Dangling
Modifiers:
Good Grammarians
Don't Let Their Modifiers Dangle in Polite Society!
"Always
suspect an -ing word
of dangling if it's near the front of a sentence; consider
it guilty until proved innocent." --Patricia
O'Connor
Conventionally, a participial
phrase, prepositional phrase, infinitive phrase, or an
appositive
phrase modifies the nearest word in the same sentence.
The same is true for adjectival or adverbial phrases.
If that noun appears in an earlier sentence, or doesn't
appear at all in the paper, the reader will become confused.
This situation is called a dangling modifier.
In the case of adverbs, adverbs should modify the nearest
verb or the subsequent adverb or adjective in the same sentence.
If not, it also is a dangling modifier.
Examples
of Dangling Modifiers: 
I was late for the school bus again.
Running for the bus, my book fell in the mud.
(Was the book running for the school bus? It's
the only nearby noun beside mud.)
Deciding to join the navy, the recruiter enthusiastically pumped Joe's hand.
(Was the recruiter deciding to join
the navy? The only other option is Joe's
hand.)
Upon entering the doctor's office, a skeleton caught my attention.
(Was the skeleton entering
the doctor's office? The only other option is my
attention.)
Any short descriptive phrase in
a sentence conventionally modifies the closest
noun in that sentence. Your writing will confuse the
reader if
that phrase is
positioned unclearly--even if the right word does appear in the
same sentence.
This is a subtype of the dangling modifier called a misplaced
modifier.
Examples
of Confusing Misplaced Modifiers:
She claimed yesterday she saw a UFO.
(Did she see the UFO yesterday? Or did she make
the claim yesterday? To be
clear, we must rewrite the sentence.)
The
assembly line workers were told they had been fired
by the personnel director.
(Did the personnel director tell the workers they had been fired? Or was
he the one who actually fired them, and somebody else told them? It's not
at all clear.)
Groucho Marx frequently used this technique for many
of his jokes:
"The
other day, I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he
got in my pajamas, I'll never
know."
Thus, if a phrase is describing, renaming, or elaborating
upon a specific word, good writers do two things. (1) They
place this modifier immediately beside the word it modifies.
(2) They make sure the word being modified actually appears
in the sentence! The most dangerous misplaced one-word
modifiers are these examples: almost, even, hardly,
just, merely, nearly, only, and simply. Usually present participles
(-ing words that describe a noun) are the culprit in dangling
modifiers.
Fix
These Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers:
1. I was late for the school bus again. Running for the
bus, my book fell in the mud.
2.
Deciding to join the navy, the recruiter enthusiastically
pumped Joe's hand.
3.
Upon entering the doctor's office, a skeleton caught
my
attention.
4. Explain the difference between
these two uses of the modifier nearly.
Which one indicates the speaker actually earned some
money--say $2999 dollars--but didn't quite earn $3,000?
Which one indicates he tried to earn some money and
came close, but actually
didn't
earn any at all?
I nearly earned $3,000.
I earned nearly $3,000.
5. Explain the difference between these two uses of the
modifier only. Which one conveys the ideas that lasers
are devices limited to mere destruction, but might leave
other harmful matter in the surrounding tissue intact?
Which one indicates they are precise instruments that specifically
target harmful tissue and thus leave beneficial surrounding
tissue unharmed?
Lasers only destroy the target
cancer cells; they leave the surrounding cells intact.
Lasers destroy only the target cancer cells; they leave
the surrounding cells intact.
Dangling Modifier Dementia!
All these sentences have at least
one dangling modifier. Identify them and fix them.
1. To please the neighbors, some fireworks
were set off a
day
early.
2.
Though only sixteen years old, the college accepted
Martha's application.
3.
Climbing up the ladder carefully, the frightened cat
was brought down from the tree.
4.
After a quick change into my hospital gown, the nurse
told me to relax.
5.
Before replacing any wall outlet, the electricity should
be turned off.
6.
Vegetables are an important part of your culinary repertoire.
To be cooked well, you must steam vegetables.
7.
As a long sturdy rod, I know the Bassmaster 2000 is
the best fishing
pole
available for fly-fishing.
