Original sentences:
Hyenas look like dogs but they are in fact distant cousins of cats. When they laugh, they sound like us.
Corrected sentences:
Hyenas look like dogs, but they are actually distant relatives of cats. When they 'laugh,' their calls can sometimes sound a bit like a human laugh.
- Comma before but: We put a comma before but because there are two full ideas (sentences) joined together: "Hyenas look like dogs" and "they are actually distant relatives of cats." The comma helps the sentence read smoothly.
- Word choice: "In fact" is okay, but "actually" is a little simpler for this sentence. "Distant relatives" or "distant cousins" both work; "relatives" is a common choice here.
- Quotes around 'laugh': Hyenas make a sound that we call a "laugh," but it isn't the same as a human laugh. Putting 'laugh' in quotes shows that it's not exactly like our laughing.
- Be accurate and kind: Saying "they sound like us" is a bit too strong and can be misleading. Saying "their calls can sometimes sound a bit like a human laugh" is clearer and more true.
Would you like me to make the sentence shorter or turn it into a fun fact for a 7-year-old?