19 Modifiers

Modifiers can make your words come alive with description.  Adjectives modify nouns and adverbs modify verbs.  Unfortunately, misplaced or dangling modifiers can make your writing unintentionally funny or worse, unintelligible.

A modifier should be placed closest to the word it modifies.

Correct placement:

The salon was situated perfectly on a street with plenty of accessible parking .

This identifies the location of the salon was perfect and that there was plenty of accessible parking.

When it is misplaced, a modifier describes something you did not intend.

Misplaced modifier:  

The salon was situated on a street with plenty of accessible parking, perfectly.

In this case, the perfectly now relates to parking, which was not the intention.

Dangling modifiers are left with nothing to do.  Usually found in a dependent clause or phrase at the start or end of a sentence. they are left describing nothing which makes your writing sloppy.

Dangling modifier:

Running late for class, the stylist welcomed me for my haircut.

It is unclear if the stylist is late for class, if you are, or why that dangling modifying phrase is even there.

Fixed:

Because I was running late for my class, the stylist welcomed me later for my haircut.

It is now clear who was running late and what the result was.

Before sending your words out for someone else to read, check to make sure your modifiers are where they belong and make your words clearer, not more confusing.