Booher's Rules of Business Grammar - Dianna Booher 2009

Misplaced modifiers that mystify
Modifier mishaps

No sooner have you learned new software than here comes Release 2.0. Master that, and then here comes Release 3.0. Software gets upgraded. Houses get remodeled. People gain or lose weight, have plastic surgery, and build or lose muscle mass.

Likewise, sentences may start out simple. But then their meanings become modified by added words.

Rufus walked toward the lake.

Rufus walked slowly toward the lake.

Rufus walked very slowly toward the lake.

Alone, Rufus walked very slowly toward the lake.

Alone and dejected, Rufus walked very slowly toward the lake.

Alone and dejected, Rufus walked very slowly toward the lake that rippled gently against the muddy bank.

Alone and dejected—as if he’d lost his best friend—Rufus walked very slowly toward the lake that rippled gently against the muddy bank.

A modifier is the term we give to words, phrases, or clauses that “attach to” or describe something, changing (expanding or limiting) its meaning. But as with software modifications, sometimes the modifiers added to sentences cause problems—as explained in the following chapters.

30. Misplaced modifiers that mystify

PUTTING THEM IN THEIR PLACE

When modifiers land in the spot closest to what they describe, the sentence informs and clarifies. When modifiers land out of place, the sentence can confuse or amuse readers.

Incorrect:

At the age of 100, Kilpatrick has been begging his dad to give up driving the car. (This situation has to be a public safety hazard. If Kilpatrick is 100, his dad certainly has to be approaching 120, with failing eyesight and slow reflexes.)

Correct:

Kilpatrick has been begging his dad, at the age of 100, to give up driving his car.

Incorrect:

Injected directly into the lips, the doctor can strengthen the facial muscles with this medication. (The doctor was injected into the lips? A close bedside manner, don’t you think?)

Correct:

Injected directly into the lips, this medication can strengthen the facial muscles.

Incorrect:

Mislabeled and misfiled, the executives had not read the report. (Were the executives mislabeled and misfiled?)

Correct:

The executives had not read the mislabeled and misfiled report.

Incorrect:

Harrison attended the meeting, where he planned to announce the merger with misgivings. (Did the merger have misgivings?)

Correct:

With misgivings, Harrison attended the meeting, where he planned to announce the merger.

Misplaced adverbs are common culprits. They get dropped in before the verb when they should go after it—or after when they should go before it. Moving one word around can make a big difference. The single-word adverb modifiers most frequently misplaced are these: almost, only, definitely, often, and completely.

Trixy only leased this car for her company’s sales team. (She only leased the car—she didn’t buy it.)

Trixy leased only this car for her company’s sales team. (She leased only one car.)

Trixy leased this car only for her company’s sales team. (Only the sales team can use it.)

Trixy leased this car for her only company’s sales team. (She has only one company.)

Trixy leased this car for her company’s only sales team. (That sales team had better be good.)

My point: slide the adverb around, and double-check your meaning. Example: “This suit only costs $638 today?” Or, “This suit costs only $638 today?”

Memory tip

Modifiers can mystify. Remember to put them in their place!