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DANGLING MODIFIER (ACTUAL EXAMPLE)



THE PROBLEM REVEALED AND EXPLAINED:


The classic illustration of the dangling modifier is “Sailing into the harbor, the Statue of Liberty was seen.” It makes for a great visual, doesn’t it?

Here, it’s not Rupp who was doing the action of the verbal modifier “looking back”; rather, the author of the text was looking back and affirming Rupp’s correctness.

THE EDIT:


The fix is simply to make the agent of that verbal action the same person or thing as the main subject of the sentence:

   “Looking back, I can see that Rupp was probably correct. . . .”

Or we can dispense with the verbal modifier that’s dangling out there by rewriting the introductory language:

   “It’s clear to me, as I look back, that Rupp was probably correct. . . .”

VARIATIONS ON THE THEME:


There are countless forms that this dangling introductory expression can take:

   “Believed to be hiding in Pakistan’s tribal areas today, I suspect that. . . .”

And sometimes the problem can be subtle and good for a laugh:

   “As an example of Management by Chastity Belt, I can attest to. . . .”

 

  1. TEN EASY FIXES


  2.   1. based on

  3.   2. dangling modifier

  4.   3. different

  5.   4. due to

  6.   coming soon:

  7.   5. is comprised of

  8.   6. not only but also

  9.   7. provide

  10.   8. robust (and other buzzwords)

  11.   9. singular-they

  12. 10. the following

 

Better Writing—Instantly