Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Misplaced Modifiers
A modifier should be placed next to the word it describes.
Example
Note how the placement of the modifier creates different possible meanings:
Note how different placement of the word only creates a difference in meaning
between these two sentences.
Sentence A means that the shopper did not buy any ties.
Sentence B means that the shopper visited only the tie department.
1
Some frequently misplaced single words are
Example
The logical meaning of this sentence is not that the vendor almost sold all of her
pottery, but that she sold almost all of her pottery.
Misplaced phrase
Example #1
As written, this sentence means that children were served on paper plates.
Correctly written, the sentence means that hamburgers were served, on paper
plates.
2
Example #2
As written, this sentence means that the car is carrying a briefcase. Carrying a
briefcase is misplaced.
Correctly written, the sentence means that the man is carrying a briefcase.
Misplaced clause
Example #1
Correctly written, the sentence means that the toy was broken.
Example #2
As written, the sentence means that I forgot my keys after I got home.
3
Squinting modifiers
A squinting modifier is a modifier misplaced so that it may describe two situations.
Example
Does it mean that I told my son when the game was over?
OR
Does it mean that I would play with him when the game was over?
Awkward separations
An awkward separation creates a confusing meaning.
Example
4
As written, this sentence separates the auxiliary verb from the main verb, creating an
awkward gap.
In many cases, the dangling modifier appears at the beginning of a sentence, although it can
also come at the end. Sometimes the error occurs because the sentence fails to specify
anything to which the modifier can refer. At other times the dangling modifier is placed next
to the wrong noun or noun substitute: a noun that it does not modify.
Dangling participles:
In this sentence, the modifier passing the building is positioned next to the broken window.
The resulting meaning is that "the broken window" is "passing the building," clearly not the
intended meaning.
5
In this sentence, the modifier once revised and corrected is positioned next to I,
suggesting that "I" have been "revised and corrected."
Dangling gerund:
In this sentence, the modifier after roasting for three hours is positioned next to
we, meaning that "we" have been "roasting for three hours."
Dangling infinitive:
In this sentence, the modifier to walk a high wire is positioned next to a pole. As a result,
the sentence means that "a pole" can walk "a high wire."
6
In this sentence, the modifier when just six years old is positioned next to my
grandmother, suggesting that my six year old grandmother taught me ballet.
With the modifier next to my paper, the sentence clearly means that "my paper" was
"corrected and rewritten."
With the modifier next to an acrobat, the sentence clearly means that "an acrobat"
can "walk a high wire."
7
With its own subject, "was revised and corrected" clearly refers to "my paper."
With its own subject, "was just six years old" clearly refers to "I."
Now the clause clearly shows that "we" have "roasted the turkey."