Misplaced Modifiers in Grammar
Misplaced
Modifiers
From the
UWF Writing Lab’s 101
Grammar Mini-Lessons Series
Mini-Lesson #71
The misplaced modifier is placed too close to
some other noun or pronoun which it does not
intend to modify. An adjective, an adverb, or a
phrase or clause used as an adjective or
adverb should refer to a specific word in the
same sentence and be placed close to it so
that the relationship is clear. A modifier is
misplaced if intervening words obscure the
relationship between it and the word it is
intended to modify.
A misplaced modifier is confusing because
the reader may associate it with the wrong
word.
Incorrect: There was a debate on the bill to
provide financial aid to homeless persons
in
the Senate
.
Whom is the phrase
in the Senate
describing?
Its proximity to
homeless persons
suggests
that these homeless persons are
in the Senate
;
thus, in the Senate is presented as an
adjectival phrase describing
persons
. Place
the modifying element next to the word it
actually describes.
Correct: There was a debate
in the Senate
on the
bill to provide financial aid to homeless
persons.
Incorrect: I
only need
ten more hours to
graduate.
Do you
only need
ten more hours to graduate or
do you
need only
ten more hours to graduate?
Make sure that adverbs modify the intended
adjective, verb, or other adverb.
Correct: I
need only
ten more hours to graduate.
An infinitive is a single grammatical unit which
consists of
to
plus the
present form of any
verb
. Since the infinitive is a single
grammatical unit, careful writers frown on
“splitting” the infinitive, that is, placing a
modifier (usually an adverb) between the
preposition
to
and the verb. Many authorities
discourage the use of the split infinitive; others
accept this structure especially if writing the
sentence without splitting the infinitive would
create an “unidiomatic” expression. Careful
writers use their discretion and if possible try
not to split an infinitive.
Split infinitive: Dentists encourage children
to
regularly brush
their teeth.
Revised: Dentists encourage children to brush
their teeth regularly.
A squinting modifier is one, which, because of
its placement in the sentence, seems to be
modifying two different words.
Squinting: Patty who was walking quickly
reached the disco.
Revised: Patty, who was walking, reached the
disco quickly.
Revised: Patty, who was walking quickly,
reached the disco.
Misplaced modifiers can lead to confusion in writing. Learn how to correctly position adjectives, adverbs, phrases, and clauses to ensure clear and effective communication in your sentences. Avoid common errors like split infinitives and squinting modifiers for improved writing quality.
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Presentation Transcript
Mini-Lesson #71 Misplaced Modifiers From the UWF Writing Lab s 101 Grammar Mini-Lessons Series
The misplaced modifier is placed too close to some other noun or pronoun which it does not intend to modify. An adjective, an adverb, or a phrase or clause used as an adjective or adverb should refer to a specific word in the same sentence and be placed close to it so that the relationship is clear. A modifier is misplaced if intervening words obscure the relationship between it and the word it is intended to modify. A misplaced modifier is confusing because the reader may associate it with the wrong word.
Incorrect: There was a debate on the bill to provide financial aid to homeless persons in the Senate. Whom is the phrase in the Senate describing? Its proximity to homeless persons suggests that these homeless persons are in the Senate; thus, in the Senate is presented as an adjectival phrase describing persons. Place the modifying element next to the word it actually describes. Correct: There was a debate in the Senate on the bill to provide financial aid to homeless persons.
Incorrect: I only need ten more hours to graduate. Do you only need ten more hours to graduate or do you need only ten more hours to graduate? Make sure that adverbs modify the intended adjective, verb, or other adverb. Correct: I need only ten more hours to graduate.
An infinitive is a single grammatical unit which consists of to plus the present form of any verb. Since the infinitive is a single grammatical unit, careful writers frown on splitting the infinitive, that is, placing a modifier (usually an adverb) between the preposition to and the verb. Many authorities discourage the use of the split infinitive; others accept this structure especially if writing the sentence without splitting the infinitive would create an unidiomatic expression. Careful writers use their discretion and if possible try not to split an infinitive.
Split infinitive: Dentists encourage children to regularly brush their teeth. Revised: Dentists encourage children to brush their teeth regularly.
A squinting modifier is one, which, because of its placement in the sentence, seems to be modifying two different words. Squinting: Patty who was walking quickly reached the disco. Revised: Patty, who was walking, reached the disco quickly. Revised: Patty, who was walking quickly, reached the disco.
