Misplaced Modifier

is a word, phrase or clause that is

improperly separated from the
word it modifies/describes.
Customers who complain often alert us
to changes we need to make.
Often, customers who complain alert us
to changes we need to make.

Kinds of Misplaced
Modifiers
1. Misplaced adjectives are incorrectly
separated
from
the
Thechild
childate
atea adish
coldofdish
cerealfor
forbreakfast
breakfast
The
coldofcereal
nouns
they
modify
and
this
morning.
It
also
creates
a
this
2. morning.
Placement of almost
can also
change
always
distort
sentence
whose
meaning
in meaning
Just John was picked tothe
host
the program
.
Adverbs
intended
.
meaning
is
highly
sentences
3. Misplaced
cause
a completely
sentence
John
was just picked tomay
host
the or
unlikely
to sound
awkward and
program.
Phrases
ridiculous.
John4.
The
was
dealer
pickedsold
to host
the Cadillac
just
thecreate
program.
to theabuyer
with
may
meaning
Misplaced
Clauses
leather seats.
that does not make
The waiter served a dinner roll to the woman
sense.
We
The
ate
dealer
the
sold
lunch
the
that
Cadillac
with
brought
leather
that was well buttered.we had
slowly.to the buyer.
seats

We slowly
The waiter
ate the
served
lunch
a that
dinner
weroll
hadthat
brought.
was
well buttered to the woman.

Be careful!In correcting a
misplaced modifier, don't create a
sentence with two possible meanings.

The teacher said on Monday she

would return our essays.
1. The teacher said she would return our
essays on Monday.
2. On Monday, the teacher said
she would return our essays.

Limiting Modifiers
The most common limiting modifiers

impose restrictions on the words

Positioning
of Limiting
are:
they
modify.

Almost
The
word
(or words)
a limiting
modifier

Everyone
is
born
with
Modifiers
Martin
Athan
knows
hardly
HardlyArthur
governs
iseats
usuallyonly
immediately
Only
eats
ice to its right

genius,
but most people only
Nearly
in
a sentence.
anybody.
apples.
Only
He
hardly
Athan
knows
eats
apples.
cream.

Just
Arthurit only
ice
keep
a feweats
minutes.
anybody.
Only
-cream.
Edgard
Varese
(1883-1965)
Arthur
Merely
eats only ice
I
dont
give
a
damn
for
a
cream.
man that can only spell a
word one way.
- Mark Twain (1835-1910)

Squinting Modifiers
Fixing
a Squinting

a modifier
which

Modifier
could
feasibly
Like
most misplaced
modifiers,
a squinting
modify
the words
before
it or the
modifier can be fixed by changing its position
words
after
in the
sentence
or it
by rewording.
Cycling up hills quickly strengthens your
quadriceps.
Cycling up hills quickly strengthens
your quadriceps.
Taking a moment to think clearly
Cycling
up hills
strengthens
improves
your
chances. your
quadricepsquickly.
Taking a moment to thinkclearly
about the issueimproves your
chances.

How to Avoid a Misplaced

Modifier
You

can avoid a misplaced modifier by placing

your modifier alongside whatever it's modifying.

For example:

Jack can hear Jill when she

whispersclearly.
Jack canclearlyhear Jill when she
whispers.

Transitional Signals

are used
signal relationships
Example:
Types
of to
Transition
between
ideas in-are
your
writing.
used
to connect two
For
1.
Sentence
example
Signals
sentences together.
While
Connectors
Transition signals are very
joined
by
aconnect
full-stop
--are
2.
Clause
used
to
useful;however,
useful.However,
they
they should
should not
not be
be
In addition
(period)
or
semi-colon
two clauses
connectors
used
to
begin
every
sentence.
Transition
signals
are
very
Likewise
and
are different
followed
together
to form by a
-follow
3.
Other
Connectors
useful,butthey should not be
comma.
one
sentence.
grammar
used cohesionis
to begin every
Good
thesentence.
result
- patterns.
joined by a
ofusing repeated words, reference
comma.
- followed by
words, and transition signals.
noun phrase.
-some are verbs
and should
therefore used as
verbs in