8.
I have many fond memories of my Aunt Judy. While still
a boy, my Aunt
Judy and I went
to the Dallas Cup Rodeo. For
something
so rustic, the event was quite exciting.
9.
Dentists provide many useful tips for your health.
For
instance,
flossing
your teeth daily, gum disease
can be
prevented.
10.
Before engaging in strenuous aerobic exercise, warm-up
activities
are
necessary.
More
Misplaced Modifier Madness!
Be careful! Some of the following
sentences may have nothing wrong with them!
11. Having laid an egg weighing two pounds, the farmer proudly displayed his
favorite ostrich before the photographers.
12.
Stung by wasps, bees, or other such insects, powerful
toxins can bring on allergic
reactions so severe that people might die. Being
aware of the danger is the
first step to preventing such a death.
13. The veterinarian never returned
our frantic phone calls. Having given birth to six
kittens, my girlfriend anxiously watched
her exhausted cat, Whiskers.
I was uncertain if this behavior was normal.
14.
Giving into my desires during the honeymoon, I ran
out and purchased eight bags of barbeque pork rinds.
My
wife
was not
amused.
15.
Ugly, warty creatures with protruding noses and bat-like
wings, architecture students find gargoyles endlessly
fascinating
as expressions of the grotesque.
16.
There are many pictures of comedians hanging on the
walls at Gavin's Restaurant. These images are of people
who have performed there. He is
an unusual
host noted
for his decorations.
17.
When following a strict diet--one high in protein and
low in carbohydrates-- weight loss programs can
make a difference
in the
quality of life. Given that doctors
acknowledge this fact, it is surprising more people do not
try Dr. Atkins' diet plan.
18.
The robber was described as a six foot-tall man with
brown hair and blue eyes and a mustache weighing 150
pounds.
19.
Disgusted with his own dangling modifiers, the teacher
reviewed his handouts and felt ill.
20. The time had come to leave at last.
Deciding to pack up for college, my dog stared sadly
at me as I bustled
about the
room.
21.
Inhaling the fumes from paint thinner, statistics show
that significant brain damage can occur.
22.
After several years of inhaling fumes from paint thinner,
brain damage is often one
of the results.
23.
After being bitten by seven dogs, the mailman decided
to carry industrial strength
tasers
with
him during his
early morning
deliveries.
24.
Having applied a tourniquet, the bleeding finally stopped.
25.The policemen finally stopped
the criminal using pepper spray and handcuffs.
26.
David struck down Goliath fighting against a giant.
27.
Treated with penicillin, a severe allergic reaction
occurred. The
patient died at 10:34
p.m.
28.
With a cold, clear penetrating look, the poker game
stopped
cold as Slim Pickens
lay down
his cards.
29.
Medical research offers the modern world many miracles.
Using a
small amount
of infected
nutrient, serums can
be prepared to
inoculate people against polio.
Before making this discovery, scientists
had no way to treat
the disease.
30.
Famous throughout the world for his shocking makeup,
wailing lyrics,
and
androgynous wardrobe,
the editor
of our church newspaper
chose to interview
Marilyn Manson.
31.
In awe, circling the coldest regions of outer
space in an endless
dance, the astronomers
watched
the
planet Pluto.
32.
Clutching a flensing knife and dreaming
of a
pâté made
of human liver, the movie critic saw the
familiar cannibal known as Hannibal Lector
appear
once more in the sequel. This madman first
appeared in books by Thomas Harrison.
Surprising to many fans, Anthony Hopkins
was not the first actor to portray the psychotic
villain.
33.
Observing safe-sex practices or abstinence,
the risk
of contracting a disease
like AIDS
rapidly diminishes.
34.
Because John knew only English, he
could not
read a menu
offered to
him by his
waitress that
was written
in
Spanish.
35.
Thundering loudly over the lagoon and
spraying millions
of liters of
water,
I saw a
huge tidal
wave approaching
the shore.
36.
Having turned to the
Dark Side,
Yoda sadly
watched his
pupil
Darth Vader
become
obsessed with
power.
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