Misplaced modifiers result from failure to make clear what is being modified, resulting in ambiguous or awkward construction.
bad
The patient was referred to a specialist with a severe bipolar disorder.
good
The patient with a severe bipolar disorder was referred to a specialist.
Use of "only" as a modifier can be particularly challenging. It must be placed immediately before the word it modifies for the meaning to be clear and accurate. Always query the author if you are not sure of the intended meaning. Compare the following:
Only medication can ease the pain.
Medication can only ease the pain.
Medication can ease only the pain.
Dangling modifiers usually involve the use of a participle or gerund. Dangling participle implies an actor but does not specify who/what it is.
bad
Reviewing the available data, the cause of the accident was mechanical.
good
After the data were reviewed, it was established that the cause of the accident was mechanical.
Reviewing the data led to the judgment that the cause of the accident was mechanical.
A dangling participle that is frequently seen in scientific writing is "based".
bad
Based on the evidence, the accident was caused by a mechanical failure.
good
The decision, based on evidence, was that the accident was caused by a mechanical failure.
A dangling gerund also implies an actor without specifying who/what it is. A noun used instead of a gerund is frequently a good solution.
bad
Dietary therapy slows the return of hypertension after stopping long-term medical therapy.
good
After cessation of long-term medical therapy, dietary therapy slows the return of hypertension.
last edited 07/30/03