Examples of Transitional
Signal

To
To
To
ToTo
show
show
introduce
To
introduce
Toshow
identify
give
To
To
To
order
chronological
compare
contrast
conclude
reinforce
an
ana
an
an
alternative
of
or
example
cause/reason
effect/result
additional
importance
clarifyorder
idea
Sentence
Clause
Other
Sentence
Sentence
Clause
Clause
Other
Other
Sentence
Sentence
Clause
Clause
Other
Other
Sentence
Sentence
Connectors
Sentence
Connectors
Connectors
Connectors
Connectors
Connectors
Connectors
Connectors
Forathis
As
result
reason
Also
However
Likewise
First,second,et
Above
all
Alternatively
For
example
All
in
all
That
is
As
a
Besides
Similarly
In
c.
First
contrast
and
In
fact
Otherwise
For
instance
In
brief
In
other
words
consequence
Furthermore
Equally
Instead
First
foremost
of
all
Indeed
In
this
case
In
conclusion
Specifically
Consequently
addition
In
In/by
Then
More/most
the
same
Of
course
In
short
Hence
Moreover
way
comparison
Next
importantly
Clearly
In
summary
Hus
Additionally
Nevertheless
Now
Primarily
Therefore
Nonetheless
Then
On
Soon
the other
hand
Last
On
Finally
the
contrary

Clause
Clause
Connectors
Clause
Connectors
Connectors
Connectors
Connectors
Connectors
Connectors
Connectors
For
so
But
And
After
Or
Nor
Bothand
Yet
As although
IfBecause
Since
Not
Even
As soon
onlybut
though
as
Unless
As
also
Though
Before
Neithernor
Whereas
Since
Just
While
Untilas
When
While

Other
Other
Connectors
Other
Connectors
Connectors
Connectors
Connectors
Connectors
Connectors
Connectors
To result in
from
Another
Despite(+noun
Asas
The
A
more
first, the
Such
To
summarize
Namely
To
be the
cause
(+noun)
)Like/Alike
second
important
as(+noun)
To
conclude
result
To
have
ofof
anthe
An
additional
Just
In
The
spite
like
next,
most
Like
It
is clear
Due
effect
to
onfinalof
To
(+noun)
last,
importance
be
the
similar
An
example
that
Because
To
affect
of
to
Compared
Before
The
second
(+noun)
We
can
seeof
To
The
be
cause
the
To
to/with
After
most
be alike
To
that..
effect
The
reason
of
for
To
Since
significant
be
similar
different
demonstrate
The
evidence
To
be
the
(from)
In
The
the
primary
year
suggests
consequence
To
be
These
of
dissimilar
examples
Asbe
a result
To
unlikeof

What
What are
are Split
Infinitives?
Infinitives?
A split infinitive
is created
by of
Infinitives
are the two-word
forms
verbs.
placing anadverb or adverbial

For example:
phrasebetween thetoand the

to read
verb.
For
example:
to
write
to casually walk
illustrate
toto
gently push

Whento
to split
avoidinfinitives?
split infinitives?
When
When
Infinitives
moving
should
the adverb
be splittowhen
the end of a
phrase
the adverb
doesnt
either
cause
needs
confusion or change
the
emphasis
sentences
or wouldnt
meaning,work
its a good idea to
keep
anywhere
the infinitive
else inintact.
the sentence.
Thissoftwareallows
yourwalk
company
Theyreexpectedto
gradually
come
He
urged me to casually
up
toquickly,
easily,
and costandsay
down
in hello.
price
to about
$50 to $75
He
urgedgradually
me
to walk
effectively
manage
allcasually
tasks. and
each.
Theyre
expectedto
come
say
hello.
Thissoftwareallows
down
in price to aboutyour
$50company
to $75
to manage all tasksquickly, easily,
each.
Theyre
expectedto come down
and
cost effectively.
in price gradually to about $50 to
$75 each.