Mastering Modifiers
Modifiers are words that describe nouns
(adjectives) or verbs (adverbs). They provide
more detail and add flavor to our writing.
For more information, see Adjectives and
Adverbs.
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Larissa is an intelligent writer.
("Intelligent" is an adjective
modifying "writer”)
David skillfully plays guitar.
("Skillfully" is an adverb modifying
"plays”)
Figure 1. Many students find themselves asking this
question – Why? – if they don't understand the role of
adjectives and adverbs as modifiers. Image of “Why?” ©
2011 Jupiterimages Corporation.
When an adjective is separated from the noun it
modifies (or an adverb from the action it
describes), it causes unnecessary confusion in a
sentence – not to mention some truly hilarious
mistakes. Misused modifiers can un-intentionally make our writing sound funny because we have a
modifier describing something that it should not.
Solution:
The best solution to avoid misplaced modifiers is to place the modifier as close to the word it is
describing. Single word modifiers tend to come directly before the word they describe.
Misplaced Modifiers
Misplaced modifiers occur when the modifier is separated from the noun or verb that it is describing.
The modifier then is describing something it should not. This can cause confusion to the reader and can
make it so that meaning of the sentence changes from the intended meaning.
Example of a Misplaced Modifier
We chose that song for Mary, the prettiest one in the songbook, to sing.
Why is this example a Misplaced Modifier?
In this case, the sentence structure leads the reader to think that May is the prettiest one in the
songbook and not the song.
Corrected version: We chose that song, the prettiest one in the songbook, for Mary to sing.
Example of a Misplaced Modifier
My daughter put the shoes on her feet that she bought yesterday.
Kaplan University Writing Center Resource Library  Mastering Modifiers by Terri York  March 2011 (v2)  Page 1
© 2011, Kaplan University Writing Center, All Rights Reserved. Photography © 2011 Jupiterimages Corporation.
Why is this example a Misplaced Modifier?
In this case, the phrase, “that she bought yesterday” modifies her feet, but we know the
daughter probably didn’t buy her feet yesterday.
Corrected version: My daughter put the shoes that she bought yesterday on her feet.
Dangling Modifiers
Dangling modifiers occur when a modifier describes
something that is not in the sentence. This commonly
occurs when the author has an implied subject, but the
subject is not explicitly stated in the sentences. This often
occurs when there is an adjective phrase at the beginning of
a sentence.
Example of a Dangling Modifier
Hot after working in the sun all day, a cold shower sounded
appealing.
Why is this example a Dangling Modifier?
In this case, there is an implied person as a subject,
but the subject is not clearly stated in the sentence.
The placement of this modifier implies that the
“shower” was working all day.
Figure 2. Image of a woman's feet dangling off
of a dock pier, © 2011 Jupiterimages
Corporation.
Correction: Hot after working in the sun all day, I decided to take a cold shower.
Correction: A cold shower sounded appealing since I was hot after working in the sun all day.
Example of a Dangling Modifier
After sitting at the table for an hour, the waiter finally took our order.
Why is this example a Dangling Modifier?
In this case, the sentence makes it sound like the waiter was the one who sat at the table for an
hour and not the person being served.
Correction: After we had sat at the table for an hour, the waiter finally took our order.
Correction: After sitting at the table for an hour, we finally placed our order.
Kaplan University Writing Center Resource Library  Mastering Modifiers by Terri York  March 2011 (v2)  Page 2
© 2011, Kaplan University Writing Center, All Rights Reserved. Photography © 2011 Jupiterimages Corporation.
Two-Way or Squinting Modifiers
Two-way modifiers occur when a modifier is placed directly between two words and could modify
either of the words. These often occur when using adverbs such as often, rarely, frequently.
Example of a Two-way Modifier
The dog who ate the chocolate quickly recovered.
Why is this an example of a Two-way Modifier?
In this case, the reader doesn’t know if “the dog ate the chocolate quickly” or if he “quickly”
recovered. The correction depends on what the writer means.
Correction: The dog who quickly ate the chocolate recovered.
Correction: The dog who ate the chocolate recovered quickly.
Example of a Two-way Modifier
Children who exercise rarely are obese.
Why is this an example of a Two-way Modifier?
In this case “rarely” can describe how often they exercise or how often they are obese. It is a
subtle difference, but it is a difference.
Correction: Children who rarely exercise are obese.
Correction: Children who exercise are rarely obese.
Kaplan University Writing Center Resource Library  Mastering Modifiers by Terri York  March 2011 (v2)  Page 3
© 2011, Kaplan University Writing Center, All Rights Reserved. Photography © 2011 Jupiterimages Corporation.