MISPLACED AND DANGLING MODIFIERS

We say that a modifier is misplaced when  it appears to modify the wrong part of the sentence or if we cannot be certain what part of the sentence the writer intended it to modify. So, modifiers must be placed where they will clearly modify the words intended.

1a. She served hamburger to the men on paper plates(confusing: the hamburgers, not the men, were on paper plates.)

1b. She served the men hamburgers on paper plates(clear).
Limiting modifiers should be placed carefully. They include almost, even, exactly, etc. They modify the expressions that immediately follow them.

2a. They only saw each other during meals(unclear: they had eyes only for each other, or they met only during meals?)

2b. They saw only each other during meals(clear).

2c. They saw each other only during meals(clear).
Note: only is acceptable immediately before the verb when it modifies a whole statement.

3. He only wanted his guest to have fun.
We should also avoid squinting modifiers. A squinting modifier is one that may refer to either a preceding or a following word, leaving the reader uncertain about what it is intended to modify. A modifier can modify only one grammatical element in a sentence. It can not serve two elements at once.

4a. Snipers who fire on the soldiers often escape capture(squinting).

4b. Snipers who often fire on the soldiers escape capture(clear).

4c. Snipers who fire on the soldiers escape capture often(clear).
When an adverb modifies an entire main clause, as in the last example, it can usually be moved to the beginning of the sentence:

4d. Often, snipers who fire on the soldiers escape rapture.
Our next lecture will discuss dangling modifiers.

Have a great week!