This document is a slideshow presentation about dangling modifiers that was created by Brandon Deppert for a composition class at the University of South Florida. It defines dangling modifiers as words or phrases that modify a word not clearly stated in a sentence, leaving the reader confused. The presentation identifies examples of dangling modifiers and provides steps for revising sentences to correct dangling modifications. It concludes by congratulating the reader on learning how to properly form sentences without dangling modifiers.

1. Dangling Modifiers: Explaination
and Correction of a common
grammatical error
Created By: Brandon Deppert
April 29th, 2009
University of South Florida
Mr. Stedman – Comp. 1102

2. What is a dangling modifier?
• “a word or phrase
that modifies a
word not clearly
stated in the
sentence. A
modifier describes,
clarifies, or gives
more detail about a
concept.”

3. • Dangling modifiers will
attach themselves to a
word different form the
one the writer
apparently meant.
• They are intended to
modify the subject of a
sentence, but instead
seems to modify an
object instead, thus
leaving the reader
confused.

4. • Dangling modifiers will
attach themselves to a
word different form the
one the writer
apparently meant.
• They are intended to
modify the subject of a
sentence, but instead
seems to modify an
object instead, thus
leaving the reader
confused.

5. Identifying Examples
• Having finished the assignment, the TV
was turned on.

6. Identifying Examples
• Having finished the assignment, the TV
was turned on.
vs.
• Having finished the assignment, Jill
turned on the TV.

7. Identifying Examples cont.
• Walking down Main Street, the trees
were beautiful.

8. Identifying Examples cont.
• Walking down Main Street, the trees
were beautiful.
• I saw the trailer peeking through the
window.

9. Steps of Revision
• Having arrived late for practice, a
written excuse was needed.

10. Steps of Revision
• Having arrived late for practice, a
written excuse was needed.
• Having arrived late for practice, the
team captain needed a written excuse.

11. Steps of Revision
• Without knowing his name, it was
difficult to introduce him.

12. Steps of Revision
• Without knowing his name, it was
difficult to introduce him.
• Because Maria did not know his name,
it was difficult to introduce him.

13. Steps of Revision
• To improve his results, the experiment
was done again.

14. Steps of Revision
• To improve his results, the experiment
was done again.
• He improved his results by doing the
experiment again.

15. • Congratulations!
Having completed and
comprehended this
slideshow, you will
now be able to
correctly form
sentences without
using dangling
modifiers!

16. Works Cited
• "Common Usage Dilemmas: Dangling Modifiers:
Counterintelligence Infoplease.com." Infoplease: Encyclopedia,
Almanac, Atlas, Biographies, Dictionary, Thesaurus. Free
online reference, research & homework help. Infoplease.com.
30 Apr. 2009 <http://www.infoplease.com/cig/grammar-
style/dangling-modifiers-counterintelligence.html>.
• "Dangling modifier - Wikipedia." Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia. 30 Apr. 2009
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangling_modifier>.
• Hansard, Michelle. "Dangling Modifiers - The OWL at Purdue."
Welcome to the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL).
17 June 2006. 30 Apr. 2009
<http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/597/01/>.