Download Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers PPt II

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 _I_hit_him_in_the_eye_yesterday
 Insert the word only in any of the eight positions to get eight
different meanings
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 “In addition to being ugly and inappropriate, the
students often make grammatical errors on their signs.”
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Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
A Grammar Tutorial
by Nancy Schrock
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Topics for Today’s Discussion
 Definition of a modifier
 Types of modifiers
 Examples of misplaced and dangling modifiers
 Correcting the problem
 Exercises and a confession
 Conclusions
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Modifier
 What is a modifier?
 An expression that limits or describes another word or phrase
 Words, phrases, or subordinate clauses
 Example: Little boats (little describes boats)
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Types of Modifiers
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Adjectives - modify nouns or pronouns
– Little boats stay close to shore.
Adverbs - modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs
– Little boats sail slowly. (adverb)
Participial phrases - function as adjectives and are participles (verbs ending
in -ing) plus other words
– Having no GPS, our boat stays close to shore.
Prepositional phrases - function as adjectives or adverbs, preposition +
noun or noun equivalent
– With only one sail, our boat stays close to shore.
Infinitive phrases- as modifiers can function as adjectives or adverbs
– To avoid risk, we sail our boat close to shore.
Subordinate clauses - as modifiers they contain a subject + verb but
function as adjectives or adverbs
– Little boats that stay close to shore avoid taking risks.
Not usually a problem
Can be problematic
Misplaced or Dangling Modifiers
 Misplaced modifiers are not near the word they modify
 Example:
If you stay close to the shore for little boats, the risk of sinking is reduced.
(For little boats is close to shore and seems to be modifying shore.)
 Improved: If you stay close to the shore, the risk of sinking for little boats is reduced.
 Dangling modifier is one where the word modified is not explicit
 Example: By staying close to shore, the risk of sinking is reduced. (The word
modified, boat, is not in the sentence.)
 Improved: By staying close to shore, little boats reduce the risk of sinking.
 Delayed subject -- it or there is nearest the modifier but is not the word modified
 Example: By staying close to shore, it is possible for little boats to reduce the risk of
sinking. (It delays the appearance of the subject, boats, and reduces the clarity of the
meaning.)
 Improved: By staying close to shore, little boats reduce the risk of sinking.
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More Misplaced Modifiers
 Squinting modifiers
 A modifier caught between two words, either of which might be
the modified word
 Example: Little boats sailing quickly found tar close to shore (Did
the boats sail quickly or quickly find tar?)
 Improved: When the little boats sailed near to shore, they quickly
found tar.
 Split infinitives (to + verb)
 A modifier placed between to and the verb
 Example: … to carefully stay close to shore….
 Improved: …to stay carefully close to shore….
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How to Correct Misplaced and Dangling
Modifiers
 The modifier should be positioned to give the correct
meaning - usually near the word modified
 Make the word modified obvious and not hidden or
ambiguous
 Don’t split infinitives
 Recognize that modifiers can be misplaced or dangling
and consult a guide when in doubt
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Exercises
 BP was sure by August the oil would be stopped. (squinting modifier --
Was BP sure by August or would the oil be stopped by August?)
 BP was sure the oil would be stopped by August.
 Remembering that one can tell a cracked vessel by its sound, Tony
Hayward stated to the press that he wanted his life back. (dangling
modifier -- It was not Tony who remembered this expression.)
 Remembering that one can tell a cracked vessel by its sound, I
watched Tony Hayward state to the press that he wanted his life back.
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Exercises
 Throwing pearls to swine, it was clear BP executives would
not take the scientists’ advice. (delayed subject)
 Throwing pearls to swine, the scientists gave BP executives
advice that they would not take.
 At the risk of being insensitive, he will get another date with
me when hell freezes over. (misplaced modifier -- The
speaker or writer is the one at risk of being insensitive.)
 At the risk of being insensitive, I told him I would date him
again when hell freezes over.
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Exercises
 In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne had to publicly wear the red letter “A” to
mark her as an adulterer. (split infinitive)
 In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne had to wear publicly the red letter “A” to
mark her as an adulterer.
 When her performance did not improve, Penny worked with Kelly Services
to have the contractor replaced. (It was not Penny’s performance that was a
problem.)
 When the contractor’s performance did not improve, Penny worked with
Kelly Services to have the contractor replaced. (added whose performance
to the subordinate clause)
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Conclusion
 Ensure clarity of meaning with modifiers
 Locate the modifier near the word modified
 Make the word modified obvious and not ambiguous
 Seek assistance from references when in doubt!
References:
 From the Writing Lab website:
http://uwf.edu/writelab/advice/documents/waonjobgram8.htm
 AWriter’s Reference, Diana Hacker
 The Random House Handbook
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