Dangling & Misplaced Modifiers

A modifier is a phrase or word meant to describe or explain part of a sentence. When modifiers are used correctly, the meaning of the sentence is clear.

Dangling Modifiers

“A dangling modifier is a word or a phrase that is not directly connected to the subject that it refers to, that phrase is “dangling.”

Examples:

Incorrect: Driving past The Alpha Café, the sun peeked through the clouds.

Correct: Driving past The Alpha Café, John saw the sun peek through the clouds.

Incorrect: Having just met the new roommates, it was certain that this year would come down to survival of the fittest.

Correct: Having just met the new roommates, Tom was certain that this year would come down to survival of the fittest.

Misplaced Modifiers

A misplaced modifier is a word or word group placed so far away from what it refers to Modifiers should be placed as closely as possible to the words they modify

Incorrect 1: the bus station was located by a river which was made of red brick

Correct 1: The  bus station which was made of red brick

was located by a river.

Incorrect 2: The cowboy was thrown by the bull in a leather vest.

Correct 1: The cowboy in a leather vest was thrown by the bull.