Misplaced
and
Dangling
Modifiers
Jose Mari Angelo V. Cabrera
What is a Modifier?
• A word, phrase, or clause that adds to the meaning of,
changes, clarifies, or describes another word, phrase, or
clause.
• Typically, modifiers are adjectives and adverbs, but they
can also be prepositional phrases or even entire clauses.
Ex:
She wore a bicycle helmet that was too large on her head.
They bought a kitten named Shadow for my brother.
Misplaced Modifier
• A misplaced modifier is a modifier that is placed
incorrectly in a sentence, making it unclear which word
it’s supposed to modify.
• They make the meaning of a sentence unclear and
hinder communication.
• Since it describes the wrong word or phrase, it can give
the reader the wrong impression and creating wild
scenarios.
• Misplaced modifiers make the sentence awkward and
sometimes unintentionally humorous.
Examples:
Misplaced Modifier
Incorrect: The patient was referred to the physician with
stomach pains.
Correct: The patient with stomach pains was referred to
the physician.
Incorrect: The waiter presented a steak to the guest that
was medium rare.
Correct: The waiter presented a steak that was medium
rare to the guest.
Incorrect: The young lady was walking the dog on the
telephone.
Correct: The young lady on the telephone was walking the
Dangling Modifier
• A word, phrase, or clause that describes something that
has been left out of the sentence.
• The main difference between misplaced modifiers and
dangling modifiers is whether the word they’re supposed
to describe is in the sentence.
• Dangling modifiers describe a word or phrase that is not
included in the sentence.
Examples:
Dangling Modifier
Incorrect: Riding in the sports car, the world whizzed by
rapidly.
Correct: As Jane was riding in the sports car, the world
whizzed by rapidly.
Incorrect: Walking home at night, the trees looked like
spooky aliens.
Correct: The trees looked like spooky aliens as Jonas was
walking home at night.
Incorrect: To win the spelling bee, Luis and Gerard should
join our team.
Correct: If we want to win the spelling bee this year, Luis
Dangling Modifier
The following three steps will help you quickly spot a
dangling modifier:
1. Look for an -ing modifier at the beginning of your
sentence or another modifying phrase:
Painting for three hours at night, the kitchen was finally
finished by Maggie. (Painting is the -ing modifier.)
Dangling Modifier
2. Underline the first noun that follows it:
Painting for three hours at night, the kitchen was finally
finished by Maggie.
Dangling Modifier
3. Make sure the modifier and noun go together logically. If
they do not, it is very likely you have a dangling modifier.
After identifying the dangling modifier, rewrite the
sentence.
Painting for three hours at night, Maggie finally finished
the kitchen.
