1. Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
Perspicacity (n): Keenness in observing and understanding.
Taken from Purdue University’s OWL
(Online Writing Laboratory)

2. What is a modifier?
A modifier is a word or phrase that adds detail or description to a sentence. In the example sentences below, the modifiers are underlined.
I walked in and out of dozens of stores yesterday, searching for the perfect purse.
Shopping with Lisa today, I found a great purse.

3. Use Modifiers Carefully!
While modifiers are great for adding detail and interest to sentences, they must be used carefully so that the reader understands the details being added.
Writers generally make two major modifier mistakes: dangling modifiers and misplaced modifiers.

4. Misplaced Modifiers
Misplaced modifiers occur when the subject of the modifier is unclear because the modifier is poorly placed. The reader may be unsure of what word the modifier is describing. The reader may even think the misplaced modifier is describing a different word than intended.

5. Consider the sentence below and its revision (the modifier is underlined).
Incorrect: The jacket was just too small in the store.
The placement of the modifier in the store implies that the jacket was too small in the store. If the writer wants to convey that the jacket suddenly changed sizes when worn in other locations, then the modifier’s placement in the sentence is correct.

6. Corrected Sentence …
If the modifier is intended to specify that the author is talking about the jacket in the store, then this modifier should be moved.
Possible revision: The jacket in the store was just too small.

7. Practice correcting these sentences …
Running for the bus, the rain started coming down in buckets and I got all wet.
Revision: Running for the bus, I got all wet when the rain started coming down in buckets.

8. Practice correcting these sentences …
The couch was kind of ugly in the furniture store.
Revision: The couch in the furniture store was kind of ugly.

9. Practice correcting these sentences …
Having searched and searched for Mr. Right, it started to seem like he didn’t exist.
Revision: Having searched and searched for Mr. Right, I started to think he didn’t exist.

10. What is a Dangling Modifier?
A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence.
In English sentences, the doer (the component of the sentence being modified) must be the subject of the main clause that follows.

11. Does this sentence contain a dangling modifier?
Having finished the assignment, Jill turned on the TV.
"Having finished" states an action but does not name the doer of that action.
In English sentences, the doer must be the subject of the main clause that follows. In this sentence, it is Jill. She seems logically to be the one doing the action ("having finished").
This sentence, therefore, does not have a dangling modifier.