The (Mystical) Misplaced Modifiers Page:
You will recall that modifiers are words that describe.
Depending on what kind of word they describe we call them either an adjective or an adverb.
Because
when you use Standard English very often your job, grade, social
standing are on the line, you very much want to be clear.
If you're a little kid, on the other hand, you say something confusing, you are often thought cute.
You are not a little kid.
You are not cute when you confuse.
You are confusing.
Let's move the word "only" around:
Your only friend went fishing.
Only your friend went fishing.
Your friend only went fishing.
Yipe! Depending on what you intended, two of those sentences are incorrect, and one is correct.
Which is it???
If you are alert you probably saw that this is not just a Standard English issue.
Misplaced modifiers can happen in any dialect.
They will be just as confusing.
Notice how the emphasis changes in these two sentences:
We almost drank that entire keg.
We drank almost the entire keg.
Actually, now that I think about it, after the keg is gone, who cares?
Misplacing modifying clauses can get even crazier:
Harold who was wearing a chiffon gown was really attracted to that girl.
The mangrove tree shaded my car which was also a home to a nest of robins.
Misplaced modifiers are not always that silly, of course.
Usually they only confuse.
Usually only they confuse?
Insight!
The somewhat snotty "whatever!" that we have learned to mean something
like, "Don't bother me with details. You know what I mean!" has its
roots in folk becoming frustrated by misplaced modifiers.
Says one of your listeners, "Don't you mean it was the girl wearing the chiffon gown?"
And you burp back, "Whatever!"
It's a clever way to deny responsibility for the error by blaming the messenger, you sly dog, you.
Take a look at something you've written lately.
Notice where you have used modifiers.
Now fool around with them. Move the modifiers around to achieve various effects.
If
you don't have a piece of writing with you, use the text area below to
describe the computer you are using, and then play with the modifiers.
To return to Step Two, click here
