Dangling modifiers: what are they and how to fix them

Do you sometimes write a sentence that may sound fine in your head, but when you read it back, it sounds strange or even funny? If so, you might have been caught out by what is called a dangling modifier. This is quite a common mistake, and it can make the meaning of your sentence awkward or unclear.

In this article, I'll show you how to spot these little offenders and how to fix them.

What is a dangling modifier?

A modifier is a word or phrase that adds detail to a sentence, such as saying how, why or when something happens.

A dangling modifier happens when that word or phrase doesn't match the subject it's meant to describe. In other words, you say that someone or something did something, but it wasn't actually that person or thing.

Here's an example.

Incorrect:

After writing the book, the publisher accepted it.

This sentence reads as if the publisher wrote the book, which is probably not what the author meant.

Corrected:

After I wrote the book, the publisher accepted it.

Now it's clear who wrote the book!

Why does this matter?

Dangling modifiers can:

• Confuse your readers

• Distract from your story

• Make your writing feel awkward or unclear

Sometimes, they are really funny, but not in a good way for your story!

Incorrect:

Wearing a pink sweater, the dog jumped into the lady's arms.

So, the dog is wearing a pink sweater?

Corrected:

Wearing a pink sweater, the lady caught the dog in her arms.

Now it's clear the lady is wearing the pink sweater – not the dog.

How do you spot dangling modifiers in your story?

Look out for sentences that:

• Start with a phrase like ‘While walking…’ or ‘After finishing…’

• Don't say clearly who is doing the action

• Appear to say that the wrong person or object is doing something

TIP: Read the sentence out loud. If it doesn't sound right, it probably isn't!

How do you fix them?

There are two simple ways to fix dangling modifiers:

1. Add the right subject

   Make sure the sentence tells the readers who is doing the action.

   
   

   Dancing wildly at the wedding, the cake flew off the table. (This sounds like the cake was dancing wildly!)

   While I was dancing wildly at the wedding, the cake flew off the table.

   
   

2. Reword the sentence

   Chasing her tail, Lorna laughed at the dog. (So, I'm chasing my tail!)

   Lorna laughed at the dog, which was chasing its tail.

Final thoughts

Dangling modifiers may seem like small issues, but they can cause a lot of trouble. Thankfully, with a little, careful attention, they can be fixed quite easily.

Need help catching issues like these in your manuscript?

I specialise in proofreading for authors – fiction and business non-fiction – and I'd love to help you polish your manuscript, ready for publication. Contact me here or learn more about my services.