5.8 Misplaced modifiers

Question 1

Misplaced modifiers

Answer 1

are phrases too far away from whatever they are supposed to modify. Be especially careful of adverbs and phrases referring to time.

Question 2

The senate judiciary committee will confront the administration over the practice of targeted killings at a hearing on Tuesday. Whats the problem with this sentence

Answer 2

it sounds like the targeted killings happened at a hearing on Tuesday.

Question 3

Dangler

Answer 3

a type of misplaced modifier. It dangles because it can’t hook on to anything in the sentence.
ex. Having finished dessert, the waitstaff cleared the plates away.
who finished the dessert? The diners who were not mentioned.

Question 4

To spot and fix misplaced modifiers

Answer 4

carefully check the lead-ins and time phrases to make sure they’re next to whatever they’re modifying.