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are your descriptions clear?
In general, modifiers need to be close and obviously connected to the words they modify. When they aren’t, readers may become confused — or amused.
Position modifiers close to the words they modify.
MISPLACED | Layered like a wedding cake, Mrs. DeLeon unveiled her model for the parade float. |
Mrs. DeLeon is not layered like a wedding cake; the model for the parade float is.
REVISED | Mrs. DeLeon unveiled her model for the parade float, which was layered like a wedding cake. |
Place adverbs such as only, almost, especially, and even carefully If these modifiers are placed improperly, their purpose can be vague or ambiguous.
VAGUE | The speaker almost angered everyone in the room. |
CLEARER | The speaker angered almost everyone in the room. |
AMBIGUOUS | Joan only drove a pickup. |
CLEARER | Only Joan drove a pickup. |
CLEARER | Joan drove only a pickup. |
Don’t allow a modifier to dangle.A modifying word or phrase at the beginning of a sentence should usually be followed by a subject to which it connects clearly. When it doesn’t, the modifier is said to dangle, especially when there is no other word in the sentence it can logically describe.
DANGLING | Arriving at sunset, the Grand Canyon was awash in golden light. |
Nothing in the sentence is actually modified by the opening phrase. Revision is necessary.
REVISED | Arriving at sunset, we beheld the Grand Canyon awash in golden light. |
Don’t, however, confuse dangling modifiers with absolutes, which are phrases that can, in fact, modify entire sentences without connecting to particular words or subjects. Here are some examples:
All things considered, the vacation was a success.
To be honest, our hotel room at the park left much to be desired.