How to Identify the Dangling Modifier?
Dangling modifiers are mostly difficult to find because the sentence modifiers do not have clear, logical references to a word or words in the sentence. Here is an explanation of how a dangling modifier can be found:
- Know Where to Place Modifiers: Most dangling modifiers occur at the beginning or end of a sentence, but they are not in the right place. Pay special attention to introductory phrases or clauses that describe something in the main clause.
- Check Subject Modifier: Check whether a subject is modified by another element in the sentence, indicating if the subject that is modified by the modifier is clear from what is written in the sentence.
- Confirm Connection: Ensure the modifier directly follows or clearly refers to the word or phrase it is intended to modify. This is to be seen if the subject of the modifier is clearly mentioned in the sentence.
Dangling Modifiers | How To Fix Them
A modifier is used in a sentence to describe, qualify, or limit other elements of the sentence, such as a noun, a verb, an adjective, or another modifier itself. Depending on the structure and syntax of the sentence, they are placed either before or after the word or phrase to be modified.
In simple terms, modifiers help to add or make clear the meaning of the word or phrase they modify, hence making writing more precise and detailed.