Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

1. Misplaced &
Dangling Modifiers
For Sale: Antique desk
suitable for a lady with thick
legs and large drawers.

2. Modifiers
 Modifiers can take the form of a word,
phrase, or clause, and should point clearly
toward the words they modify.
 As a rule, modifiers and related words
should be kept close together in a
sentence. Proximity matters!
 Misplaced and dangling modifiers often
result in comic miscommunications.

3. Limiting Modifiers
 Limiting modifiers are words like only,
even, almost, nearly, rarely, and just.
 Limiting modifiers should appear before
the verb only if they modify the verb; if
they modify the meaning of some other
word in the sentence, they should come
before that word.

4. Limiting Modifiers
 The turtle only makes progress when it sticks its
neck out.
 The turtle makes progress only when it sticks its
neck out.
 Lasers only destroy the target, leaving the
surrounding tissue intact.
 Lasers destroy only the target, leaving the
surrounding tissue intact.

5. Limiting Modifiers
 “Not” is a limiting modifier that is commonly
misplaced.
 In the United States in 1860, all black
southerners were not slaves.
 In the United States in 1860, not all black
southerners were slaves.
 The first sentence asserts that no black
southerners were slaves; the second asserts
that some, but not all, black southerners were
slaves.

6. Proximity Matters!
 Put modifying phrases and clauses close
to what they modify, and move modifiers
that are awkward.
 Sometimes a misplaced modifier can
result in a sentence that is ambiguous. In
that case, the author must decide which
meaning is intended and correct the
problem accordingly.

7. Proximity Matters!
 Misplaced: The king returned to the clinic
where he had undergone heart surgery in
2000 in a limousine sent by the White
House.
 Corrected: Traveling in a limousine sent
by the White House, the king returned to
the clinic where he had undergone heart
surgery in 2000.

8. Proximity Matters!
 Ambiguous: The exchange students we met for
coffee occasionally questioned us about our
latest slang.
 Clear: The exchange students we met
occasionally for coffee questioned us about our
latest slang.
 Clear: The exchange students we met for coffee
questioned us occasionally about our latest
slang.

9. Proximity Matters!
 Ambiguous: There are many pictures of
comedians who have performed at Gavin’s
on the walls.
 Clear: On the walls are many pictures of
comedians who have performed at
Gavin’s.

10. Move Awkward Modifiers!
 As a rule, sentences should move
smoothly from subject to verb to object.
 Modifiers that interrupt this pattern should
be moved to reduce awkwardness.

11. Move Awkward Modifiers!
 Awkward: Hong Kong, after more than 150
years of British rule, was transferred back to
Chinese control in 1997.
 Clear: After more than 150 years of British rule,
Hong Kong was transferred back to Chinese
control in 1997.
 Notice that the second sentence features a
smooth, uninterrupted transition from subject
(Hong Kong) to verb (was transferred).

12. Avoid Split Infinitives!
 An infinitive consists of “to” plus a verb.
 Examples: to run, to think, to dance, to
live
 When a modifier appears between “to” and
the verb, it “splits” the infinitive; the result
is usually awkward, especially when the
modifier is long.

13. Avoid Split Infinitives!
 Split: The patient should try to if possible
avoid going up and down stairs.
 Correct: If possible, the patient should try
to avoid going up and down stairs.
 Correct: The patient should try to avoid
going up and down stairs, if possible.

14. Avoid Split Infinitives!
 Split: The candidate decided to formally
launch her campaign.
 Correct: The candidate decided to launch
her campaign formally.

15. Repair Dangling Modifiers!
 A dangling modifier fails to refer logically to
any word in the sentence.
 Often, dangling modifiers suggest to what
they refer, but do not specifically name it.
 When a sentence opens with such a
modifier, the reader expects that the
subject relates to the modifier. If it doesn’t,
the modifier dangles.

