A misplaced modifier sits next to the wrong word. A dangling modifier has no right word at all. An opening phrase describes the subject that comes right after its comma. If that subject can’t do what the phrase says, the modifier dangles.
Strunk’s rule 7 (1918) puts it this way: “A participial phrase at the beginning of a sentence must refer to the grammatical subject.” One of his examples: “Young and inexperienced, the task seemed easy to me” becomes “Young and inexperienced, I thought the task easy.”
- Make the doer the subject: “Walking home, I saw a fox.”
- Give the phrase its own subject: “As I was walking home, a fox appeared.”
Key idea
Why it works
Worked example: After finishing
- Who finished the test? Not the bell.
- Give the phrase a subject, or make the doer the subject.
Answer: After we finished the test, the bell rang. (or: After finishing the test, we heard the bell.)
Worked example: An infinitive phrase
- Who wants to win? Practice can’t.
- Name the person who will practice.
Answer: To win the race, you need practice.
Common mistake