Understanding and Correcting Modifiers in Writing
Learn about modifiers, including dangling, misplaced, and squinting modifiers, with examples and tips on how to revise sentences to avoid these errors. Improve your writing by understanding how modifiers impact sentence clarity and meaning.
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Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers Adapted from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Hixon
Modifiers What is a modifier? A modifier is an expression that limits or describes another word or phrase Example: little boats (little describes the boats.)
Dangling Modifiers Dangling modifiers are words or phrases which dangle because they have no word in the sentence to describe: While taking a shower, the doorbell rang. The doorbell was taking a shower? In addition to being ugly and inappropriate, the students often make grammatical errors on their signs. Oops! We (probably) don t mean to call the students ugly and inappropriate! It is the signs that are ugly and inappropriate.
Revise Dangling Modifiers Revise a dangling modifier by adding a headword the noun or pronoun that is being described: While I was taking a shower, the doorbell rang. While taking a shower, I heard the doorbell ring. In addition to being ugly and inappropriate, the students signs often contain grammatical errors.
Misplaced Modifiers A misplaced modifier is a word or phrase placed next to some other word or phrase that it does not intend to modify: There was a debate regarding the bill to provide aid to homeless people in the senate. Wait. There are homeless people in the senate? Revise a misplaced modifier by moving the modifier next to the word it is actually modifying: There was a debate in the senate regarding the bill to provide aid to homeless people.
How a Only Affects a Sentence Only she told him that she loved him. No one else told him. He is sad. She told only him that she loved him. She never said I love you to anyone else. She said no one else loved him. She is being abusive. She told him that only she loved him. I love you, but I m not in love with you. This sentence sounds like a breakup line. She told him that she only loved him. She doesn t love anybody else. Aw, sweet. She told him that she loved only him.
Squinting Modifiers Squinting modifiers are misplaced modifiers which seem to modify two words: The people who worked for him sometimes gave him presents. The people sometimes worked for him or they sometimes gave him presents? Revise squinting modifiers by changing the word order so there is no ambiguity: The people who sometimes worked for him gave him presents. The people who worked for him gave him presents sometimes. Sometimes, the people who worked for him gave him presents.
Infinitives Infinitive = to + verb An infinitive is a grammatical unit consisting of the bare form of a verb (without an s) preceded by the preposition to: to choose to explain to dance to go to learn to be
Split Infinitives Split infinitives are modifiers that are placed between the preposition to and the verb in the infinitive: Dentists encourage children to regularly brush their teeth. Try to not be late. The modifier regularly is splitting the infinitive to brush. Revise a split infinitive by moving the modifier to another part of the sentence: Dentists encourage children to brush their teeth regularly. Try not to be late.
Exceptions Some split infinitives are acceptable because the modifier cannot be moved without creating an awkward sentence: Police are looking for a suspect who tried to sexually assault an Army officer. Prices are expected to more than double next year.
