{"id":337,"date":"2014-07-25T20:09:57","date_gmt":"2014-07-25T20:09:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/writershandbook\/?post_type=chapter&p=337"},"modified":"2014-07-25T21:12:36","modified_gmt":"2014-07-25T21:12:36","slug":"15-4-avoiding-misplaced-modifiers-dangling-modifiers-and-split-infinitives","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-mcc-styleguide\/chapter\/15-4-avoiding-misplaced-modifiers-dangling-modifiers-and-split-infinitives\/","title":{"raw":"15.4 Avoiding Misplaced Modifiers, Dangling Modifiers, and Split Infinitives","rendered":"15.4 Avoiding Misplaced Modifiers, Dangling Modifiers, and Split Infinitives"},"content":{"raw":" \r\n
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15.4<\/span> Avoiding Misplaced Modifiers, Dangling Modifiers, and Split Infinitives<\/h2>\r\n
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Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n
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  1. Recognize misplaced modifiers, dangling modifiers, and split infinitives.<\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Correct misplaced modifiers, dangling modifiers, and split infinitives.<\/li>\r\n\t
  3. Write sentences that do not include misplaced modifiers, dangling modifiers, and split infinitives.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\nConsider this sentence: \u201cFor her birthday, Megan received an attractive woman\u2019s briefcase.\u201d The modifier \u201cattractive\u201d is in an awkward position. The person who wrote this sentence most likely intended to suggest that the briefcase was attractive. However, people reading it or listening to it might easily assume that the briefcase was intended for (or already belonged to) an attractive woman.\r\n\r\nThree categories of modifier problems include misplaced modifiers<\/span><\/span>, dangling modifiers<\/span><\/span>, and split infinitives<\/span><\/span>. These three categories, explained in the following subsections, are all similar because they all involve misplacing words or phrases. Understanding the differences between these categories should help you be on the lookout for such mistakes in your writing and that of your peers.\r\n
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    Misplaced Modifiers<\/h2>\r\nThe easiest way to clarify which word is being modified in a sentence is to place the modifier close to the word it modifies. Whenever possible, it is best to place a modifier immediately before or after the modified word.\r\n\r\nRead the following example of a misplaced modifier<\/strong>, note the point of confusion, and review the correction<\/em>.\r\n
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    Example 1<\/h3>\r\nThe malfunctioning student\u2019s phone beeped during class.\r\n\r\nMisplaced modifier:<\/strong> \u201cmalfunctioning\u201d\r\n\r\nModifying link:<\/strong> \u201cphone\u201d (not \u201cstudent\u201d)\r\n\r\nPoint of confusion:<\/strong> The writer wants to say that the student had a malfunctioning phone that beeped during class, not that the student was malfunctioning.\r\n\r\nRewritten link:<\/strong> The student\u2019s malfunctioning phone beeped during class.<\/em>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n
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    Dangling Modifiers<\/h2>\r\nOften a dangling modifier modifies the subject of a sentence, but the placement of the modifier makes it seem as though it modifies another noun in the sentence. Other times, a dangling modifier actually modifies someone or something other than the subject of the sentence, but the wording makes it appear as though the dangling modifier modifies the subject. The resulting image conveyed can often be rather confusing, humorous, or just embarrassing.\r\n\r\nRead the following examples of dangling modifiers<\/strong>, note the point of confusion in each case, and review the possible corrections<\/em>. Note that there is often more than one correct way to rewrite each sentence.\r\n
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    Example 1<\/h3>\r\nThe child was climbing the fence that always seemed adventuresome.\r\n\r\nMisplaced modifier:<\/strong> \u201cthat always seemed adventuresome\u201d\r\n\r\nModifying link:<\/strong> \u201cchild\u201d (not \u201cfence\u201d)\r\n\r\nPoint of confusion:<\/strong> The wording makes it sound as if the fence is adventuresome, not the child.\r\n\r\nRewritten link:<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThe child, who always seemed adventuresome, was climbing the fence.<\/em>\r\n\r\nOR\r\n\r\nThe adventuresome child was climbing the fence.<\/em>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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    Example 2<\/h3>\r\nReading in the porch swing, giant mosquitoes attacked me.\r\n\r\nMisplaced modifier:<\/strong> \u201cReading in the porch swing\u201d\r\n\r\nModifying link:<\/strong> Implicit \u201cI\u201d (not \u201cmosquitoes\u201d)\r\n\r\nPoint of confusion:<\/strong> The wording makes the sentence sound as if the mosquitoes are reading on the porch swing, not the speaker.\r\n\r\nRewritten link:<\/strong>\r\n\r\nWhile I was reading on the porch swing, giant mosquitoes attacked me.<\/em>\r\n\r\nOR\r\n\r\nGiant mosquitoes attacked me while I was reading on the porch swing.<\/em>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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    Example 3<\/h3>\r\nAfter being found in the washing machine, the dog eagerly played with his favorite chew toy.\r\n\r\nMisplaced modifier:<\/strong> \u201cAfter being found in the washing machine\u201d\r\n\r\nModifying link:<\/strong> \u201ctoy\u201d (not \u201cdog\u201d)\r\n\r\nPoint of confusion:<\/strong> This sentence is supposed to say that the toy, not the dog, was found in the washing machine.\r\n\r\nRewritten link:<\/strong>\r\n\r\nAfter the dog\u2019s favorite chew toy was found in the washing machine, he eagerly played with it.<\/em>\r\n\r\nOR\r\n\r\nThe dog eagerly played with his favorite chew toy after it was found in the washing machine.<\/em>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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    Split Infinitives<\/h2>\r\nSpliting infinitives refers to placing a word between \u201cto\u201d and a verb, as in \u201cMiss Clark set out to clearly define the problem.\u201d Technically, you should not place the word \u201cclearly\u201d between \u201cto\u201d and \u201cdefine.\u201d This grammar rule came about in the eighteenth century when people held Latin up as the language standard. Since Latin did not have two-word infinitives, such as \u201cto define,\u201d grammarians wanted to preserve the unity of the two-word infinitives in an effort to make English more Latin-like. The use of split infinitives, however, has become increasingly common over the decades (e.g., \u201cto boldly go<\/em> where no man has gone before\u201d\u2014Star Trek<\/em>, 1966). In fact, split infinitives are gaining acceptance in professional and academic writing as well. For your purposes, knowing what split infinitives are will help you know your options as a writer.\r\n
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    Example 1<\/h3>\r\nI\u2019m going to quickly run<\/strong> to the store so I\u2019ll be back when you get home.\r\n\r\nInfinitive link:<\/strong> \u201cto run\u201d\r\n\r\nSplitter link:<\/strong> \u201cquickly\u201d\r\n\r\nRewritten link:<\/strong> I\u2019m going to run to the store quickly so I\u2019ll be back when you get home.<\/em>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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    Example 2<\/h3>\r\nHelen thought Mr. Beed said to loudly sing<\/strong>, but he actually said to proudly sing<\/strong>.\r\n\r\nInfinitive link:<\/strong> \u201cto sing\u201d (twice)\r\n\r\nSplitter link:<\/strong> \u201cloudly\u201d; \u201cproudly\u201d\r\n\r\nRewritten link:<\/strong> Helen thought Mr. Beed said to sing loudly, but he actually said to sing proudly.<\/em>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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    Key Takeaways<\/h3>\r\n