1. Misplaced & Dangling Modifiers
For Sale: Antique desk suitable for a lady with thick legs and large drawers.

2. Modifiers
Modifiers can take the form of a word, phrase, or clause, and should point clearly toward the words they modify.
As a rule, modifiers and related words should be kept close together in a sentence. Proximity matters!
Misplaced and dangling modifiers often result in comic miscommunications.

3. Limiting Modifiers
Limiting modifiers are words like only, even, almost, nearly, rarely, and just.
Limiting modifiers should appear before the verb only if they modify the verb; if they modify the meaning of some other word in the sentence, they should come before that word.

4. Limiting Modifiers
The turtle only makes progress when it sticks its neck out.
The turtle makes progress only when it sticks its neck out.
Lasers only destroy the target, leaving the surrounding tissue intact.
Lasers destroy only the target, leaving the surrounding tissue intact.

5. Limiting Modifiers
“Not” is a limiting modifier that is commonly misplaced.
In the United States in 1860, all black southerners were not slaves.
In the United States in 1860, not all black southerners were slaves.
The first sentence asserts that no black southerners were slaves; the second asserts that some, but not all, black southerners were slaves.

6. Proximity Matters!
Put modifying phrases and clauses close to what they modify, and move modifiers that are awkward.
Sometimes a misplaced modifier can result in a sentence that is ambiguous. In that case, the author must decide which meaning is intended and correct the problem accordingly.

7. Proximity Matters!
Misplaced: The king returned to the clinic where he had undergone heart surgery in 2000 in a limousine sent by the White House.
Corrected: Traveling in a limousine sent by the White House, the king returned to the clinic where he had undergone heart surgery in 2000.

8. Proximity Matters!
Ambiguous: The exchange students we met for coffee occasionally questioned us about our latest slang.
Clear: The exchange students we met occasionally for coffee questioned us about our latest slang.
Clear: The exchange students we met for coffee questioned us occasionally about our latest slang.

9. Proximity Matters!
Ambiguous: There are many pictures of comedians who have performed at Gavin’s on the walls.
Clear: On the walls are many pictures of comedians who have performed at Gavin’s.

10. Move Awkward Modifiers!
As a rule, sentences should move smoothly from subject to verb to object.
Modifiers that interrupt this pattern should be moved to reduce awkwardness.

11. Move Awkward Modifiers!
Awkward: Hong Kong, after more than 150 years of British rule, was transferred back to Chinese control in 1997.
Clear: After more than 150 years of British rule, Hong Kong was transferred back to Chinese control in 1997.
Notice that the second sentence features a smooth, uninterrupted transition from subject (Hong Kong) to verb (was transferred).

12. Avoid Split Infinitives!
An infinitive consists of “to” plus a verb.
Examples: to run, to think, to dance, to live
When a modifier appears between “to” and the verb, it “splits” the infinitive; the result is usually awkward, especially when the modifier is long.

13. Avoid Split Infinitives!
Split: The patient should try to if possible avoid going up and down stairs.
Correct: If possible, the patient should try to avoid going up and down stairs.
Correct: The patient should try to avoid going up and down stairs, if possible.

14. Avoid Split Infinitives!
Split: The candidate decided to formally launch her campaign.
Correct: The candidate decided to launch her campaign formally.

15. Repair Dangling Modifiers!
A dangling modifier fails to refer logically to any word in the sentence.
Often, dangling modifiers suggest to what they refer, but do not specifically name it.
When a sentence opens with such a modifier, the reader expects that the subject relates to the modifier. If it doesn’t, the modifier dangles.

16. Repair Dangling Modifiers!
Dangling: Opening the window to let out a huge bumblebee, the car accidentally swerved into an oncoming car.
Correct: When the driver opened the window to let out a huge bumblebee, the car accidentally swerved into an oncoming car.
You can see that the first sentence omits the agent. To correct the dangling modifier, insert the agent.

17. Repair Dangling Modifiers!
Dangling: Deciding to join the navy, the recruiter enthusiastically pumped Joe’s hand.
Correct: When Joe decided to join the Navy, the recruiter enthusiastically pumped Joe’s hand.
The first sentence suggests that the recruiter was joining the Navy, not Joe.

18. Repair Dangling Modifiers!
Dangling: Upon entering the doctor’s office, a skeleton caught my attention.
Correct: As I entered the doctor’s office, a skeleton caught my attention
The first sentence omits the agent, thus leading the reader to believe that the skeleton was entering the doctor’s office.

19. Repair Dangling Modifiers!
Dangling: Though only sixteen, UCLA accepted Martha’s application.
Correct: Though Martha is only sixteen, her application was accepted at UCLA.
The first sentence suggests that UCLA is only sixteen.

20. Use Your Resources!
Consult the helpful chart on page 108 of your grammar book to help diagnose dangling modifiers!
Online exercises 12-1 through 12-4 address dangling and misplaced modifiers.

21. Distracting Shifts Be consistent in point of view.
Whether choosing first, third, or third omniscient (NEVER second in academic essays), be consistent. That is, pick one and go with it!

22. Distracting Shifts
Distracting Shifts: One week our class met in a junkyard to practice rescuing a victim trapped in a wrecked car. We learned to dismantle the car with tools. You were graded on your speed and skill.
Correct: One week our class met in a junkyard to practice rescuing a victim trapped in a wrecked car. We learned to dismantle the car with tools. We were graded on our speed and our skill.

23. Distracting Shifts
Second person (you) is acceptable only when giving specific directions.
Example: Before assembling this Ikea end table, you need to gather the appropriate tools, clear your workspace, and prepare yourself for four hours of frustration.

24. Distracting Shifts Maintain consistent verb tense.
Pick one and go with it!
When writing about literature, ALWAYS write in the present tense.
Example: In Ceremony, Tayo slowly comes to discover that “witchery” is not only perpetrated by whites, but also includes actions perpetrated by those in his own culture.

25. Distracting Shifts Use verbs that are consistent in mood and voice.
Consult 13c in Rules for Writers to refresh your understanding of mood and voice.

26. Distracting Shifts
Mood: The officers advised us against allowing anyone into our homes without proper identification. Also, alert neighbors to vacation schedules.
Correct: The officers advised us against allowing anyone into our homes without proper identification. They also suggested that we alert neighbors to vacation schedules.
The corrected sentence creates consistency in the indicative mood.

27. Distracting Shifts
Voice: When the tickets are ready, the travel agent notifies the client. Each ticket is then listed on a daily register form and a copy of the itinerary is filed.
Corrected: When the tickets are ready, the travel agent notifies the client, lists each ticket on a daily register form, and files a copy of the itinerary.
The corrected passage is written consistently in active voice.

28. Distracting Shifts Avoid shifts from indirect to direct questions.
See 13d in Rules for Writers to clarify direct and indirect questions.
Shifting from an indirect to direct quotation is common in some dialects and colloquial speech. Be aware of this shift and eliminate it from your academic writing.

29. Distracting Shifts
Indirect to Direct: I wonder whether the sister knew of the theft and, if so, did she report it to the police.
Corrected: I wonder whether the sister knew of the theft and, if so, if she reported it to the police.
Corrected: Did the sister know of the theft? Did she report it to the police?

30. Grammar Girl!
On Modifiers!