DANGLING MODIFIERS

This mistake is commonly found in a first writing draft. Can you recognize it? And more importantly, can you correct it?

The dangling modifier is a group of words in which the subject and verb are implied and not actually written. It is often found at the start of a sentence. The writer, following a train of thought, has continued scribbling in a slightly altered direction -- which leaves the reader behind.

Consider the following example:

❌Raised in England, it is natural to miss the mild winters.

The introductory phrase in this sentence asks like an adjective, describing a person, place, idea, or thing.  Although it looks as if it is meant to modify a person, no one is mentioned in the sentence.

To make matters worse, adjective phrases naturally modify the first noun or pronoun that follows them, so this sentence mistakenly suggests that "it" was not raised in England.

You could revise the sentence in a number of ways to correct the meaning implied:

✅Add the person the phrase is describing to the adjective clause: For a person raised in England, it is natural to miss the mild winters.

✅Add the person the phrase is describing in the second clause: Raised in England, I often miss the mild winters.

A dangling modifier is created when an adjective clause is incorrectly placed so that it modifies the wrong noun in the sentence. Here is an example:

❌Although nearly finished, we left the meeting early because we were worried about the traffic.

In this sentence, the clause “although nearly finished” illogically modifies the pronoun “we,” which directly follows it.

You can rectify the problem by reinserting the subject and verb that are understood in the elliptical clause:

✅Although the meeting was nearly finished, we left early because we were worried about the traffic.

The reason that dangling modifier mistakes appear frequently in first drafts is that the writer is busy getting all of their thoughts down but hasn't yet considered how they should be connected or separated.

A dangling modifier is like an unfulfilled promise that leaves your reader hanging. As a writer, it is important to take an objective look at our sentences. Ask yourself the “Who” and “What” questions linked to your adjective clause to check what it should be modifying. Is that person or object present? Is it present in the right place (directly following the clause)?

Here are a couple more examples for you to review:

❌Having thoroughly enjoyed this series, it is sad to see the end.

“It” is not the person who has enjoyed the series. This would be better as follows:

✅Having thoroughly enjoyed this series, I am sad to see it end.

And, lastly, can you see the problem here?

❌He failed the interview, not having studied the process carefully.

This adjective clause is perhaps more difficult to clarify as it is at the end of the sentence. Who didn’t study the process? It was not the interview but “he”.

✅ He failed the interview because he didn’t study the process carefully.

Isn’t that a whole lot clearer?

Editing is a really important step in ensuring your writing conveys the right meaning. If you are working on an important document, or a text that will be read by many others, it is best to have another person review it with a fresh pair of eyes.

My Proofread like a Pro Checklist contains a list of the 10 most common grammatical errors I see as a proofreader with examples and, of course, a checklist for you to cross them off as you edit your own writing.  If you write on a regular basis and accuracy is important for you, sign up for my newsletter to receive this valuable freebie!💌