Modifiers, dangling, misplaced, downright slippery: if you're going to self-edit, you need to be able to spot when your modifiers go AWOL.
There are two kinds of writer in this world: those whose editors are constantly catching misplaced and dangling modifiers, and those who are blithely unaware of the rampant chaos such entities are wreaking through their manuscripts. Even with the knowledge of such things, I have fallen victim to the odd modifier dangling mischievously over my sentences, sewing chaos and hilarity in its wake.
Dangling and misplaced modifiers are one of the most common mistakes I pick up on when editing. Whilst some will fly under the radar for the average reader, others can create ‘garden paths’ that will send readers on journeys of misdirection and confusion that overshadow your narrative. If you are preparing your manuscript for querying, such mistakes could be costly.
What is a Modifier?
A modifier is any word or phrase which alters the meaning of a part of your sentence. These could be adjectives, adverbs, whole phrases, or clauses. Their position in a clause or sentence can alter the meaning of the whole sentence, and the omission of the intended subject of a sentence can be equally derailing.
Some excellent examples given in Richard Lederer’s Anguished English:
‘As a baboon who grew up wild in the jungle, I realised that Wiki had special nutritional needs.’
‘When a small boy, a girl is of little interest’
‘Having killed a man and served four years in prison, I feel Tom Joad is ripe to get into trouble.’
Misplaced Modifiers
A misplaced modifier occurs when the modifier is occupying the wrong position in the sentence, thus modifying the wrong word or phrase.
For example:
The battered student’s book lay on the desk.
This would be fine if the writer intended to comment on the student being battered and bruised.
The student’s battered book lay on the desk.
Here, the book is battered, but fortunately the student is unscathed.
Whole phrases can also be misplaced:
They saw a fence behind the house made of barbed wire.
I have concerns over the structural integrity of this house. Instead, the writer intended: They saw a fence made of barbed wire behind the house.
A misplaced clause can cause trouble too:
The waiter served a dinner roll to the woman that was buttered.
Really? she was buttered, you say?
In addition to creating social taboos and hilarity, the misplaced clause can also cause downright confusion:
The teacher said on Monday she would return our essays.
Will she return them on Monday? Or did she make her announcement on Monday? Putting a clause in the middle of the sentence can lead readers to pause and question which part of the sentence it applies to. The solution depends on the intended meaning.
Either: On Monday, the teacher said she would return our essays.
Or: The teacher said that she would return our essays on Monday.
Just for fun, here are some more misplaced modifiers to try your hand at fixing:
The longest ever queue:
Sisters Reunited After Eighteen Years in Checkout Line at Supermarket.
Cannibal Café:
Tables are for eating customers only.
The worst marketing stunt ever:
Louisville Might Rename Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium After Racial Slur.
Dangling Modifiers
Dangling modifiers (also known as dangling participles) occur when the subject is missing from the sentence. The reader has to work out the subject, often assuming that it is the closest noun to the modifying clause.
When nine years old, my mother enrolled in medical school.
A dangling participle, or a child genius? When you are checking your modifiers, your intent is key.
Having been fixed the night before, Shelley could drive again.
Poor Shelley.
There are two ways to correct a dangling modifier:
Leave the modifier where it is; change the main clause so that it begins with the subject.
E.g. When I was nine years old, my mother enrolled in medical school.
Change the modifier phrase to a subordinate clause with a subject and verb.
E.g. Since the car had been fixed the night before, Shelley could drive again.
Some more practice at spotting and fixing dangling modifiers:
Uncanny valley:
Turning the corner, the mountain range was an intimidating sight.
Supernatural happenings:
Walking through the cemetery, the gravestones cast wicked shadows on the grass.
Let the dog read if he wants to!
Having read your letter, the dog will be kept on a lead from now on.
For more writing and editing advice, check out my blog post on common writing mistakes here and don't forget to subscribe to my mailing list for exclusive updates, discounts and freebies, including the free printable copy of The Self-Editing Checklist (£2.90 in the CritterNotes store) that will keep your self-editing endeavours on track.
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