Misplaced Modifiers 

Misplaced modifiers are words or phrases that are not properly positioned in relation to the word they are meant to modify, leading to confusion or ambiguity. When a modifier is misplaced, it may unintentionally modify the wrong word or create unclear or awkward sentences. Correcting misplaced modifiers is important for maintaining clarity and precision in writing.

Examples of Misplaced Modifiers:

Incorrect:

• • I found a $20 bill walking to the store.

  • Explanation: The phrase "walking to the store" seems to modify the $20 bill, suggesting that the bill was walking to the store.

Corrected:

• • Walking to the store, I found a $20 bill.

  • Explanation: By repositioning the modifier "walking to the store" to directly precede the subject "I," the sentence now correctly indicates that the action of finding the $20 bill occurred while walking to the store.

Incorrect:

• • He almost ate the entire pizza in one sitting that was leftover from yesterday.

  • Explanation: The phrase "that was leftover from yesterday" should modify "pizza," but it seems to modify "one sitting."

Corrected:

• • He almost ate the entire pizza that was leftover from yesterday in one sitting.

  • Explanation: By placing the modifier "that was leftover from yesterday" immediately after the noun it modifies ("pizza"), the sentence now clarifies that the pizza, not the sitting, was leftover from yesterday.