing so is risky–especially less precise writing becomes a habit. Thanks for reading and especially for taking time to respond!

Thank YOU, Saara, for those kind words. I’m very glad the content is helpful.

I agree that some misplaced modifiers are less likely to be misconstrued than others, but writers should nonetheless strive to be as precise as possible. Because we know what we meant to say, we are usually the worst judges of our own clarity.

4) That the judge “only heard the cases” (in the original sentence) “but did not rule on them,” since that’s what judges do—issue rulings and decisions. To me, the both sentences are equally clear.

5) That the TV was “only turned on,” but not watched, or turned off— especially given the preceding, contextual phrase, “despite months of isolation at home.” In my opinion, the phrase provides positive reinforcement for the original sentence’s clarity . Plus, turning on a TV “once or twice a week,” wd require it to be routinely turned off , correct?

6) It seems a slight stretch for a reader to tie “mostly concerned” to the doctor’s personal reactions and feelings about Sarah’s condition, and not see it as simply his professional opinion. Since the term, “doctor” is a professional title, the regard for Sarah’s mental health, in the original sentence, comes across clearly as a professional concern to me.

Thanks for reading, Suzanne!

That revision also works, Linda. Thanks!

Hi, Yateendra. “All are NOT able” means that “none ARE able.” What the writer intends to say is that some are but some are not, so “Not all” makes the point clear.

Thank you for reading and for responding!