How to Identify & Correct Misplaced Modifiers
Correctly Label & Fix Misplaced & Limiting Modifiers
Oct 20, 2009
Misplaced modifiers might not seem like a big deal to most people, but misplaced modifiers can alter a sentence's meaning, cause confusion to readers and result in a different message than originally intended.
What is a Misplaced Modifier?
A misplaced modifier can be defined as any word or phrase that is in the wrong place in a sentence, thus modifying a different part of the sentence than the writer originally intended.
While several phrases and adjectives can become misplaced modifiers when placed incorrectly in a sentence, there are several words that are frequently misplaced. These words are called limiting modifiers. Take extra care when using limiting modifiers in sentences and be sure they are modifying the words they precede.
- only (the most frequently misplaced)
- nearly
- almost
- hardly
- even
- just
- merely
- simply
- scarcely
Examples of Sentences With Misplaced Modifiers
Sometimes readers can infer what a misplaced modifier is supposed to modify based on the context clues of the sentence. Take this simple sentence for example.
My sister went to the doctor with a cold.
Most readers will understand the sister has the cold and not the doctor, although the sentence implies that the doctor has a cold. How can this be fixed? By simply moving the misplaced modifier "a cold" closer to the thing it modifies "my sister" or by adding more to the sentence to clarify.
My sister went to the doctor because she had a cold.
My sister had a cold so she went to the doctor.
Still not convinced that misplaced modifiers can drastically alter the meaning of a sentence? Take a look at another funny example.
Looking for a nanny for a wonderful 7-year-old who doesn't drink or smoke.
Most 7-year-olds do not drink or smoke, so assuming this wonderful 7-year-old is not the exception, one can infer the nanny should not drink or smoke. The sentence can easily be re-written to convey this.
Looking for a nanny who doesn't drink or smoke to care for a wonderful 7-year-old.
Examples of Sentences With Misplaced Limiting Modifiers
Limiting modifiers are easy to misplace and are not as noticeably wrong, but they can cause confusion by altering a sentence's intended meaning.
John has almost failed every test in that class.
What the above sentence says is that John has come close to failing every test in a course (Did he make Ds on all the tests?). However, the intended message is that John has failed most of the tests in the class. Be sure that the limiting modifier is located right before the thing it modifies, in this case "every test."
John has failed almost every test in that class.
Take a look at another example of the most frequently misplaced limiting modifier: only.
Myles only watered the flowers.
This sentence says Myles did nothing but water the flowers. He did not weed the flowers, fertilize the flowers, or eat the flowers. What the writer means is he watered nothing but the flowers.
Myles watered only the flowers.
Perhaps the rest of the plants were well-hydrated.
Avoiding Confusion With Modifiers
Remember that the goal of writing is to communicate meaning from one person to another, so try to make your writing clear and concise. Place modifiers as close before the word or phrase being modified as possible to avoid reader confusion.
If you reread your sentences and notice something could be read in an unintended way, rephrase the sentence or phrase to ensure the readers understand your writing and your writing's meaning.
Related Reading:
 |
 |
 |
