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DANGLING AND MISPLACED MODIFIERS
WHAT’S THE PROBLEM? Even when proofreading carefully, modifier errors can be hard to spot.
Did you notice the error? Let’s take a closer look.
 A modifier is a word or group of words that provides information about another word in the
sentence.
The gigantic blue dog suddenly disappeared.
In this example, “gigantic” and “blue” provide information about “dog,” and “suddenly” expands on the idea
“disappeared.”
 A dangling modifier occurs when a modifier does not refer to any noun in the sentence. The
connection between the meaning of the dangling modifier and the rest of the sentence is often
implied but not specific or logical.
The first example above includes a dangling modifier because the introductory phrase modifier does not
logically modify the noun that follows it.
Even when proofreading carefully, modifier errors can be hard to spot.
Because modifier errors probably aren’t doing the proofreading in this scenario, this sentence should be
rewritten:
Even when proofreading carefully, writers may overlook modifier errors.
 A misplaced modifier occurs when a modifier is placed too far from the word(s) it refers to, creating
confusion for the reader.
I am drawing pictures of the hippopotamus on my hand.
Am I drawing on my hand, or is the hippopotamus on my hand? If the hippo is in a zoo, and the drawing is
on my hand, I should revise the sentence for clarity:
I’m drawing pictures on my hand of the hippopotamus.
WHY ARE THESE ERRORS SO COMMON?
 Writers already know what they’re trying to communicate, so they may not notice when sentences could be
misinterpreted by readers.
 A sentence with a modifier error may have only one logical interpretation, making it easy for the writer and
reader to overlook the grammatical problem.
At the age of 48, the new baby seemed like a miracle to Martha.
Inform the tabloids—this new baby is 48! Would we believe that? Probably not. For the grammatical
structure to match the logic of this sentence, we should rewrite it:
At the age of 48, Martha felt this new baby was like a miracle.
 Sometimes modifier errors occur even when the grammatical structure of a sentence is correct because
correct grammar doesn’t necessarily lead to correct meaning. This is particularly true in the case of
misplaced modifiers. For instance, single-word modifiers may be grammatically correct in various positions
in the sentence, but they are usually best when positioned immediately before the word(s) they modify.
Notice the differences among the following sentences:
Only I have eyes for you.
I only have eyes for you.
I have only eyes for you.
I have eyes only for you.
(no one else does)
(I can’t say that I do or am anything else)
(but not ears, toes, or freckles for you)
(and not for anyone else)
The meaning of each of these sentences is different. Which would you rather hear?
HOW CAN WE IDENTIFY DANGLING AND MISPLACED MODIFIERS?
 Introductory phrases are common culprits, particularly when they include an –ing verb (running, laughing,
having) or a to + verb (to run, to laugh, to have) near the beginning. The following sentences contain
dangling modifiers:
Looking out the window, the stars aren’t really visible.
Being a Pisces, Molly’s affinity for water is understandable.
To perform well on an exam, a healthy breakfast is essential.
 If you suspect a sentence of having a dangling modifier, check it by inserting the nearest noun into the
modifier and turning it into a complete sentence. If the result is logical and true, the modifier is most likely
properly placed. If the result doesn’t create a logical meaning, the modifier is likely dangling.
The stars are looking out the window.
Molly’s affinity for water is a Pisces.
A healthy breakfast performs well on an exam.
These don’t pass the test, so the writer should revise these sentences by following the modifier with a noun
that does make sense or revising the sentence completely:
Looking out the window, I can’t really see the stars.
(I am looking out the window.)
Being a Pisces, Molly has an understandable affinity for water.
(She is a Pisces.)
To perform well on an exam, you should have a healthy breakfast.
(You perform well on an exam.)
 Look for words and phrases that could be moved around in the sentence because many modifiers have
that ability. Modifiers that give information about the how or when of the sentence are especially easy to
misplace.
My roommate told me last month I forgot to pay the phone bill.
The woman dancing slowly asked me to get out of her way.
Her boyfriend is a very nice man with a cat who has a degree in Political Science.
And you thought you had a smart cat. As you may see, these sentences are ambiguous. To clarify the
meaning, move the modifier closer to the word(s) it refers to and farther from other words it might be seen
to modify.
Last month, my roommate told me I forgot to pay the phone bill.
My roommate told me I forgot to pay the phone bill last month.
The woman slowly dancing asked me to get out of her way.
The woman dancing asked me slowly to get out of her way.
Her boyfriend, who has a degree in Political Science, is a very nice man with a cat.
Her boyfriend is a very nice man, and his cat has a degree in Political Science.
TRY IT!
Are you ready to try out these techniques? Identify and revise the dangling and misplaced modifiers in this
passage:
Being a cab driver, Ernest’s collection of fascinating stories almost grows daily. He told me just yesterday
he was threatened with a gun by a young man with long black hair and a mustache weighing at least 400
pounds. Before realizing the gun was fake, Ernest’s foot hit the gas, and he swerved in and out of traffic to
disorient the man and attract the attention of other drivers. A sufferer of motion sickness, the swerving did
even more than disorient the man; it made him get sick, drop the gun, and beg for his own life. The whole
event barely took three minutes, but it felt a lot longer to Ernest, who decided that he would only pick up
passengers without facial hair from then on.