Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers UWF Writing Lab Grammar Skills Series #9 From Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon PowerPoint Created by Olivia Hawkins Last Updated Spring 2017

Modifiers 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)

When flashing, exit elevator. SAY WHAT?

When flashing, exit elevator When flashing, exit elevator. This modifier dangles unless the subject of the sentence (the understood “you”) is flashing.

CORRECTION: When the light is flashing, exit elevator.

A Dangling Modifier Dangling modifiers are words or phrases which “dangle” because they have no word in the sentence to describe: While taking a shower, the doorbell rang. The doorbell was taking a shower?

Revise Dangling Modifiers While taking a shower, the doorbell rang. by adding a headword—a noun or pronoun that is described: While I was taking a shower, the doorbell rang OR While taking a shower, I heard the doorbell ring

Dangling Modifiers Cause Misinterpretation In addition to being ugly and inappropriate, the students often make grammatical errors on their signs. In addition to the signs’ being ugly and inappropriate, the students often make grammatical errors on their signs. OR In addition to being ugly and inappropriate, the students’ signs often contain grammatical errors. Oops! We (probably) don’t want to call the students ugly and inappropriate!

A Misplaced Modifier is placed too close to some other word that it does not intend to modify: I only speak one language. All you ever do is speak one language?

See How a Misplaced “Only” Affects a Sentence No one else told him.  Only she told him that she loved him. She told only him that she loved him. She told him that only she loved him. She told him that she only loved him. She told him that she loved only him. She never said that to anyone else. She said no one else loves him. Now that’s rather mean. I love you, but I’m not in love with you. Sounds like a breakup line. He’s the only person she loves. How sweet.

Wait, there are homeless people in the senate? Revising Misplaced Modifiers Move the modifier next to the word it is actually modifying There was a debate on the bill to provide financial aid to homeless people in the senate. There was a debate in the senate on the bill to provide financial aid to homeless people. Wait, there are homeless people in the senate?

They sometimes liked him? Or they sometimes gave him presents? Squinting Modifiers are misplaced modifiers which seem to modify two words: The employees who liked him sometimes gave him presents. They sometimes liked him? Or they sometimes gave him presents?

Revise Squinting Modifiers by changing the word order so there is no ambiguity: The employees who liked him gave him presents sometimes. OR The employees who sometimes liked him gave him presents.

Split Infinitives Infinitive = to verb An infinitive is a grammatical unit consisting of the bare form of a verb (without an –s) preceded by the preposition to: to choose, to explain, to dance, to go, to learn, to be, to brush

Split Infinitives are misplaced modifiers which are placed between the preposition to and the verb in an infinitive Dentists encourage children to regularly brush their teeth. The modifier regularly is splitting the infinitive to brush.

Revising Split Infinitives Move the modifier to another part of the sentence: Dentists encourage children to brush their teeth regularly.

The Most Recognizable Split Infinitive in the English Language “To boldly go where no man has gone before” The modifier boldly is splitting the infinitive to go.

The Most Recognizable Split Infinitive in the English Language “To boldly go where no man has gone before” Grammar purists want to move boldly: “To go boldly where . . . .” In this case, you could argue poetic license. Academic papers, however, don’t have much poetic license, so make sure your mission is to go grammatically, not to grammatically go.

Split Infinitives to Avoid An infinitive that is split by a negative word WRONG: Try to not be late. CORRECT: Try not to be late. WRONG: Liz and Angie try to not argue over which Backstreet boy is the cutest. CORRECT: Liz and Angie try not to argue over which Backstreet boy is the cutest.

Split Infinitives to Avoid An infinitive that is split by multiple words WRONG: The manager expects to before the end of the month resign. CORRECT: The manager expects to resign before the end of the month. WRONG: Students should try to, during the first semester of their freshman year, satisfy the writing skills requirement. CORRECT: Students should try to satisfy the writing skills requirement during the first semester of their freshman year.

Some split infinitives are acceptable because the modifier cannot be moved without creating an awkward sentence. Police are looking for a suspect who tried to sexually assault a college student.  Prices are expected to more than double next year.

Just for Fun When constructing sentences, dangling modifiers are easy to miss. Don’t only misplace modifiers. I mean, don’t misplace only modifiers. I mean . . . you get the point. When looking for squinting modifiers quickly scan your document for problem phrases. Try to not unnecessarily split infinitives.