Misplaced and dangling modifiers

1. Misplaced and dangling modifiers By Ayana Williams, Chris Gunning, Jenna Belter, Stephanie Palaba

2. What is a dangling modifier? A word or phrase in which it says something different than what is meant because words are left out. Example: BAD: Trying to put out the fire, the fire extinguisher broke GOOD: Trying to put out the fire, I broke the fire extinguisher OR As I was trying to put out the fire, the fire extinguisher broke.

3. More Examples • BAD: After reading the original study, the article remains unconvincing. GOOD: After reading the original study, I find the article unconvincing. • BAD: Relieved of your responsibilities at your job, your home should be a place to relax. GOOD: Relieved of your responsibilities at your job, you should be able to relax at home. • BAD: The experiment was a failure, not having studied the lab manual carefully. GOOD: They failed the experiment, not having studied the lab manual carefully. • BAD: While driving on Greenwood Avenue yesterday afternoon, a tree began to fall toward Wendy H's car. GOOD: While Wendy H was driving on Greenwood Avenue yesterday afternoon, a tree began to fall toward her car. • BAD: When the ball was thrown into the air, the dog caught it. GOOD: The dog caught the ball that had been thrown into the air. • BAD: Having finished eating, the dog stalked out the door. GOOD: After eating the dog chow, the bowl was empty.

4. What is a misplaced modifier? a word or phrase positioned so that is unclear what exactly it refers to. Example: BAD: Tired of all of the nights in hotels, Mitch's delight was felt by Mitch when his boss finally said he didn't have to travel anymore. GOOD: Tired of all of the nights in hotels, Mitch was delighted when his boss finally said he didn't have to travel anymore. Mitch’s delight cannot be tired, because Mitch’s delight isn’t a person.

5. More Examples • BAD: Eagerly awaiting her birthday, Mary's presents were all picked up and admired by Mary many times throughout the course of the dayGOOD: Eagerly awaiting her birthday, Mary picked up and admired her presents many times throughout the day • BAD: She served sandwiches to the children on paper plates. GOOD: She served the children sandwiches on paper plates. • BAD: He nearly drove the car for six hours a day. GOOD: He drove the car for nearly six hours a day. • BAD: She saw a puppy and a kitten on the way to the store. GOOD: On the way to the store, she saw a puppy and a kitten. • BAD: She almost failed every exam she took. GOOD: She failed almost every exam she took. • BAD: People who laugh rarely are sad. GOOD: People who rarely laugh are sad.

6. Sentence 1 The media has potential threats and advantages. Some potential threats exist in the modern mass communications media, though there are many significant advantages.

7. Sentence 2 Public opinion can be manipulated through biased reported. If a powerful minority should happen to control it, public opinion could be manipulated though biased reporting.

8. Sentence 3 National coverage shows that similar conflicts occur in different places. And while a wide knowledge of public affairs is a great advantage that results from national coverage, divisiveness and factionalism can be accentuated by connecting otherwise isolated local conflicts into a single larger conflict as a result of showing that conflicts about the same issues are occurring in different places.

9. Sentence 4 National coverage reinforces separation of groups by publicizing uninformed opinions. It will always be true, of course, that human nature produces differences of opinion, but the threat of faction and division may be reinforced when national coverage publicizes uninformed opinions.

10. Sentence 5 Conflicts between groups can be suppressed through education According to some, education can suppress faction when the true nature of conflicts reaches the public through the media, but history has shown that as much coverage is given to people who encourage conflict as to people who try to remove conflict.