The Dangling Modifier

Dangling modifiers are a common issue when it comes to writing papers as students often try to cram too much information the space they are provided.

A dangling modifier occurs when the introductory phrase of a sentence describes the subject of a sentence in a way that is senseless or illogical. This usually occurs when the writer intends to modify another object or idea within the sentence.

Here is an example:

• Published in 1845, Poe gained a larger audience.

The subject of this sentence is Edgar Allan Poe, a famous American writer, but the modifier of this sentence, "Published in 1845", obviously refers to an item that can be published, such as a book, a story, a poem, or an article. A man can not be published, but his work can. To fix this issue, we would rewrite the sentence as follows.

• Published in 1845, "The Raven" is responsible for gaining a larger audience for Poe.

Here the modifier makes sense, as "The Raven" was a poem by Poe that was published.

Errors such as these are common and can mean the difference between a successful paper and a paper that leaves something to be desired.