1. Misplaced & Dangling Modifiers A modifier is word or phrase that describes something else. You should place modifiers as close as possible to what they modify.

2. Examples of Misplaced Modifiers The young girl was walking the dog in a short skirt. [Incorrect] The way the sentence is worded, it sounds like the dog is “in a short skirt.” The young girl in a short skirt was walking the dog. [Correct] This sentence makes much more sense (unless the dog was really wearing a short skirt!)

3. Examples of Misplaced Modifiers A small book sat on a desk that Emily had read. [Incorrect] The way the sentence is worded, it sounds as if Emily had read the desk. A small book that Emily had read sat on the desk. [Correct]

4. Examples of Misplaced Modifiers The teacher posted the notes for the students covered in class. [Incorrect] The modifier “covered in class” appears to modify the students. The teacher posted the notes covered in class for the students. [Correct]

5. Dangling Modifiers Modifiers dangle when they are not logically connected to the main part of the sentence. They usually occur with – ing modifiers. To correct: state the subject right after the dangling modifier, or add the subject to the dangling phrase

6. Examples of Dangling Modifiers Walking through the park, the grass tickled my feet. [Incorrect] “Walking through the park” appears to modify the grass, but grass can’t walk through the park! The grass tickled my feet as I walked through the park. [Correct] Walking through the park, I found the grass tickled my feet. [Correct]

7. Examples of Dangling Modifiers After reading the original study, the article remains unconvincing. [Incorrect] The article, which is the main subject of the sentence, did not read the study! After reading the original study, I find the article unconvincing. [Correct]

8. Examples of Dangling Modifiers The experiment was a failure, not having studied the lab manual. [Incorrect] The experiment did not fail because it did not study the lab manual! They failed the experiment, not having studied the lab manual. [Correct]