Dangling Modifiers—What They Are and How To Correct Them
- A dangling modifier occurs when it’s unclear who or what is the subject of the modifying word or phrase.
- “Being born six feet tall,” is a dangling modifier that makes it seem as if Derrick was born freakishly tall. The correct version of this sentence without a dangling modifier would be:
- ○ Being born six feet tall, Derrick wondered how baby giraffes learn to walk so quickly.
- ○ Derrick wondered how baby giraffes learn to walk so quickly since they’re born six feet tall.
As a writer, the last thing you want to do is confuse your readers and make them think, “what did I just read?” Dangling modifiers do just that, so it’s best to steer clear from them! Below, we’ll discuss what dangling modifiers are and how to fix them.
What Are “Modifiers”?
To understand what dangling modifiers are, you have to know what a modifier is. A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that provides additional information about another element in a sentence. Modifiers tend to be descriptive words, like adjectives and adverbs, but can also be phrases or clauses.
Lee carefully placed the figurines back.
In the sentence above, carefully modifies the verb place.
You can ensure you're using modifiers correctly with LanguageTool's Grammar Checker tool.
What Is a “Dangling Modifier”?
When a sentence contains a dangling modifier, the subject is either unclear or missing completely. Consider the following example:
At eight years old, both my sisters were accepted to Harvard.
The sentence above makes it seem as if the sisters were accepted into Harvard at the age of eight. The actual subject of the sentence is missing. Here is the same sentence without a dangling modifier.
When I was eight years old, both my sisters were accepted to Harvard.
See the difference? If you aren’t careful, dangling modifiers can make your writing seem farcical.
How To Identify a Dangling Modifier
Now that you know what a dangling modifier is, identifying one should be easy.
First, look to see if your sentence has an introductory phrase that comes before the subject of the main clause. Then, ask yourself what noun that phrase is supposed to be modifying? Is it clear for you and the readers? Remember, the subject that is being modified should immediately follow the comma after the introductory phrase.
Shocked, the glass cup shattered when it hit the ground.
Can you spot the dangling modifier in the sentence above? It’s “Shocked” because the subject being modified is missing from the sentence. If there were one, it would be found right after the comma.
Shocked, Joe let the glass slip from his hand, and it shattered when it hit the ground.
How To Correct a Dangling Modifier
The difference between a misplaced modifier and a dangling modifier is that you can fix a misplaced modifier by simply relocating the modifier. A dangling modifier requires more extensive editing. Here’s how you can fix a dangling modifier:
1) Edit the modifying phrase:
↓
Because it was dry and arid, Beth was tired of the desert.
2) Edit the main clause to include the correct subject:
↓
Having missed several classes, Benjamin needed a doctor’s note.
Now you can see why a dangling modifier can completely alter the meaning of your sentence and leave your readers baffled. Dangling modifiers aren’t the only thing that can throw your readers off; spelling and grammar mistakes can, too. LanguageTool will detect and correct any errors to ensure flawless writing!