Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

Correcting what could be an unintentionally humorous error

Modifiers

• A modifier can be an adjective, an adverb, or a phrase or clause acting as an adjective or adverb. In every case, the basic principle is the same: the modifier adds information to another element in the sentence.

Misplaced modifiers can be unintentionally humorous

• Ie

• [Wrong] They bought a puppy for my sister they call Fido.

• [Right] They bought a puppy they call Fido for my sister.

• Sentence #1: The patient was referred to a psychologist with several emotional problems.

• What the writer thinks it says: The patient has emotional problems.

• What the sentence really says: The psychologist has emotional problems.

• Correction: The patient with several emotional problems was referred to a psychologist.

• Sentence #2: Sam found a letter in the mailbox that doesn't belong to her.

• What the writer thinks it says: Sam found a letter that doesn't belong to her.

• What the sentence really says: The mailbox doesn't belong to Sam.

• Correction: Sam found a letter that doesn't belong to her in the mailbox.

• Sentence #3: Two cars were reported stolen by the Farmingdale police yesterday.

• What the writer thinks it says: The Farmingdale police reported two stolen cars.

• What the sentence really says: The police stole the two cars.

• Correction: Yesterday, the Farmingdale police reported that two cars were stolen.

• Sentence #4: Please take time to look over the brochure that is enclosed with your family.

• What the writer thinks it says: Look over the brochure with your family.

• What the sentence really says: The brochure is enclosed with your family.

• Correction: Please take time to look over the enclosed brochure with your family.

• To avoid these embarrassing sentence errors, place a modifier as close as possible to the word it modifies or describes.

• Sentence #5: Luis had driven over with his wife, Chris, from their home in a Chevy for the basketball game.

• What the writer thinks it says: Luis and Chris drove in their Chevy to the game.

• What the sentence really says: Luis and Chris live in a Chevy.

• Correction: Luis had driven over in a Chevy with his wife, Chris, from their home for the basketball game.

This problem occurs frequently with Signage.

• ____________________________________________________________________

• For sale: An antique desk suitable for a lady with thick legs and large drawers.

• For sale: Several very old dresses from grandmother in beautiful condition.

• Wanted: Man to take care of cow that does not smoke or drink.

• For sale: Mixing bowl set designed to please a cook with a round bottom for efficient beating.

Re-write each of the following sentences properly.

• The writer read from his new book wearing glasses. • You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous

Russian composers, artists, and writers are buried daily except Thursday.

• As we begin, I must ask you to banish all information about the case from your mind, if you have any.

• A superb and inexpensive restaurant; fine food expertly served by waitresses in appetizing forms.

• Many of the trustees congratulated him for his speech at the end of the meeting and promised their support.

Corrections• The writer read from his new book wearing

glasses. • Wearing glasses, the writer read from his

new book. (Or: The writer, wearing glasses, read from his new book.)

• You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian composers, artists, and writers are buried daily except Thursday. Daily, except Thursday, you are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian and Soviet composers, artists, and writers are buried.

• As we begin, I must ask you to banish all information about the case from your mind, if you have any.

• As we begin, I must ask you to banish any information about the case from your mind.

A superb and inexpensive restaurant; fine food expertly served by waitresses in appetizing forms.

A superb and inexpensive restaurant; fine food in appetizing forms served expertly by waitresses.

Many of the trustees congratulated him for his speech at the end of the meeting and promised their support.

At the end of the meeting, many of the trustees congratulated him for his speech and promised their support.

For more practice

• http://www.infoplease.com/cig/grammar-style/misplaced-modifiers-lost-found.html

• http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammar/msplmod.html

• For more signs

• http://www.funnysign.com