R U L E S
For Finding and Fixing Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
Understand the problem.
Think of modifiers as arrows and the words they describe as bull's-eyes. For clear,
logical sentences, writers aim modifiers so that they strike as close to the intended
targets as possible.
Sneering with superiority, Roland drank iced tea from a
crystal glass which sparkled in the afternoon sun .
Sneering with superiority, a participle phrase, describes Roland, the noun right after
it. Which sparkled in the afternoon sun, an adjective clause, describes glass, the
word in front.
When a writer's aim is off and too much distance separates the modifier from its target,
the result is a misplaced modifier.
Sucking warm water from a rubber hose, envious
looks were shot Roland's way as the other picnickers quenched
their own thirst.
Sucking warm water from a rubber hose, a participle phrase, should
describe picnickers, but since that noun is so far away, the phrase seems to be
modifying envious looks, which don't have mouths that can suck water!
If the sentence fails to include a target, the modifier is dangling.
With a sigh of pleasure , c onsumption of cucumber sandwiches
commenced.
We assume that Roland is the one sighing with pleasure and eating cucumber
sandwiches, but notice that he's not in the sentence, so we can't tell for sure!
Know the solution.
Misplaced and dangling modifiers make sentences awkward and inelegant. They keep
sentences from expressing clear, straightforward ideas. When you discover a misplaced
or dangling modifier in a sentence, you will need to rearrange and/or revise the sentence
parts to untangle the idea the sentence wants to express.
M i spl ac ed M o di f i e rs
Rearranging sentence parts will often fix a misplaced modifier. Remember that
most modifiers come as close to their targets as possible:
Sucking warm water from a rubber hose, the other
picnickers quenched their own thirst as they shot envious
looks R oland' s way.
Now we have picnickers drinking from the rubber hose, which is clear and logical!
D a n gl i n g M o di f i er s
To fix a dangling modifier, you will need to add a target to the sentence and then
tweak the remaining words to make sense:
With a sigh of pleasure, Roland began to consume cucumber
sandwiches.
After Roland sighed with pleasure, he began to consume
cucumber sandwiches.
Now we know who got to eat that delicious snack!
1997 - 2014 by Robin L. Simmons
All Rights Reserved.
