Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Put limiting modifiers in

Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

Put limiting modifiers in front of the words they modify. o Limiting modifiers such as only, even, almost, nearly, and just should appear in front of a verb only if they modify the verb. o If modifiers limit the meaning of some other word in the sentence, they should be placed in front of that word. MISPLACED St. Vitus Cathedral, commissioned by Charles IV in the mid fourteenth century, almost took six centuries to complete. RIVISED St. Vitus Cathedral, commissioned by Charles IV in the mid fourteenth century, took almost six centuries to complete. MISPLACED If you just interview chemistry majors, your picture of the student body's response to the new grading policies will be incomplete. RIVISED If you interview just chemistry majors, your picture of the student body's response to the new grading policies will be incomplete. Hacker and Sommers

Put limiting modifiers in front of the words they modify. o Modifiers, whether they are single words, phrases, or clauses, should point clearly to the words they modify. As a rule, related words should be kept together. o When the limiting modifier not is misplaced, the sentence usually suggests a meaning the writer did not intend. MISPLACED In the United States in 1860, all black southerners were not slaves. RIVISED In the United States in 1860, not all black southerners were slaves. Hacker and Sommers

Put limiting modifiers in front of the words they modify. o Place phrases and clauses so that readers can see at a glance what they modify. o When phrases or clauses are oddly placed, absurd misreadings can result. MISPLACED The soccer player returned to the clinic where he had undergone emergency surgery in 2009 in a limousine sent by Adidas. RIVISED Traveling in a limousine sent by Adidas, the soccer player returned to the clinic where he had undergone emergency surgery in 2009. MISPLACED The robber was described as a six foot tall man with a heavy mustache weighing 170 pounds. RIVISED The robber was described as a 170 pound, six foot tall man with a heavy mustache. Hacker and Sommers

Put limiting modifiers in front of the words they modify. o Occasionally the placement of a modifier leads to an ambiguity. o In such a case, two revisions will be possible, depending on the writer's intended meaning. AMBIGUOUS The exchange students we met for coffee occasionally questioned us about our latest slang. CLEAR The exchange students we occasionally met for coffee questioned us about our latest slang. CLEAR The exchange students we met for coffee questioned us occasionally about our latest slang. Hacker and Sommers

Move awkwardly placed modifiers. o As a rule, a sentence should flow from subject to verb to object, without lengthy detours along the way. o Such detours have a tendency to create awkward sentences. AWKWARD Hong Kong, after more than 150 years of British rule, was transferred back to Chinese control in 1997. RIVISED After more than 150 years of British rule, Hong Kong was transferred back to Chinese control in 1997. AWKWARD Jeffrey Meyer discusses in his biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald, the writer's ''fascination with the superiority, the selfishness, and the emptiness of the rich. " RIVISED In his biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jeffrey Meyer discusses the writer's ''fascination with the superiority, the selfishness, and the emptiness of the rich. " Hacker and Sommers

Avoid split infinitives when they are awkward. o An infinitive consists of to plus the base form of a verb: to think, to run, to dance. o When a modifier appears between to and the verb, an infinitive is said to be "split": to carefully balance, to completely understand. AWKWARD The patient should try to if possible avoid putting weight on his foot. RIVISED If possible, the patient should try to avoid putting weight on his foot. Hacker and Sommers

Avoid unnatural phrasing when trying to avoid split infinitives. o At times, neither the split infinitive nor its alternative sounds par ticularly awkward. o In such situations, it is usually better to unsplit the infinitive, especially in formal writing. AWKWARD We decided actually to enforce the law. RIVISED We decided to actually enforce the law. Hacker and Sommers

Repair dangling modifiers. o A dangling modifier fails to refer logically to any word in the sentence. o Dangling modifiers are easy to repair, but they can be hard to recognize, especially in your own writing. DANGLING Upon entering the doctor's office, a skeleton caught my attention. RIVISED A skeleton caught my attention when I entered the doctor's office. DANGLING Though not eligible for the clinical trial, the doctor was willing to prescribe the drug for Ethan on compassionate grounds. RIVISED The doctor was willing to prescribe the drug for Ethan on compassionate grounds, even though he was not eligible for the clinical trial. Hacker and Sommers

Recognizing dangling modifiers o Dangling modifiers are usually word groups (such as verbal phrases) that suggest but do not name an actor. o When a sentence opens with such a modifier, readers expect the subject of the next clause to name the actor. If it doesn't, the modifier dangles. DANGLING Understanding the need to create checks and balances on power, the Constitution divided the government into three branches. RIVISED Understanding the need to create checks and balances on power, the framers of the Constitution divided the government into three branches. DANGLING After completing seminary training, women's access to the priesthood, has often been denied. RIVISED After completing seminary training, women have often been denied access to the priesthood. Hacker and Sommers

Work Cited Hacker, Diana and Nancy Sommers. “Problems with modifiers. ” Writer’s Reference. 7 th ed. , Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2011. A