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c4a3a.htf
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1997-01-20
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158 lines
C4A3a
Misplaced Modifiers
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Modifiers describe, define, clarify, or provide more explicit
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information about the words they modify. They must be
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carefully placed in sentences so that it is clear which words
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they modify. Modifiers are misplaced when it is unclear which
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word they modify or when they modify the wrong word.
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Modifiers should be placed as close as possible to the words
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they modify. Frequently, misplaced modifiers can be
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corrected simply by moving the ambiguous phrase closer to
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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. Correct this confusion by relocating
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the modifier.
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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. In the example below, there is some confusion over
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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
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in 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 who is riding in the back of the truck.
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