Chapter 9.12 Misplaced & Dangling Modifiers
What are modifiers?
A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that clarifies or describes another word, phrase, or clause. Sometimes writers use modifiers incorrectly, leading to strange and unintentionally humorous sentences.
The two common types of modifier errors are called misplaced modifiers and dangling modifiers. If either of these errors occurs, readers can no longer read smoothly. Instead, they become stumped trying to figure out what the writer meant to say. A writer’s goal must always be to communicate clearly and to avoid distracting the reader with strange sentences or awkward sentence constructions. The good news is that these errors can be easily overcome.
Misplaced Modifiers
A misplaced modifier is a modifier that is placed too far from the word or words it modifies. Misplaced modifiers make the sentence awkward and sometimes unintentionally humorous.
Example
Incorrect: She wore a bicycle helmet on her head that was too large.
Correct: She wore a bicycle helmet that was too large on her head.
- Notice in the incorrect sentence it sounds as if her head was too large! Of course, the writer is referring to the helmet, not to the person’s head. The corrected version of the sentence clarifies the writer’s meaning.
Example
Incorrect: They bought a kitten for my brother they call Shadow.
Correct: They bought a kitten they call Shadow for my brother.
- In the incorrect sentence, it seems that the brother’s name is Shadow. That’s because the modifier is too far from the word it modifies, which is kitten.
Tip
The easiest way to clarify a word being modified in a sentence is to place the modifier close to the word it modifies. Whenever possible, it is best to place a modifier immediately before or after the modified word.
Simple modifiers like only, almost, just, nearly, and barely often get used incorrectly because writers sometimes stick them in the wrong place.
Example
Confusing: Tyler almost found fifty cents under the sofa cushions.
Repaired: Tyler found almost fifty cents under the sofa cushions.
- How do you almost find something? Either you find it or you do not. The repaired sentence is much clearer.
Example
Confusing: Maribel nearly made one thousand dollars over summer.
Repaired: Maribel made nearly one thousand dollars over summer.
- How do you nearly make money? Either you make it or you do not. The repaired sentence is much clearer.
Exercise 9.12.1
On a separate sheet of paper, correct the misplaced modifier in the following sentences.
- The young lady was walking the dog on the telephone.
- Uncle Louie bought a running stroller for the baby that he called “Speed Racer.”
- The mysterious woman walked toward the car holding an umbrella.
- Carmen spotted a stray puppy driving home from work.
- The teacher served cookies to the children wrapped in aluminum foil.
Dangling Modifiers
A dangling modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes something that has been left out of the sentence. When there is nothing that the word, phrase, or clause can modify, the modifier is said to dangle.
Example
Incorrect: Riding in the sports car, the world whizzed by rapidly.
Correct: As Jane was riding in the sports car, the world whizzed by rapidly.
- In the incorrect sentence, riding in the sports car is dangling. The reader is left wondering who is riding in the sports car. The writer must tell the reader!
Example
Incorrect: Walking home at night, the trees looked like spooky aliens.
Correct: As Jonas was walking home at night, the trees looked like spooky aliens.
Correct: The trees looked like spooky aliens as Jonas was walking home at night.
- In the incorrect sentence walking home at night is dangling. Who is walking home at night? Jonas. Note that there are two different ways the dangling modifier can be corrected.
The following three steps will help you quickly spot a dangling modifier:
- Look for an -ing modifier at the beginning of your sentence or another modifying phrase:
Painting for three hours at night, the kitchen was finally finished by Maggie. (Painting is the -ing modifier.)
- Underline the first noun that follows it:
Painting for three hours at night, the kitchen was finally finished by Maggie.
- Make sure the modifier and noun go together logically. If they do not, it is very likely you have a dangling modifier.
After identifying the dangling modifier, rewrite the sentence.
Painting for three hours at night, Maggie finally finished the kitchen.
Exercise 9.12.2
On a separate sheet of paper, correct the dangling modifier in the following sentences (remember, you may need to add words and/or rearrange the sentence).
- Playing the guitar in the bedroom, the frightened cat was seen under the bed.
- Making discoveries about new creatures, this is an interesting time to be a biologist.
- While looking in the mirror, the towel swayed in the breeze.
- Chewing furiously, the gum fell out of my mouth.
- Bent over backward, the yoga posture was very challenging.
Attributions
2.7: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Anonymous via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.
SB4: Avoiding Misplaced Modifiers, Dangling Modifiers, and Split Infinitives adapted from “Sentence Building” in Writer’s Handbook, 2012, used according to Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA 3.0
