Grammar Tip: Dangling Modifiers

The term may sound a bit unusual, but a dangling modifier is simply a word or phrase that modifies the wrong subject in a sentence. This mismatch occurs because the implied subject is missing. The phrase is therefore “left dangling” (hanging loosely).

The resulting sentence can be unclear and may even be unintentionally humorous.

This grammar tip describes dangling modifiers and offers tips on how to find them—before your readers do!

Examples

Most dangling modifiers are verbal phrases. Verbals, as the name suggests, originate from verbs and have three forms: participles (verbs used as adjectives), gerunds (verbs used as nouns), and infinitives (verbs used as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs).

But don't worry—you do not need to know these terms to analyze the following examples.

Each example is accompanied by at least one corrected sentence that shows the true grammatical subject and the implied subject. Dangling modifiers can typically be corrected in many ways.

Dangling Participles (end in “ing” or “ed”)

Example
Using the survey data, the effects of education on job satisfaction were examined.

(Who is using the data? Implied subject = we/researchers; grammatical subject = the effects)

Correction
Using the survey data, the researchers examined the effects of education on job satisfaction.

Example
Based on the results, we concluded that the drugs are equally effective.

(What is based on the results? Implied subject = conclusion; grammatical subject = we)

Correction 1
On the basis of the results, we concluded that the drugs are equally effective.

Correction 2
We concluded from the results that the drugs are equally effective.

Correction 3
Based on the results, our conclusion is that the drugs are equally effective.

Dangling Gerunds (end in “ing”)

Example
After preparing the samples, our focus was on collecting the data.

(Who did the preparing? Implied subject = we/ researchers; grammatical subject = our focus)

Correction
After preparing the samples, we focused on collecting the data.

Dangling Infinitives (include the word “to”)

Example
To investigate the relationship, a series of experiments were designed.

(Who is going to investigate? Implied subject = we/researchers; grammatical subject = a series)

Correction
We designed a series of experiments to investigate the relationship.

Quick Tips

1. Be on the alert for dangling modifiers at the beginning of sentences.
2. Ask who or what is doing the action and make sure the implied subject is doing it.
3. Write in the active voice whenever possible. The passive voice "encourages" dangling modifiers to appear.

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