B | Editing to Ensure Effective Sentences
| B | Editing to Ensure Effective Sentences |
B1Check for misplaced or dangling modifiers.
Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that provide more information about other parts of a sentence.
For a sentence to be clear, the connection between a modifier and the thing it modifies must be obvious. Usually a modifier should be placed just before or just after what it modifies. If the modifier is too close to some other sentence element, it is a misplaced modifier. If the modifier cannot logically modify anything in the sentence, it is a dangling modifier. Both errors can confuse readers—and sometimes create unintentionally humorous images. As you edit, place a modifier directly before or after the word modified and clearly connect the two.
Q-47
[In the faulty sentence, in the refrigerator seems to modify Dan’s visit. Obviously the leftovers, not Dan, are in the refrigerator.]
[In the faulty sentence, Looking out the window should modify I, but I is not in the sentence. The modifier dangles without anything logical to modify until I is in the sentence.]
EDITING CHECKLIST
Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
What is each modifier meant to modify? Is the modifier as close as possible to that sentence element? Is any misreading possible?
If a modifier is misplaced, can you move it to clarify the meaning?
What noun or pronoun is a dangling modifier meant to modify? Can you make that word or phrase the subject of the main clause? Or can you turn the dangling modifier into a clause that includes the missing noun or pronoun?
B2Check for parallel structure.
A series of words, phrases, clauses, or sentences with the same grammatical form is said to be parallel. Using parallel form for elements that are parallel in meaning or function helps readers grasp the meaning of a sentence more easily. A lack of parallelism can distract, annoy, or even confuse readers.
Correlative conjunctions are pairs of linking words (such as either/or, not only/but also) that appear separately but work together to join elements of a sentence.
To use parallelism, put nouns with nouns, verbs with verbs, and phrases with phrases. Parallelism is particularly important in a series, with correlative conjunctions, and in comparisons using than or as.
Edit to reinforce parallel structures by repeating articles, conjunctions, prepositions, or lead-in words as needed.
Q-48
EDITING CHECKLIST
Parallel Structure
Are all the elements in a series in the same grammatical form?
Are the elements in a comparison parallel in form?
Are the articles, conjunctions, prepositions, or lead-in words for elements repeated as needed rather than mixed or omitted?