Hi Cheri, "Burke tore a vertebral artery, which are located in the neck and supply blood to the brainstem - the back part of the brain which controls consciousness." Here's the solution - 'which' needs an antecedent, something it is referencing. It's not 'Burke' and it's not 'tore.' It is 'a vertebral artery.' (You can't use words that are tucked away in your head, or it makes you crazy). And you need to have agreement between the subject and its verb - singular in this case. 'Supply' would have to become 'supplies' as well if you stay with the singular. 'Vertebral arteries' have not been introduced. If you want them in there, remove 'which'; replace it with a period, and you can introduce the plural, vertebral arteries, required as the subject of a plural verb. Barb J Barbara J. Becker, Editor MEASURED WORDS second helpings <mailto:bjbecker@xxxxxxx> bjbecker@xxxxxxx www.barbarajbecker.com From: mea-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:mea-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of cheri.frazer@xxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 5:29 PM To: mea@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [mea] Re: Are you ok with this sentence? That's a fun one! A correction (collection, with an accent) of editors A brace of editors A bracket of editors A nitpick of editors A murder of editors (no, that's crows--or is it ravens? I think it's ravens) Ha, a caret of editors! I think I need to go home. From: Karen McElrea <karenmcelrea@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <mea@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Date: 2012-01-12 05:19 PM Subject: [mea] Re: Are you ok with this sentence? Sent by: mea-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx _____ Well, yes, except the skier is in no position to be critical (that particular usage always bugs me). As opposed to a gaggle of editors ... what is the correct term for that, by the way? _____ Subject: [mea] Re: Are you ok with this sentence? Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:08:25 -0600 From: Carl.DeGurse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To: mea@xxxxxxxxxxxxx It's a "don't read me" headline. Nothing new in this news story. But it's possible the headline writer was stuck topping a nothing-new story and responsibly wrote a headline that is bland yet accurate. From: mea-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [ <mailto:mea-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> mailto:mea-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Karen McElrea Sent: January-12-12 4:58 PM To: mea@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [mea] Re: Are you ok with this sentence? Thanks, Arden -- what do we think about that headline, "Canadian skier Sarah Burke still critical..."? I think Cheri's solution is a good one (a double)! _____ Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:18:25 -0600 Subject: [mea] Re: Are you ok with this sentence? From: acogg@xxxxxxx To: mea@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Where's the like button, Karen? ...Arden On Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 4:04 PM, Karen McElrea < <mailto:karenmcelrea@xxxxxxxxxxx> karenmcelrea@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: I would object to a sentence of that construction, which I believe are incorrect in any context. _____ To: <mailto:mea@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> mea@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [mea] Are you ok with this sentence? From: <mailto:cheri.frazer@xxxxxxxxxx> cheri.frazer@xxxxxxxxxx Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:32:53 -0600 "Burke tore a vertebral artery, which are located in the neck and supply blood to the brainstem - the back part of the brain which controls consciousness." (From <http://www.cbc.ca/sports/skiing/story/2012/01/12/sp-burke-skiing-injury.htm l> http://www.cbc.ca/sports/skiing/story/2012/01/12/sp-burke-skiing-injury.html ) Would you consider that construction perfectly ok, a colloquialism / grammatical shortcut, or would you consider it wrong no matter what? Just curious. -C. "PLEASE NOTE: The preceding information may be confidential or privileged. It only should be used or disseminated for the purpose of conducting business with Parker. If you are not an intended recipient, please notify the sender by replying to this message and then delete the information from your system. Thank you for your cooperation." "PLEASE NOTE: The preceding information may be confidential or privileged. It only should be used or disseminated for the purpose of conducting business with Parker. If you are not an intended recipient, please notify the sender by replying to this message and then delete the information from your system. Thank you for your cooperation."