Dangling or Misplaced Modifiers

Some mistakes can be a bit funny. Dangling modifiers in particular can invoke some weird, odd, or strange images. Making the reader laugh is most likely not the usual goal of a writer whose assignment is a formal essay on a serious topic, so recognizing a dangling or misplaced modifier might help avoid unintentional humor.

When words that modify (describe) other words are placed far from the words modified or when what or who they modify is not clear, offbeat images may come to mind.

If I say “Walking along the beach, the clouds cooled the air,” the reader might find it hard to imagine clouds with legs and feet engaged in walking along the beach or anywhere else.

If I rephrase the sentence to “As I was walking along the beach, the clouds cooled the air” the reader doesn’t have to try to picture clouds walking. I have used the description -Walking along the beach - to modify the pronoun - I.

It is best to place all modifiers - adverbs, adjectives, phrases or clauses - as close to what they modify as possible in order to avoid both confusion and unwanted, curiously awry images.

Were those clouds going barefoot or wearing flip flops or sandals?

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! My next entry is coming soon. ‘Til then, hang ten!