Introduction to Dangling Modifiers
In English grammar, a dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a
word not clearly stated in the sentence. It occurs when the subject being modified is
either missing or incorrectly placed in a sentence, resulting in confusion about what
the modifier is referring to. Often appearing at the beginning of a sentence, dangling
modifiers leave readers puzzled because they fail to explain who or what is
performing the action.
Let's examine the following example:
Incorrect: After reading the book, the movie seemed dull.
In this sentence, the modifier "After reading the book" dangles because it's
unclear who read the book. The sentence incorrectly suggests that the movie read the
book, leading to confusion.
A correctly modified sentence would be:
Correct: After reading the book, I found the movie dull.
Here, the subject "I" is added, making it clear who performed the action.
Common Types of Dangling Modifiers
Dangling modifiers often arise from incorrect use of participles, infinitives, or
prepositional phrases. Let's explore some of these types:
Dangling Participles: A participle is a verb form ending in "-ing" (present
participle) or "-ed" (past participle) that functions as an adjective. Dangling participles
occur when the sentence lacks a clear subject for the participial phrase.
Incorrect: Walking down the street, the flowers looked beautiful.
Correct: Walking down the street, I noticed the flowers looked beautiful.
Dangling Infinitives: An infinitive phrase uses the base form of a verb,
preceded by "to." Dangling infinitives occur when the infinitive phrase lacks a proper
subject.
Incorrect: To win the game, practice is essential.
Correct: To win the game, the team must practice regularly.
Dangling Prepositional Phrases: These are phrases that begin with a
preposition (e.g., after, before, with) and end with a noun or pronoun, leaving the
sentence unclear about who or what is being described.
Incorrect: With a cup of coffee in hand, the day seemed brighter.
Correct: With a cup of coffee in hand, I felt the day seemed brighter.
Causes of Dangling Modifiers
Dangling modifiers often arise due to a couple of reasons:
Omitting the Subject: When a sentence begins with a modifying phrase but
lacks a subject, the reader becomes confused about what is being described. This
often happens because writers assume the reader will understand the implied subject,
but without a clear noun or pronoun, the modifier dangles.
Incorrect Subject Placement: Sometimes, the subject exists but is placed far
from the modifier, which creates ambiguity. If the subject and the modifying phrase
are not close, it can cause misunderstanding.
How to Correct Dangling Modifiers
There are two main strategies to correct dangling modifiers:
Add a Subject to the Main Clause: One effective way to fix a dangling
modifier is to add a clear subject right after the modifier.
Incorrect: Rushing to the meeting, the briefcase was forgotten.
Correct: Rushing to the meeting, I forgot the briefcase.
Rewrite the Modifier: Another way is to revise the entire sentence to
incorporate both the modifier and the subject in a clearer way.
Incorrect: To succeed in the competition, hard work was required.
Correct: In order to succeed in the competition, the participants had to work hard.
Examples of Dangling Modifiers
To make the concept clearer, here are some more examples, followed by
corrections.
Incorrect Sentence Reason for Error Corrected Sentence
It seems as though the
Hiking the mountains, the Hiking the mountains, we
view is hiking the
view was breathtaking. found the view breathtaking.
mountains.
The sentence suggests the
While baking in the oven, While the cake was baking in
guests were baking in the
the guests enjoyed the cake. the oven, the guests enjoyed it.
oven.
To improve communication, It is unclear who is To improve communication,
training programs were improving the company implemented
implemented. communication. training programs.
Impact of Dangling Modifiers on Writing
Dangling modifiers may seem like minor mistakes, but they can have a
significant impact on the clarity of writing. When used incorrectly, they obscure
meaning and make sentences difficult to understand. For students, writers, and
professionals, clarity in communication is essential. Dangling modifiers can cause
misunderstandings or even change the intended meaning of a sentence.
For example:
Incorrect: Driving through the storm, the house appeared in the distance.
This sentence suggests the house was driving through the storm.
Correct: While I was driving through the storm, the house appeared in the distance.
The corrected sentence now clearly states who was driving and eliminates any
confusion.
Practice Identifying and Correcting Dangling Modifiers
Here is an exercise to help practice identifying and correcting dangling modifiers.
Exercise:
Looking out the window, the sunset was beautiful.
Correction: Looking out the window, I thought the sunset was beautiful.
Hoping to pass the exam, the study guide was helpful.
Correction: Hoping to pass the exam, I found the study guide helpful.
To get a promotion, hard work is necessary.
Correction: To get a promotion, employees must work hard.
Conclusion
Understanding dangling modifiers is crucial for improving sentence clarity
and coherence. These misplaced or absent subjects lead to confusion and ambiguity,
making sentences unclear. To avoid dangling modifiers, writers must ensure that each
modifying phrase has a clear subject to describe. By practicing the correction of such
modifiers, clarity in writing is improved, resulting in more effective communication.
