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Does Your Sentence Have a Dangling Modifier?

Does your opener suggest an action without naming the actor? If no, you're good. If yes, Does the subject of your sentence identify the actor? If yes, you're good. If no, Revise it quick! Your sentence has a dangling modifier.

Examples

Sentence with dangling modifier Correct sentence
Having finished setting up the tables, the party started. Having finished setting up the tables, the seniors could finally start the party.
Without knowing the street address, it was impossible to find the party. Because the band didn’t know the street address, the party was impossible to find.
To improve his results, the placement test was taken again.  Jake improved his results by taking the placement test again.

 

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About Writing: A Guide Copyright © 2015 by Robin Jeffrey is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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