Dangling Modifiers
Can
Be
Dangerous
1
Dangling and Misplaced
Modifiers
2
A GRAMMAR TUTORIAL
BY NANCY SCHROCK
Topics for Today’s Discussion
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 Definition of a modifier
 Types of modifiers
 Examples of misplaced and dangling modifiers
 Correcting the problem
 Exercises and a confession
 Conclusions
Modifier
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 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)
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
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 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.

More Misplaced Modifiers
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 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….
Squinting Modifier…
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How to Correct Misplaced and
Dangling Modifiers
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 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
Correcting Misplaced and Dangling
Modifiers Continued
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 “Most misplaced modifiers can be corrected by moving them to
the beginning of the sentence or closer to the word modified.
Dangling modifiers are often phrases already at the start of the
sentence and followed by a comma. They should modify the
subject of the sentence which follows the comma.
 Dangling modifiers can be corrected by adding a word which the
phrase can modify or by changing the phrase to a clause.” *

For example, “Hit into the outfield, the boy caught the ball.” (Incorrect)
Change to the following: “The boy caught the ball, which was hit into the
outfield.”
* Towns, Esther. “Don't Let Your Modifier Dangle, Columnist Warns.” The Star Press, Muncie, Ind. 1998. <http://jdwritingctr.iweb
.bsu.edu/workshop/Towns/Dangling.Modifiers.htm> 22 October 2010.
Exercises
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 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.
Exercises
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 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.
Exercises and Confession
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 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)
Conclusion
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 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
 A Writer’s Reference, Diana Hacker
 The Random House Handbook