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Writing Tips: Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
[PDF version] [Microsoft Word version]
Avoiding Dangling
Modifiers
A dangling modifier
is one that describes a word that is not stated in the sentence; the modifier is
left dangling with no word to which the reader can logically attach it.
When you are writing a sentence with an
introductory modifier, be sure that the word being described follows immediately
after the modifier.
Here are some examples:
No: Walking
across campus yesterday, the sprinklers came on.
[This doesn’t tell who was walking
across campus.]
Yes: Walking
across campus yesterday, we got wet when the
sprinklers came on.
No: Breathless
and tired, talking was not possible.
[This doesn’t tell who was breathless
and tired.]
Yes: Breathless
and tired, Jake could not talk.
No: After
introducing everyone, dinner was served.
[Who introduced
everyone?]
Yes: After
introducing everyone, Mrs. Clark served dinner.
Avoiding Misplaced
Modifiers
A misplaced modifier
is one that is positioned in the sentence so that it describes a different word
than the one intended or so that it is unclear which word it is intended to
modify.
Place modifiers as closely as possible to the
word or words they describe so that your readers will clearly and easily
understand the intended meaning of the sentence.
No: I gave a book to my teacher
that was old and tattered.
[The modifier indicates that the teacher
was old and tattered!]
Yes: I gave my teacher a book
that
was old and tattered.
Position modifiers so that there can be no
confusion about which word or words they are meant to describe:
No: The teacher told Cooper carefully
to proofread his essay.
[It is unclear whether carefully
describes how the teacher told Cooper or how Cooper was supposed to
proofread.]
Yes: The teacher told Cooper to proofread
his paper carefully.
OR
My teacher carefully
told me to proofread my paper.
Place limiting modifiers such as almost, merely,
scarcely, and only in front of, and next to, the words they
modify. Otherwise, your intended meaning will not be clear to the reader. Notice
how the meaning of the sentence changes when the position of the modifier
changes:
 |
Paul has almost
seen every Star Trek episode. |
[Almost
is modifying seen; maybe Paul has a problem with his vision.]
|
Paul has seen
almost every Star Trek
episode. |
[Almost
is modifying every; Paul has missed at least one of the episodes.]
|
Only
the couple went to the restaurant. |
[Meaning: No one other than the couple
went there.]
|
The only
couple went to the restaurant. |
[Meaning: There were no other
couples.]
|
The couple only
went to the restaurant. |
[Meaning: They went there but didn’t
eat dinner or do anything else there.]
|
The couple went
only
to the restaurant. |
[Meaning: They went nowhere
else.]
|
The couple went
to the only restaurant. |
[Meaning: There were no other
restaurants to which they could go.]
Avoid separating the subject and verb with long
or complicated phrases or clauses. Reposition these modifiers so that they do
not interrupt the flow of the sentence.
No: The group, since
it consisted of the members of the women’s soccer and softball teams,
met at the park.
Yes: Since it
consisted of the members of the women’s soccer and softball teams,
the group met at the park.
No: The book, because
it had been given to her by Mrs. Thompson, her fifth grade teacher,
was special to Sharon.
Yes: Because
it had been given to her by Mrs. Thompson, her fifth-grade teacher,
the book was special to Sharon.
Avoid separating the words of a verb phrase (a
group of words that function together as the verb of a sentence: have been
playing, was living, is running).
No: The boys had, without
their parents’ permission, been playing in the park.
Yes: The boys had been playing
in the park without their parents’ permission.
No: They had, fortunately,
told their sister where they were going.
Yes: Fortunately,
they had told their sister where they were going.
Avoid separating a verb and its object (the word
that receives the action of the verb) with long or complicated phrases or
clauses. Reposition these modifiers so that they do not interrupt the flow of
the sentence.
No: The coach gave John, in
spite of the incident at the last game of the season, the award
for good sportsmanship.
Yes: In spite
of the incident at the last game of the season, the coach gave
John the award for good sportsmanship.
No: Stephanie had eaten, against
her better judgment and with considerable trepidation, the
chocolate covered worm.
Yes: Stephanie had eaten the
chocolate covered worm against her better
judgment and with considerable trepidation.
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