Dangling Modifiers
A dangling modifier is a describing word, phrase, or clause that does not
connect to or describe a noun or verb in the sentence.
Example: While a boy, my grandfather taught me how to fish.
The phrase "while a boy" should describe the speaker ("me") or the
action of teaching, but it
seems to describe the grandfather (who as a boy couldn't teach his
grandson how to fish). To fix a dangling modifier, you will probably
have to add words and/or rearrange the word order ("When I was a boy,
my grandfather taught me how to fish").
Return to Table of Errors