Dangling Modifier

A dangling modifier describes the wrong word or phrase in a sentence. To modify is to describe, clarify, or give detail about a particular concept.

A modifier dangles when it isn’t correctly used in a sentence. When we start a sentence with any modifying word, clause, or phrase, it’s important to make sure that the next part of the sentence is appropriately modified by the modifier used.

For example, in the sentence, “Changing the engine oil every 2000 miles, the car was running better,” it sounds as if the car is changing its own oil. To correct this sentence, we could write, “Changing the oil every 2000 miles, John realized he could get much better mileage.”

Look at this example: “Piled up beside the washing machine, Paul started doing his laundry.” It may sound as if Paul is the one piled up beside the washing machine rather than the laundry. To correct this, we would write, “With his clothes piled up beside the washing machine, Paul started doing his laundry.”

Here is a final example: “Being in a dilapidated state, I was able to buy the car cheaply.” Again, the sentence is ambiguous, not at all clear whether the speaker or the car is in a dilapidated state. To correct this, we could write, “Since the car was in a dilapidated state, I was able to buy it cheaply.”

Dangling Modifier to English Tips Outside the Box Writing Tips