Introduction: Connecting Your Learning

Don’t let bad sentences like the following one happen to you.

"Weighing hundreds of pounds, network technicians sometimes transport huge rolls of cable." Confused? What weighs hundreds of pounds: the technicians or the cable?

Bad sentences create confusion, and confusion limits understanding. The reality is that bad sentences don't just happen. Writers create them. In this lesson, you will learn how to identify misplaced and dangling modifiers so that you can write clear and effective sentences.

Readings, Resources, and Assignments
Required Readings	Read the following before starting the lesson: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Modifiers Dangling Modifiers
Multimedia Resources	Finding and Fixing Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers PowerPoint Presentation with Handout
Required Assignments	Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

Focusing Your Learning

Key Terms

Modifier

Misplaced modifier

Dangling modifier

Presentation

A modifier is a word or group of words that describe other words in a sentence. Modifiers make writing exciting. Consider this sentence. "The computer froze." BORING, right? Consider this next sentence. "My new computer has a lot of social media applications and programs that allow me to communicate with my family and closest friends." Modifiers also provide accuracy to your writing

Read the following resources to learn specifics about modifiers and how to correct dangling modifiers which can make your writing confusing to the reader. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Modifiers Dangling Modifiers

Watch the video on Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers to learn how to recognize this common writing error.

Watch the Finding and Fixing Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers video to learn tips on how to identify and correct misplaced and dangling modifiers.

See if you can spot a misplaced or dangling modifier. Complete the following interactive exercises. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Sentence Variety and Modifier Placement

Summarizing Your Learning

Identifying and correcting misplaced and dangling modifiers is important and will help you create well-written sentences. Misplaced and dangling modifiers can confuse your readers; they can also be quite funny.

"One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas, I don't know."

- Goucho Marx as Captain Jeffrey T. Spaulding in the 1930 film, Animal Crackers

Assessing Your Learning

Now it is time to show what you have learned. Complete the assignment below.

1. Grammar: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

Additional Attributions