Writing Lab Misplaced Modifiers

Misplaced Modifier The misplaced modifier is placed too close to some other noun or pronoun which it does not intend to modify. An adjective, an adverb, or a phrase or clause used as an adjective or adverb should refer to a specific word in the same sentence and be placed close to it so that the relationship is clear. A modifier is misplaced if intervening words obscure the relationship between it and the word it is intended to modify. A misplaced modifier is confusing because the reader may associate it with the wrong word.

Misplaced Modifier Examples Incorrect: There was a debate on the bill to provide financial aid to homeless persons in the Senate. Whom is the phrase in the Senate describing? Its proximity to homeless persons suggests that these homeless persons are in the Senate; thus, in the Senate is presented as an adjectival phrase describing persons. Place the modifying element next to the word it actually describes. Correct: There was a debate in the Senate on the bill to provide financial aid to homeless persons.

Misplaced Modifier Examples cont. Incorrect: I only need ten more hours to graduate. Do you only need ten more hours to graduate, or do you need only ten more hours to graduate? Make sure that adverbs modify the intended adjective, verb, or other adverb. Correct: I need only ten more hours to graduate.

Infinitive An infinitive is a single grammatical unit which consists of to plus the present form of any verb. Because the infinitive is a single grammatical unit, careful writers frown on “splitting” the infinitive, that is, placing a modifier (usually an adverb) between the preposition to and the verb. Many authorities discourage the use of the split infinitive; others accept this structure especially if writing the sentence without splitting the infinitive would create an “unidiomatic” expression. Careful writers use their discretion and if possible try not to split an infinitive.

Split Infinitive Example Split infinitive: Dentists encourage children to regularly brush their teeth. Revised: Dentists encourage children to brush their teeth regularly.

Squinting Modifier A squinting modifier is one, which, because of its placement in the sentence, seems to be modifying two different words.

Squinting Modifier Example Squinting: Patty who was walking quickly reached the disco. Revised: Patty, who was walking, reached the disco quickly. Revised: Patty, who was walking quickly, reached the disco.

That’s all, folks! This lesson is part of the UWF Writing Lab Grammar Mini-Lesson Series Lessons adapted from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon To find out more, visit the Writing Lab’s website where you can take a self-scoring quiz corresponding to this lesson