MISPLACED MODIFIERS
A misplaced modifier is a modifying word, phrase, or clause that does not point clearly and
directly to what it is supposed to modify. Recognize and correct the following kinds of
misplacement.
Misplaced Word:
He almost decided to eat half the pie for supper.
Revised:
He decided to eat almost half the pie for supper.
Note:
Other words of this type likely to be misplaced: even, hardly, just, merely,
only, scarcely.
Misplaced Phrase:
My girlfriend made it clear why we were breaking up on Tuesday.
Revised:
On Tuesday, my girlfriend made it clear why we were breaking up.
Misplaced Clause:
The paint job is not dry that they did yesterday.
Revised:
The paint job that they did yesterday is not dry.
A squinting modifier is a special type of misplacement referring both to what precedes and
what follows it.
Squinting Modifier:
To be complimented often pleases a performer.
Revised:
It often pleases a performer to be complimented.
or
It pleases a performer to be complimented often.