Misplaced Modifiers
Published on Nov 19, 2015
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word it describes or modifies
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Example:
Incorrect-The childthrew the nasty smoothie in the trash happily.
Correct-The child happily threw the nasty smoothie in the trash.
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The modifier almost always comes BEFORE the word it describes.
You want to get the modifier as close as you can to the word it describes.
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Adverb modifiers can go before or after the thing they are describing, depending on what they are describing.
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Adjective modifiers usually go before the words they are modifying, or after with helping verbs.
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When you have a single adverb or adjective, misplaced modifiers are rarely spoken because it would immediately sound incorrect.
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Incorrect:
She almost failed every exam she took.
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Correct:
She failed almost every exam she took
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Dangling modifiers occur when the subject doesn't occur (instead if being in the wrong place) so the modifier would not be misplaced, but 'dangling'.
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For example:
Tired of all the nights in hotels, Mitch's delight was palpable when the boss said no more traveling.
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Instead of Mitch being mentioned, it is Mitch's delight, which is a totally different subject from Mitch. So this modifier would not be called misplaced but instead be dangling.
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The best way to fix a misplaced modifier is to place the modifier next to the word it describes/modifies.
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