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b4d.htf
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Text File
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1997-03-31
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2KB
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245 lines
B4D
Misplaced Modifiers
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Modifiers are misplaced when it is unclear which word they
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modify or when they modify the wrong word. For clarity,
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modifiers should be placed as close as possible to the words
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they modify. Sometimes you can simply move an unclear
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phrase closer to the word it modifies.
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Misplaced:
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I spoke with the woman who is standing by
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the potted palm in the yellow dress.
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In the example above, the reader may think that the palm is
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draped in a yellow dress. Move the adjective phrase "in the
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yellow dress" to avoid confusion.
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Corrected:
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I spoke with the woman in the yellow dress
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who is standing by the potted palm.
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Now there is no confusion over who is wearing the yellow
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dress.
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In the example below, who is in the back of the truck?
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Misplaced:
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He took the dog when he left this morning in
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the back of the truck.
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Corrected:
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When he left this morning, he took the dog
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in the back of the truck.
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Now it is clear that the dog is riding in the back of the truck.
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Some modifier problems are obvious (and even downright
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silly!):
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Misplaced:
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A parachute appeared over her fully opened
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head.
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Corrected:
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A fully opened parachute appeared over her
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head.
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...but some problems are more subtle:
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Misplaced:
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There are late boats for evening passengers
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running at 7:00.
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Corrected:
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There are late boats running at 7:00 for
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evening passengers.
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