Dangling Modifiers

The dangling modifier is one of the most insidious and confusion-causing problems in the English
language. Dangling modifiers usually occur when a group of words (most often a verbal phrase)
is not clearly connected to the word it modifies. When the modifier occurs at the beginning of the
sentence, readers usually expect it to modify the subject of the sentence. When it doesn’t logically
do that, the modifier is said to dangle. A dangling modifier can change the intended meaning of
the sentence dramatically, which makes readers have to slow down in order to sort out the
meaning. The dangling modifier also sometimes creates strange images in readers’ minds.

For instance, in the sentence, “Stumbling down the road, the car almost ran the man down,” the
phrase stumbling down the road appears to refer to the subject of the sentence, car. But as good
readers, we know that doesn’t make sense: it isn’t logical. So we have to revise it mentally, which
slows us down considerably. And sometimes we just can’t figure out exactly what the writer was
trying to say.

Here’s another example:

Incorrect Ex: Having tested positive for marijuana, the police arrested the suspect.

[The sentence reads as though the police tested positive for marijuana.]

Revised Ex: The police arrested the suspect who tested positive for marijuana.

Revised Ex: Having tested positive for marijuana, the suspect was arrested.

So how do you know if you’ve written a dangling modifier? Well, first you have to ask yourself if
the modifying phrase suggests an action and, if it does, where the actor (the person or thing
performing the action) is. If there is an actor, you have no problem. If there is no actor in the
modifying phrase, can the subject of the sentence be the actor of the modifying phrase as well? If
it is, you have no problem. If it is not, then you have a dangling modifier.

For instance, in the preceding sentence, an action is suggested (testing positive for marijuana), but
there is no one within the modifying phrase who did the action, so we look to the subject of the
sentence to see if the subject there (police) could be the actor. But the police testing positive for
marijuana doesn’t seem logical, so we know we have a dangling modifier, and we need to fix the
sentence.

Once you’ve determined that you have a dangling modifier, how do you fix it?

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Basically, there are two ways to do it:

• Rewrite the modifying phrase so that its actor is contained within it. In other words,
you make the modifying phrase into a subordinate clause.

Incorrect Ex: Having entered the theater, the music seemed to overwhelm me.

[The sentence reads as though the music entered the theater.]

Revised Ex: As I entered the theater, the music overwhelmed me.

Revised Ex: The music overwhelmed me as I entered the theater.

In both revised examples, the relationship between the modifying clause and the noun it modifies
has been made clear.

• Or you can rewrite the main clause so that its subject is also the actor in the
modifying phrase.

Upon leaving the stadium, the lights began to flicker.

[The sentence reads as though the lights left the stadium.]

Revised Ex: Upon leaving the stadium, I noticed the lights were beginning to
flicker.

In this case the writer has fixed the dangling modifier by providing the sentence with a subject
that can act as the actor in the modifier as well: I did both things--left the stadium and noticed the
lights.

Practice Exercises 1

Correct the following sentences by using the rules discussed above. Possible answers appear on
the last page of this handout.

1. Maintaining a daily exercise program, my weight seemed to decrease faster than usual.

2. To eliminate the errors, the paper needs to be rewritten.

3. While studying for my college exam, my daughter interrupted me and wanted to play

dolls.

4. Drawing quite a crowd, the auditorium was packed with Garth Brooks fans.

5. Running around the block, the sidewalk seemed slicker than usual.

6. While changing the baby's diaper, the powder fell on the floor.

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7. Even as an athlete who has competed in the 5k run, the dog was able to run faster than

me.

8. Carrying the groceries to the car, my foot got stuck in a pot hole.

9. Taking the chance that she might win, the lottery ticket seemed a small price to pay.

10. Having recognized the mistake, the problem seemed much easier to fix.

11. As a traveling businessman, my mom didn't get to see my dad very often.

12. While learning how to ride a bike, my knees got skinned up quite a bit.

13. Carrying the clubs for the golfers, the tees got lost by the caddy.

14. Removing the tag from the pillow, the pillowcase seemed to fit better.

15. Upon sitting down at the bar, the beer was waiting for us.

16. After removing the old songs from the jukebox, the music seemed to get better.

17. To end the trial, the documents were signed.

18. In sending the flowers to that address, the wrong house received the delivery.

19. Sparkling with flames, the water was used to extinguish the fire.

20. As a member of the school board, children are my dad's favorite topic.

21. Coloring the pages with neon crayons, the pictures seemed to come alive on the paper.

22. Removing her hat before entering the church, the priest nodded for her to sit on the third

row.

23. Explaining the format for completing the form, the document shouldn't take too long to

fill out.

24. As a manager of a major league baseball team, my six-year-old daughter would like to

see one of our games.

25. To score a hole in one, the golf club must be just right.

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Practice Exercise 1 Answers

The following revisions are just some of the options for eliminating the dangling modifiers in
each sentence. If you have different options you’re not sure of, ask a tutor to go over them with
you.

1. My weight seemed to decrease faster than usual as I maintained a daily exercise program.
or While I maintained a daily exercise program, I seemed to lose weight faster than usual.
2. I need to rewrite the paper to eliminate the errors. or To eliminate errors, I need to
rewrite the paper.
3. While I studied for my college exam, my daughter interrupted me and wanted to play
dolls.
4. Garth Brooks fans packed the auditorium as the show drew quite a crowd.
or Drawing quite a crowd, Garth Brooks packed the auditorium.
5. The sidewalk seemed slicker than usual as I ran around the block.
6. While I was changing the baby’s diaper, the powder fell on the floor.
7. The dog was able to run faster than I, an athlete who has competed in the 5k run.
or Even as an athlete who has competed in the 5k run, I was not able to run as fast as the
dog.
8. As I carried the groceries to the car, my foot got stuck in a pothole.
9. The price of the lottery ticket seemed a small price to pay considering she might win.
10. The problem seemed much easier to fix after Sally recognized the mistake. or
After she recognized the mistake, Sally found it much easier to fix the problem.
11. My mom didn’t get to see my dad, who is a traveling businessman, very often.
or Because my dad is a traveling businessman, my mom doesn’t get to see him very
often.
12. My knees got skinned up quite a bit while I was learning how to ride a bike. or While I
was learning how to ride a bike, I skinned my knees up quite a bit.
13. The caddy, who carried the clubs for the golfers, lost the tees. or While carrying the clubs
for the golfers, the caddy lost the tees.
14. After Beverly removed the tag from the pillow, the pillowcase seemed to fit better.
15. The beer was already on the bar as we sat down. or Upon sitting down at the bar, we
noticed the beer was waiting for us.
16. The music seemed to get better after we removed the old songs from the jukebox.
17. The judge signed the documents to end the trial.
18. The wrong house received the delivery after Kyle sent the flowers to the wrong address.
19. As the house sparkled with flames, the firemen used the water to extinguish the fire.
20. As a member of the school board, my dad’s favorite topic is children. or
Because he is a member of the school board, my dad’s favorite topic is children.
21. Coloring the pages with neon crayons, Brealyn made the pictures come alive on the
paper. or As she colored the pages with neon crayons, Brealyn made the pictures come
alive on the paper.
22. After Cyndi removed her hat before the entering the church, the priest nodded for her to
sit on the third row.
23. Once Jimmy explains the format for completing the form, the document shouldn’t take
long to fill out.
24. My daughter would like to see one of my major league baseball games since I am the
team’s manager.
25. In order to score a hole in one, Sara’s golf club must be just right.

Copyright 2003 by the Academic Center and the University of Houston-Victoria.

Revised 2005 by Sandra Heinold.

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