16. Repair Dangling Modifiers!
 Dangling: Opening the window to let out a huge
bumblebee, the car accidentally swerved into an
oncoming car.
 Correct: When the driver opened the window to
let out a huge bumblebee, the car accidentally
swerved into an oncoming car.
 You can see that the first sentence omits the
agent. To correct the dangling modifier, insert
the agent.

17. Repair Dangling Modifiers!
 Dangling: Deciding to join the navy, the
recruiter enthusiastically pumped Joe’s
hand.
 Correct: When Joe decided to join the
Navy, the recruiter enthusiastically
pumped Joe’s hand.
 The first sentence suggests that the
recruiter was joining the Navy, not Joe.

18. Repair Dangling Modifiers!
 Dangling: Upon entering the doctor’s
office, a skeleton caught my attention.
 Correct: As I entered the doctor’s office, a
skeleton caught my attention
 The first sentence omits the agent, thus
leading the reader to believe that the
skeleton was entering the doctor’s office.

19. Repair Dangling Modifiers!
 Dangling: Though only sixteen, UCLA
accepted Martha’s application.
 Correct: Though Martha is only sixteen,
her application was accepted at UCLA.
 The first sentence suggests that UCLA is
only sixteen.

20. Use Your Resources!
 Consult the helpful chart on page 108 of
your grammar book to help diagnose
dangling modifiers!
 Online exercises 12-1 through 12-4
address dangling and misplaced modifiers.

21. Distracting Shifts
 Be consistent in point of view.
 Whether choosing first, third, or third
omniscient (NEVER second in academic
essays), be consistent. That is, pick one
and go with it!

22. Distracting Shifts
 Distracting Shifts: One week our class met in a
junkyard to practice rescuing a victim trapped in
a wrecked car. We learned to dismantle the car
with tools. You were graded on your speed and
skill.
 Correct: One week our class met in a junkyard
to practice rescuing a victim trapped in a
wrecked car. We learned to dismantle the car
with tools. We were graded on our speed and
our skill.

23. Distracting Shifts
 Second person (you) is acceptable only
when giving specific directions.
 Example: Before assembling this Ikea end
table, you need to gather the appropriate
tools, clear your workspace, and prepare
yourself for four hours of frustration.

24. Distracting Shifts
 Maintain consistent verb tense.
 Pick one and go with it!
 When writing about literature, ALWAYS write in
the present tense.
 Example: In Ceremony, Tayo slowly comes to
discover that “witchery” is not only perpetrated
by whites, but also includes actions perpetrated
by those in his own culture.

25. Distracting Shifts
 Use verbs that are consistent in mood and
voice.
 Consult 13c in Rules for Writers to refresh
your understanding of mood and voice.

26. Distracting Shifts
 Mood: The officers advised us against allowing
anyone into our homes without proper
identification. Also, alert neighbors to vacation
schedules.
 Correct: The officers advised us against
allowing anyone into our homes without proper
identification. They also suggested that we alert
neighbors to vacation schedules.
 The corrected sentence creates consistency in
the indicative mood.

27. Distracting Shifts
 Voice: When the tickets are ready, the travel
agent notifies the client. Each ticket is then
listed on a daily register form and a copy of the
itinerary is filed.
 Corrected: When the tickets are ready, the
travel agent notifies the client, lists each ticket
on a daily register form, and files a copy of the
itinerary.
 The corrected passage is written consistently in
active voice.

28. Distracting Shifts
 Avoid shifts from indirect to direct
questions.
 See 13d in Rules for Writers to clarify
direct and indirect questions.
 Shifting from an indirect to direct quotation
is common in some dialects and colloquial
speech. Be aware of this shift and
eliminate it from your academic writing.

29. Distracting Shifts
 Indirect to Direct: I wonder whether the
sister knew of the theft and, if so, did she
report it to the police.
 Corrected: I wonder whether the sister
knew of the theft and, if so, if she reported
it to the police.
 Corrected: Did the sister know of the
theft? Did she report it to the police?

30. Grammar Girl!
 On Modifiers!