Dangling Modifiers: What Are They?

Dangling Modifiers
What are they? Connections

See also the
All modifiers, words that add clarity, describe, or add detail to other “Identifying Verbs &
words in a sentence, must be clearly and logically connected to their Subjects” and
implied subjects, the grammatical subject of the clause nearest to “Adjectives &
the modifier. For example, in the following sentences we can easily Adverbs.”
connect the underlined modifiers with their implied subjects, which
are underlined twice.
 Happy with her new hula hoop, the young girl skipped down the street.
 Invigorated by the sunny weather, we decided to go on a picnic in Golden Gate Park.
 Before buying a hybrid car, my brother used to ride a motorcycle.
But sometimes, when writers use modifiers carelessly, their implied subjects are illogical. For
example:
 In examining his argument closely, the point at which he went wrong can be seen.
 To network more effectively, Scientology is practiced by many actors.
 Polite and respectful, the visiting teacher was impressed with the children’s manners.
The way the first two sentences are written, they imply that the point somehow examined his
argument and that Scientology is trying to network more effectively— neither of these ideas make any
sense. The third sentence, while not as obviously illogical, suggests that the visiting teacher was
polite and respectful, not the children—almost certainly not what the writer intends.
Misleading or illogical constructions like these are called dangling modifiers. Dangling modifiers most
often come at the beginning of a sentence, as in the examples above, but they can also come at the
end of a sentence.
 In my English class, attendance was stressed, taking off points for late arrivals and early
departures.
The way this sentence is written, it implies that attendance takes points off for late arrivals and early
departures—an illogical statement.
Fixing Dangling Modifiers
In order to fix a dangling modifier, you need to revise your sentence so that the implied subject
makes sense. You can do this by asking yourself “who is logically doing the action of the
modifier”? For example:
Original Sentence Revised Sentence


In examining his argument closely, the Who is examining his argument? we
point at which he went wrong can be
seen. In examining his argument closely, we can
see the point at which he went wrong.

To network more effectively, Who is trying to network more effectively? actors
Scientology is practiced by many actors.
To network more effectively, many actors practice
Scientology.
Polite and respectful, the visiting Who is polite and respectful? the children
teacher was impressed with the
children’s manners. Polite and respectful, the children
impressed the visiting teacher with their
manners.

In my English class, attendance was Who stresses attendance? the teacher
stressed, taking off points for late 
arrivals and early departures. In my English class, the teacher stressed
 attendance, taking off points for late arrivals and
early departures.
PRACTICE
Read each sentence, underlining the introductory modifier and double-underlining the implied subject. Does
the modifier logically connect with the implied subject? If the implied subject does not make sense, revise the
sentence.
For example: Thought to have originated in the Indian Subcontinent, Eastern Europe is now home to
many Roma, better known as gypsies.
(Is Eastern Europe thought to have originated in India? No, the Roma are, so we need to revise this
sentence.)
Revised: Thought to have originated in the Indian Subcontinent, many Roma, better known as
gypsies, now live in Eastern Europe.
1. Reacting with suspicion and hostility to the Roma’s distinct culture and nomadic lifestyles, they have
historically been discriminated against by some native Europeans.
2. Taken to the extreme, persecution included enslavement and executions.
3. Known as the Porajmos, or the “devouring,” in World War II, the Nazis carried out an attempted genocide
that killed between 200,000 and 800,000 Roma.
4. Derogatory stereotypes are still perpetuated, characterizing the Roma as tramps and thieves.
5. Both embodying and transcending the sadness of this history, an important expression of traditional Rom
culture is music.
6. Developed in Spanish Roma communities, the outside world is probably most familiar with flamenco music.
7. Brought to the Americas, Roma music has contributed to Cuban salsa, mambo, rumba and guajira music:
Mexican mariachi music; and even American country music.
8. A celebration of the range and vitality of gypsy music, the Roma director Tony Gatlif made the excellent
documentary Latcho Drom.

Dangling Modifiers: What Are They?

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Dangling Modifiers

What are they? Connections

 Invigorated by the sunny weather, we decided to go on a picnic in Golden Gate Park.

 Before buying a hybrid car, my brother used to ride a motorcycle.

 To network more effectively, Scientology is practiced by many actors.

Original Sentence Revised Sentence

2. Taken to the extreme, persecution included enslavement and executions.

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