Final answer:
To make the sentence 'We must stay cool when we talk to the press about the recent mess' more serious, it should be altered to 'We must maintain professionalism and composure when addressing the media about the recent complications.' This change uses more formal language and avoids casual expressions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question pertains to revising a sentence to change its tone to a more serious one. To achieve this, it would be beneficial to employ language that conveys gravitas and avoids colloquial expressions. A rephrased sentence might read: We must maintain professionalism and composure when addressing the media about the recent complications. This revision introduces a formal tone and replaces casual language with more academic tone words.
It is important to note the tone shift from casual to serious, bringing the sentence in line with expectations of a professional setting. The revised sentence better adheres to the principle of editing focus by maintaining verb tense consistency and adding variety to sentence structure, while simultaneously presenting the issue with the seriousness it warrants.
Additionally, replacing phrases like 'the recent mess' with 'recent complications' can help in avoiding negative connotations and keeping the tone serious and professional. This aligns with the suggested approach to use a positive connotation to improve the tone of the communication.