Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers

Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers Group 3 Tessa Pierce, Tailyr Mack, Diana Perez, Thomas McCullough

Modifiers • Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that refer to other elements in the sentence (referents). • The location of the modifier determines the meaning of the sentence. • To eliminate ambiguity, make sure your modifiers are “pinned” next to the words which they refer.

Misplaced Modifiers • Misplaced modifiers occur when the writer has incorrectly placed the modifier • Misplaced Modifiers change the meaning of the sentence.

Misplaced Modifiers Alex almost spent $500 on a new jacket. $495 Alex spent almost $500 on a new jacket.

Misplaced Modifiers Dead and rotting, the investigator examined the body. The investigator examined the dead and rotting body.

Misplaced Modifiers Chubby and overweight, the veterinarian says my dog needs a new diet. The veterinarian says my chubby and overweight dog needs a new diet.

Misplaced Modifiers Scheduled at 2 pm, my doctors appointment is on Friday My doctors appointment is scheduled for 2 pm on Friday.

Dangling Modifiers • Dangling modifiers occur when the modifier does not have the correct referent in the sentence. • You can also create dangling modifiers when switching from the indicative mood (a statement of fact) to the imperative mood (a command or request).

Dangling Modifiers My dog ran around while doing my math homework. My dog ran around while I did my math homework.

Dangling Modifiers While running a marathon, the sneakers wore out. While Frank was running in a marathon, he wore his sneakers out.

Dangling Modifiers The pencil broke while writing an essay. My pencil broke while I was writing an essay.

Dangling Modifiers Having been dragged around for minutes, the cat caught the string. The cat caught the string after it had been dragged around for minutes.

Paragraph Some potential threats exist in the modern mass communications media, though there are many significant advantages. If a powerful minority should happen to control it, public opinion could be manipulated through biased reporting. And while a wide knowledge of public affairs is a great advantage that results from national coverage, divisiveness and factionalism can be accentuated by connecting otherwise isolated, local conflicts into a single larger conflict as a result of showing that conflicts about the same issues are occurring in different places. It will always be true, of course, that human nature produces differences of opinion, but the threat of faction and division may be reinforced when national coverage publicizes uninformed opinions. According to some, education can suppress faction when the true nature of conflicts reaches the public through the media, but history has shown that as much coverage is given to people who encourage conflict as to people who try to remove conflict

Paragraph (1)Some potential threats exist in the modern mass communications media, though there are many significant advantages. (2) If a powerful minority should happen to control it, public opinion could be manipulated through biased reporting. (3) And while a wide knowledge of public affairs is a great advantage that results from national coverage, divisiveness and factionalism can be accentuated by connecting otherwise isolated, local conflicts into a single larger conflict as a result of showing that conflicts about the same issues are occurring in different places. (4) It will always be true, of course, that human nature produces differences of opinion, but the threat of faction and division may be reinforced when national coverage publicizes uninformed opinions. (5) According to some, education can suppress faction when the true nature of conflicts reaches the public through the media, but history has shown that as much coverage is given to people who encourage conflict as to people who try to remove conflict

Paragraph (1) • Some potential threats exist in the modern mass communications media, though there are many significant advantages • Media today has many advantages in communicating events to the masses, however it still poses potential threats.

Paragraph (2) • If a powerful minority should happen to control it, public opinion could be manipulated through biased reporting. • A powerful minority controlling the media could manipulate public opinion through biased reporting.

Paragraph (3) • Andwhile a wide knowledge of public affairs is a great advantage that results from national coverage, divisiveness and factionalism can be accentuated by connecting otherwise isolated, local conflicts into a single larger conflict as a result of showing that conflicts about the same issues are occurring in different places. • A wide knowledge of public affairs is a great advantage that results from national coverage. • National coverage accentuates divisiveness and factionalism by connecting isolated, local conflicts into a single larger conflict.

Paragraph (4) • It will always be true, of course, that human nature produces differences of opinion, but the threat of faction and division may be reinforced when national coverage publicizes uninformed opinions. • When uninformed opinions are publicized by national coverage, faction and division that already exists in human nature is reinforced.

Paragraph (5) • According to some, education can suppress faction when the true nature of conflicts reaches the public through the media, but history has shown that as much coverage is given to people who encourage conflict as to people who try to remove conflict. • Researchers believe that education can suppress faction when the media shows the public the true nature of conflict, but history has shown that as much coverage is given to people who encourage conflict as to people who try to remove it.

Paragraph 1.Media today has many advantages in communicating events to the masses, however it still poses potential threats. 2.A powerful minority controlling the media could manipulate public opinion through biased reporting. 3.1A wide knowledge of public affairs is a great advantage that results from national coverage. 3.2 National coverage accentuates divisiveness and factionalism by connecting isolated, local conflicts into a single larger conflict. 4. When uninformed opinions are publicized by national coverage, faction and division that already exists in human nature is reinforced. 5.Researchers believe that education can suppress faction when the media shows the public the true nature of conflict, but history has shown that as much coverage is given to people who encourage conflict as to people who try to remove it.

Paragraph 1.Media today has many advantages in communicating events to the masses, however it still poses potential threats. 3.1A wide knowledge of public affairs is a great advantage that results from national coverage. 2. A powerful minority controlling the media could manipulate public opinion through biased reporting. 4.When uninformed opinions are publicized by national coverage, faction and division that already exists in human nature is reinforced. 3.2 National coverage accentuates divisiveness and factionalism by connecting isolated, local conflicts into a single larger conflict. 5. Researchers believe that education can suppress faction when the media shows the public the true nature of conflict, but history has shown that as much coverage is given to people who encourage conflict as to people who try to remove it.

Paragraph Media today has many advantages in communicating events to the masses, however it still poses potential threats. A wide knowledge of public affairs is a great advantage that results from national coverage, yet a powerful minority controlling the media could manipulate public opinion through biased reporting. When uninformed opinions are publicized by national coverage, faction and division that already exists in human nature is reinforced. National coverage accentuates divisiveness and factionalism by connecting isolated, local conflicts into a single larger conflict. Researchers believe that education can suppress faction when the media shows the public the true nature of conflict, but history has shown that as much coverage is given to people who encourage conflict as to people who try to remove it.

Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers