Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

1. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers More Anguished English

2. Modifier • A word or group of words that describes or limits another word or group of words

3. Misplaced modifiers • Positioned incorrectly in a sentence--describes the wrong word and changes the writer’s meaning • Always place a modifier as close as possible to what it describes

4. Examples of misplaced mod. • We saw many bears driving through Yellowstone park • Yesterday evening, Sean Leary, 24, of Belmont Road, was driving his motorcycle west on the street where he lives at a high speed. • He ran outside and chased after the cat with a broomstick in his underwear.

5. Squinting modifier • Modifies both the word that comes before it and the word that follows it. • Ex. At Ipalook Elementary School’s enormous indoor playground, students who are playing happily go outside whenever the weather is above 20 degrees F.

6. Limiting words • Only, not only, just, not just, almost, hardly, nearly, even, exactly, merely, scarcely, and simply • ex. The couple only saw each other during the meal.

7. Split infinitives • Infinitive = to + verb • splitting occurs when a word or words are placed between the “to” and the verb • exception--sometimes a single adverb may be placed between the “to” and the verb • ex. NO, NO--The weather service expected temperatures to not rise. • Ex. YES, YES--Welles wanted to realistically portray a Martian invasion for the radio audience.

8. Dangling modifiers • A d. m. describes or limits a word or words that do not actually appear in the sentence. • Ex. In June 1989, barely capable of uttering an English phrase, Martinez’s hand was severed at the wrist in a construction accident. • Ex. Grilled in foil or alongside a ham, those who shied away from onions before will delight in this newfound vegetable.

9. Revise these real-life bloopers: • For sale: antique desk suitable for lady with thick legs and large drawers. • We will sell gasoline to anyone in a glass container. • The bride was wearing an old lace dress that fell to the floor as she came down the aisle.

10. Calf born to farmer with two heads. • No one was injured in the blast, which was attributed to a buildup of gas by one town official. • A 30-year old St. Petersburg man was found murdered by his parents in his home late Saturday.