Placement of Modifiers in a Sentence

Keep related parts of a sentence together to avoid the

common mistake of a misplaced modifier. If it isn't clear
in a sentence which term a modifier applies to, it is
a misplaced modifier.

Misplaced modifiers
Any kind of modifier can be misplaced: an adjective, an
adverb, or a phrase or clause acting as an adjective or
adverb. If you put a modifier in a place it doesn't belong,
you risk confusion, awkwardness, and even
unintentional humor.
He saw a truck in the driveway that was red and black.
(misplaced modifier)
If red and black are the colors of the truck rather than the
driveway, write the sentence so that this is clear.
He saw a red and black truck in the driveway.
In the next sentence, it's doubtful that Anna wanted to be
cremated before she died, but the placement of the
adverbial phrase suggests that's just what she wanted.
Perhaps anticipating what scientists would discover,
Anna Anderson, who claimed to be the missing
Anastasia, requested she be cremated before her death.
(misplaced modifier)
Rewrite the sentence to make it clear that the
phrase before her death modifies requested,
not cremated.
Perhaps anticipating what scientists would discover,
Anna Anderson, who claimed to be the missing
Anastasia, requested before her death that she be
cremated.
In the following sentence, the placement of the
modifier by Fridayleaves us with a question: Did we
know by Friday, or would we call for a strike by Friday?
We knew by Friday we would call for a strike. (unclear
modifier)
To avoid any possible confusion, add that.
We knew that by Friday we would call for a strike.
or We knew by Friday that we would call for a strike.
(depending on the intended meaning)
In these examples, the suggested rewritten versions are
not the only possible ways to correct the problem.
Revise your own sentences when you find confusing
modifiers. You may not only correct the problem but
improve the sentence by making it more concise or
changing its emphasis.
Note that the placement of even a simple modifier can
change the meaning of a sentence, as in the following
example.

Not all the hometeam players were available.

All the hometeam players were not available.

Misplaced participial phrases

Among the most common misplaced modifiers
are participial phrases.Writers often overlook whether
the subject of the participial phrase is clear to the reader.
Advancing across the desolate plains, the hot sun
burned the pioneers. (misplaced modifier)
The pioneers are advancing across the plains, not the
sun. Make this clear.
Advancing across the desolate plains, the pioneers were
burned by the hot sun.
OR The hot sun burned the pioneers as they advanced
across the desolate plains. (if you want to avoid the
passive voice)
No matter how you decide to rewrite the sentence, make
sure the modifier is modifying the right word.
In the following example, the placement of on the
hillside between buildings and the participial
phrase constructed of highly flammable materials doesn't
cause serious confusion. We probably realize that it is
the buildings that are constructed of highly flammable
materials, not the hillside.
The buildings on the hillside constructed of highly
flammable materials were destroyed first. (misplaced
modifier)
But you can improve the sentence by placing the
modifier next to the word it modifies.
On the hillside, the buildings constructed of highly
flammable materials were destroyed first.
In the next example, the question is: In his glass case,
was the collector preserving the ancient woman or only
her teeth?
The teeth of the ancient woman preserved in a glass
case were the pride of his collection. (unclear modifier)
If the answer is her teeth, then rewrite the sentence to
better place the participial phrase preserved in a glass
case.
The ancient woman's teeth, preserved in a glass case,
were the pride of his collection.
OR Preserved in a glass case, the teeth of the ancient
woman were the pride of his collection.

Dangling modifiers
Dangling modifiers are similar to misplaced modifiers
except that the modifier isn't just separated from the
word it modifies; it is missingthe word it modifies. The

writer has the term being modified in mindbut not on

paper.
Having already eaten dinner, the idea of a cheeseburger
was unappealing. (dangling modifier)
The dangling participle is the most notorious of the
dangling modifiers. In this example, the participial
phrase Having already eaten dinner has nothing to
modify; it is not modifying idea or cheeseburger. One
way to correct the problem is to add the missing word.
Having already eaten dinner, I found the idea of a
cheeseburger unappealing.
In the following example, the participial phrase Studying
the lecture notes dangles in this sentence.
Studying the lecture notes, the ecosystem structure
became clear. (dangling modifier)
The ecosystem structure is not the one studying the
lecture notes. Rewrite the sentence to clarify.
The ecosystem structure became clear when I studied the
lecture notes.

In the next sentence, the infinitive phrase To win the

election is lacking a word to modify; it cannot
modify money.
To win the election, money is essential. (dangling
modifier)
Rewrite the sentence to add an appropriate subject.
To win the election, a candidate needs money.
In the following sentence, When upset and sad is
an elliptical clause,meaning that a word or words have
been omitted. In this clause, a subject and verb are
missing; they are implied but not stated: When (she was)
upset and sad.
When upset and sad, her room was her refuge. (dangling
modifier)
Elliptical clauses are acceptable, but a subject must
follow one or the clause will dangle.
When upset and sad, she used her room as a refuge.