Understanding Modifier Placement in Writing
The importance of correct modifier placement in writing is highlighted through examples of misplaced, limiting, squinting, disruptive, and dangling modifiers. Learn how to keep modifiers close to the words they modify, avoid disrupting sentence connections, and prevent dangling modifiers that modify nothing in particular. Improve your writing by understanding the nuances of modifier placement.
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MODIFIER PLACEMENT Andrea Lunsford Everyday Writer
Misplaced modifiers Keep modifiers close to words they modify. She teaches a seminar this term on voodoo at Skyline College. on voodoo She teaches a seminar this term on voodoo at Skyline College.
Misplaced modifiers Billowing from every window, he saw clouds of smoke. billowing from every window. Billowing from every window, He saw clouds of smoke.
Limiting modifiers Be careful with limiting modifiers such as almost, even, just, merely, and only. The court only hears civil cases on Tuesdays. The court hears only civil cases on Tuesdays. The court hears civil cases on Tuesdays only.
Squinting modifiers If the modifier can refer to either the word before or after it, it is a squinting modifier. Students who practice writing often will benefit. Students who often practice writing will benefit. Students who practice writing will often benefit.
Disruptive modifiers These modifiers interrupt connections between parts of a sentence. Vegetables will, if they are cooked too long, lose most of their nutritional value. If they are cooked too long, vegetables will Vegetables will, if they are cooked too long, lose most of their nutritional value.
Dangling modifiers These modifiers modify nothing in particular in the rest of a sentence. Driving nonstop, Salishan Lodge is located two hours from Portland. Driving nonstop from Portland, you can reach Salishan Lodge in two hours
Dangling modifiers Reluctantly, the hound was given away to a neighbor. Reluctantly, our family gave away the hound to a neighbor. As a young boy, his grandmother told stories of her years as a country schoolteacher. When he was a young boy, his grandmother told stories of her years as a country schoolteacher. Thumbing through the magazine, my eyes automatically noticed the perfume ads. My eyes automatically noticed the perfume ads as I was thumbing through the magazine.
