DANGLING MODIFIERS

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When you start a sentence with a modifying word or phrase, the next thing in the sentence is what must be modified by that word or phrase. A “dangling modifier” is a phrase that does not clearly and sensibly modify the appropriate word.

 

EXAMPLE #1: “Changing the oil every 3,000 miles, the Mustang seemed to run better.”

The subject of this sentence is “the Mustang.” The modifying phrase is “Changing the oil . . .”

A Mustang cannot change its own oil. So you’d want to rewrite that as something like:

“Changing the oil every 3,000 miles, Sandra found she got much better gas mileage.”

 

EXAMPLE #2: “Slamming on the brakes, the car swerved off the road.”

Unless you’re writing a Stephen King-type novel, the car probably didn’t slam on its own brakes. So:

“Robin slammed on the brakes, and the car swerved off the road.” Or:

“When Robin slammed on the brakes, the car swerved off the road.”

 

EXAMPLE #3: “Six months after attending the writers conference, Gail’s article was accepted by a publisher.”

The subject of this sentence is “Gail’s article.”

“Gail’s article” did not attend the writers conference. So you’d want to rewrite to something like:

“Six months after Gail attended Mount Hermon, her article was accepted by a publisher.”

 

SIMULTANEOUS ACTIONS

Be sure the action in the modifying phrase can be accomplished at the same time as the action in the rest of the sentence.

EXAMPLE: “Hugging the postman, Delilah ripped open the box containing her new novel.”

Delilah cannot simultaneously hug the postman and rip open a box. Reword to something like:

“After hugging the postman, Delilah ripped open the box containing her new novel.”

 

MISPLACED MODIFIERS

The position of a modifier determines what thing or action is being modified.

EXAMPLE #1: “Sharon sent out a proposal for her book on living with horses last week.”

Sharon’s proposal wasn’t for a book about “living with horses last week.” Reword:

“Last week Sharon sent out a proposal for her book on living with horses.”

 

EXAMPLE #2: “The editor told me on Thursday I have a book signing.”

Did the editor say this on Thursday, or do you have a book signing on Thursday?

“On Thursday, the editor told me I have a book signing.” Or:

“The editor told me I have a book signing on Thursday.”