Writers Workshop: Writer Resources
Grammar Handbook: Misplaced Modifiers
Misplaced modifiers are single words, phrases, or clauses that do not point clearly to the word or words they modify. As a rule, related words usually should be kept together.
Six Helpful Tips for Placing Modifiers Correctly
- Limiting modifiers (only, even, almost, nearly, just) should be placed in front of the words they modify.
- Unclear: You will only need to plant one package of seeds.
- Revised: You will need to plant only one package of seeds. ("Only" modifies "one," not "need.")
- Place modifying phrases and clauses so that readers can see at a glance what they modify.
- Unclear: The robber was described as a tall man with a black moustache weighing 150 pounds.
- Revised: The robber was described as a six-foot-tall man weighing 150 pounds with a black moustache. ("150 pounds" describes the man, not the moustache.)
- Sentences should flow from subject to verb to object without lengthy detours along the way. When adverbs separate subject from verb, verb from object, or helping-verb from main-verb, the result can be awkward.
- Unclear: John, after trying to reach the ball, decided to get a ladder.
- Revised: After trying to reach the ball, John decided to get a ladder. (Subject and verb are no longer separated.)
- Infinitives ("to" + verb, such as "to go," "to catch," "to shout") usually should not be split unless necessary, especially in formal writing.
- Unclear: The patient should try to, if possible, avoid going up and down stairs.
- Revised: If possible, the patient should try to avoid going up and down stairs.
- Dangling modifiers are word groups (usually introductory) that may seem confusing to some people if they fail to refer logically to any word in a sentence. Rewording a sentence may help to clarify the meaning.
- Unclear: Deciding to join the navy, the recruiter happily pumped Joe's hand. (The recruiter is not deciding to join the navy; Joe is.)
- Revised: The recruiter happily pumped Joe's hand after learning that Joe had decided to join the navy.
- Unclear: Though only sixteen, UCLA accepted Martha's application. (UCLA is not sixteen; Martha is.)
- Revised: Though Martha was only sixteen, UCLA accepted her application.
- Dangling modifiers can be repaired by restructuring the sentence, but this restructuring may vary according to the writer's stylistic preferences.
- Unclear:
- When watching films, commercials are especially irritating.
- Revised:
- One option would be to change the subject so that it names the actor that the modifier implies:
- When watching films, I find commercials especially irritating.
- Another option would be to turn the modifier into a word group that includes the actor:
- When I am watching films, commercials are especially irritating.
- One option would be to change the subject so that it names the actor that the modifier implies:
- Unclear: