dangling modifier

A modifier that implies a doer the sentence does not name as its subject.

A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause, most often at the start of a sentence, that implies who or what performs an action but does not have that doer as the subject of the main clause. Readers attach an opening modifier to the subject that follows it. When that subject is not the doer, the sentence assigns the action to the wrong person or thing: Unpacking the boxes, a cracked mirror was found says the mirror did the unpacking. When the wrong reading is absurd, the reader stops and the writer looks careless. When the wrong reading is plausible, the reader is misled: As a new employee, the manager explained the benefits to Laura says that the manager, not Laura, is new.

Any modifier that implies a doer can dangle. A participial phrase can (Rushing for the platform, the doors closed on Marcus), and so can an infinitive phrase (To renew a passport, two photos are required), a prepositional phrase built on a gerund (After signing the lease, the keys were handed over), and an elliptical clause, which leaves out its subject and verb (While on vacation in Maine, the basement flooded). A modifier at the end of a sentence can dangle as well: The concert sold out in minutes despite refreshing the page constantly.

A passive main clause often removes the doer from the sentence. The opening phrase then has no subject that can perform the action: To renew a passport, two photos are required. A possessive can do the same: Hurrying to the gate, Ana’s suitcase split open.

Correct a dangling modifier in one of two ways.

Make the doer the subject of the main clause: Unpacking the boxes, we found a cracked mirror.

Give the modifier its own subject and verb: While we were on vacation in Maine, the basement flooded.

Moving a dangling modifier does not correct it, because the sentence still lacks the doer. That separates a dangling modifier from a misplaced modifier, which has the right word in the sentence but stands away from it.

Some words ending in -ing or -ed now serve as prepositions or sentence adverbs and imply no doer, so they do not dangle. These include considering, given, including, regarding, assuming, judging by, and generally speaking: Considering the traffic, the trip went quickly. An absolute phrase does not dangle either, because it carries its own subject: The paperwork signed, the closing took ten minutes.

Examples

Use Scanning the guest list, Maria spotted her cousin. (The participial phrase describes Maria, the subject.)

Use To reserve a campsite, visitors must call before noon. (The infinitive phrase describes visitors, the subject.)

Avoid To qualify for the rebate, the receipt must be mailed by June 1. (To qualify for the rebate is the error: the passive clause makes the receipt the one that qualifies. Write To qualify for the rebate, mail the receipt by June 1.)

Avoid Recovering from knee surgery, Rachel’s daily walks grew longer each week. (Recovering from knee surgery is the error: the subject is walks, not Rachel, and walks do not recover. Write Recovering from knee surgery, Rachel lengthened her daily walks each week.)

Avoid After proofreading the contract twice, a typo remained in the opening paragraph. (After proofreading the contract twice is the error: it attaches to a typo, which proofread nothing. Write After proofreading the contract twice, Mr. Ruiz still missed a typo in the opening paragraph.)

Avoid Though only a sophomore, the coach chose Chris as captain. (Though only a sophomore is the error: the elliptical clause attaches to the coach, not Chris. Write Though Chris was only a sophomore, the coach chose him as captain.)