Writing Textbooks Boundless Writing Overview of English Grammar: Parts of Speech Modifiers: Adjectives and Adverbs
Writing Textbooks Boundless Writing Overview of English Grammar: Parts of Speech
Writing Textbooks Boundless Writing
Writing Textbooks
Writing
Concept Version 15
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Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

A modifier is a word or group of words that describes another word or group of words.

Learning Objective

  • Identify incorrectly used modifiers

Key Points

    • A modifier is a word or phrase that describes, limits, or qualifies another word.
    • Adjectives and adverbs are two types of modifiers as they are used to describe other words. 
    • It is important to use modifiers correctly so readers understand your intended meaning.  
    • Incorrect modifiers come in the form of dangling modifiers, misplaced modifiers, and squinting modifiers. 
    • The best way to fix an incorrect modifier is to restructure the sentence. 

Terms

  • modifier

    A word or phrase that describes, limits, or qualifies the sense of another word or phrase.

  • misplaced modifier

    Occurs when it is unclear what word or words a modifier is referencing. 

  • squinting modifier

    A word that is placed right next to the word it refers to, but is also near another word that it might be modifying.

  • dangling modifier

    An error in the sentence in which a modifier is associated with a word or phrase that it is not supposed to describe. 

Full Text

Modifiers

A modifier is a word or phrase that describes another word or phrase. Two common types of modifiers are the adverb (a word that describes an adjective, a verb, or another adverb) and the adjective (a word that describes a noun or pronoun). However, though all adjectives and adverbs are modifiers, not all modifiers are adjectives and adverbs. Many modifiers are entire phrases. For example:

  • Responsible for representing students to the faculty and overseeing student organizations, the Student Council plays an important role in campus life. 

The modifying phrase (in italics) provides additional information about the subject of the sentence: the Student Council.

Clarity with Modifiers

Above all, it should always be clear to the reader which word an adjective, adverb, or modifying phrase is describing. By paying attention to placement and making sure that if you want to modify a verb you use an adverb instead of an adjective, you will make it much easier for your reader to pick up on your intended meaning. In situations where modifiers are used incorrectly, the result is a dangling modifier, a misplaced modifier, or a squinting modifier. 

Dangling Modifiers

A dangling modifier occurs when the modifying phrase is too far away from the word it is supposed to describe. As a result, the modifier appears to refer to something else, causing confusion for the reader. Dangling modifiers can be corrected by restructuring the sentence. For example:

Giant Illustration?

  • Dangling: Covering most of Minnesota, the illustration showed the glacier created thousands of lakes. [This phrasing makes it seem like the illustration covers most of Minnesota!]
  • Corrected: Covering most of Minnesota, the glacier created thousands of lakes, as depicted on the illustration. [Here, the modifying phrase clearly refers to glacier as it is intended.]

Walking Winds?

  • Dangling: Walking across the desert, fierce winds swirled around the riders. [Here, the dangling modifier makes it seem like the winds are walking across the desert!]
  • Corrected: Fierce winds swirled around the riders as they walked across the desert. [The sentence has been rephrased so that the riders are the ones walking across the desert.]

Strolling Squirrels?

  • Dangling: Strolling through the park, the squirrels scampered across our feet. [This dangling modifier makes it sound like the squirrels are enjoying a nice stroll in the park!]
  • Corrected: As we strolled through the park, squirrels scampered across our feet. [The sentence has been clarified so that the speaker and his companion are the ones who are strolling.]

Misplaced Modifiers

Similar to a dangling modifier, a misplaced modifier occurs when it is unclear what word(s) the modifier is referencing. Most misplaced modifiers can be corrected by placing the modifying phrase next to the subject it refers to. For example:

Hurt Bicycle

  • Misplaced: Erik couldn't ride his bicycle with a broken leg. [Here, it sounds like the bicycle has a broken leg!]
  • Corrected: With his broken leg, Eric couldn't ride his bike. [Now that the modifier is in the right place, the sentence makes it clear that Eric is the one with a broken leg.]

Ballerina Dog

  • Misplaced: The little girl walked the dog wearing a tutu. [Is she walking a dog that is wearing a tutu?]
  • Corrected: Still wearing a tutu, the little girl walked the dog. [No, the young lady is the one in the tutu!]

Squinting Modifiers

A squinting modifier is a modifier that is placed right next to the word it refers to, but is also near another word that it might be modifying. This can also be corrected by restructuring the sentence. For example:

A Great Exercise

  • Squinting: Cycling uphill quickly strengthens the leg muscles. [Here, "quickly" could modify either "cycling uphill" or "strengthens the leg muscles."]
  • Corrected: Quickly cycling uphill strengthens the leg muscles. [Now it's clear that it's the cycling that has to be quick!]

Peter, I'm Sure We Could Find You a Chair

  • Misplaced: Peter ate the pie sitting on the windowsill. [Is Peter sitting on a windowsill or is the pie?]
  • Corrected: Peter ate the pie that was sitting on the windowsill. [It was the pie.]

Dangling

To avoid dangling and misplaced modifiers in your writing, make sure the word or phrase being modified is clearly identified.

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