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Dangling Modifiers

This document discusses dangling and misplaced modifiers. It defines a dangling modifier as a word or phrase that has no word in the sentence to describe. Dangling modifiers can cause misinterpretation. The document provides examples of dangling modifiers and strategies for revising them, such as naming the appropriate doer of the action or changing the dangling phrase into a complete introductory clause. It also defines a misplaced modifier as one that does not sit next to the word it is modifying, which can lead to modifying the wrong word. The key difference between misplaced and dangling modifiers is that a misplaced modifier is in the wrong position relative to the word it modifies, while a dangling modifier has no word in the sentence that it modifies

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53 views7 pages

Dangling Modifiers

This document discusses dangling and misplaced modifiers. It defines a dangling modifier as a word or phrase that has no word in the sentence to describe. Dangling modifiers can cause misinterpretation. The document provides examples of dangling modifiers and strategies for revising them, such as naming the appropriate doer of the action or changing the dangling phrase into a complete introductory clause. It also defines a misplaced modifier as one that does not sit next to the word it is modifying, which can lead to modifying the wrong word. The key difference between misplaced and dangling modifiers is that a misplaced modifier is in the wrong position relative to the word it modifies, while a dangling modifier has no word in the sentence that it modifies

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To Tsz Wing
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DANGLING AND MISPLACED

MODIFIERS

LENG 201 Academic Reading


and Writing II
Modify nothing
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.
 Nobody

The doorbell was


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

• Inaddition 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.
Revise Dangling Modifiers
1. Name the appropriate or logical doer of the action as the
subject of the main clause:
Dangling modifier: Having arrived late for practice, a written
excuse was needed.
Who arrived late? This sentence says that the written excuse
arrived late. To revise, decide who actually arrived late.
Example:
Having arrived late for practice, Joe needed a written excuse.
Revise Dangling Modifiers
2. Change the phrase that dangles into a complete introductory
clause by naming the doer of the action in that clause:
Dangling modifier: Without knowing his name, it was difficult to
introduce him.
1. Who didn't know his name? This sentence says that "it"
didn't know his name. To revise, decide who was trying to
introduce him.
Example: Since ____I______ didn’t know his name, it was
difficult to introduce him.
Difference between Misplaced
Modifiers and Dangling
Modifiers
•A modifier is misplaced in a sentence when it doesn’t
sit next to the word it is modifying. Trouble comes
when the modifier seems to be modifying the wrong
word due to that placement. Wrong positions
•Amodifier dangles when the word being modified,
often a noun, isn’t even included in the sentence,
when the modifier hangs from the sentence without
an attachment

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