misplaced modifier
A modifier placed so that it attaches to the wrong word.
A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that sits beside the wrong word, so the reader attaches it there. English shows what a modifier describes chiefly by where it stands. A misplaced modifier therefore still yields a grammatical sentence; that sentence simply says something the writer did not mean. When the wrong reading is absurd, the reader stops and the writer looks careless. When the wrong reading is plausible, the reader is misled and never knows it.
Each kind of modifier attaches by its own pattern. A limiting adverb such as only, just, almost, nearly, even, or merely limits the word or phrase directly after it. Compare Even the interns signed the petition (the interns, along with everyone else) with The interns even signed the petition (signing went beyond everything else they did). A phrase or clause that describes a noun attaches to the nearest noun it can describe: in the aide to the senator who resigned, the reader takes the senator to be the one who resigned. A participial phrase at the end of a sentence attaches to the noun just before it: in We passed a runner climbing the hill, the runner, not we, is the one climbing.
In standard English, put only directly before the word or phrase it limits: She speaks only Portuguese at home. Placing only before the verb is not an error when the sentence cannot be misread. When it can, move only to the word it limits. Only belongs before the verb when the verb is what it limits: The fabric only fades; it does not shrink.
To correct a misplaced modifier, move it beside the word it describes, and recast the sentence when the move makes it awkward. A misplaced modifier has a word to attach to but stands in the wrong place. A dangling modifier has no such word in the sentence, and a squinting modifier sits between two words and could attach to either.
See also dangling modifier; squinting modifier.
Examples
Use The refund covers only the unused nights. (Only stands before the unused nights, the phrase it limits.)
Use Wrapped in plastic, the sofa cushions survived the move. (The participial phrase modifies cushions.)
Avoid The pharmacy only fills prescriptions on weekdays. (Only before fills is the error: the sentence can mean either that filling prescriptions is the only service offered on weekdays, or that weekdays are the only days prescriptions are filled. Write The pharmacy fills prescriptions only on weekdays.)
Avoid The printer nearly jammed on every page of the report. (Nearly before jammed is the error: it says the printer came close to jamming but never did. Write The printer jammed on nearly every page of the report.)
Avoid She sold a bicycle to a coworker in poor condition. (In poor condition after coworker is the error: it describes the coworker, not the bicycle. Write She sold a bicycle in poor condition to a coworker.)
Avoid The technician repaired the engine wearing gloves. (Wearing gloves after engine is the error: it describes the engine, not the technician. Write Wearing gloves, the technician repaired the engine.)