Dangling Modifiers

A modifier is considered dangling when it has been left hanging by an identifiable subject or noun. The end result is a modifier that is woven into the fabric of a sentence by an apprentice. This occurs when a subject being modified is not mentioned within the sentence. For example:

“When picking the right college or university, many options must be weighed.”

The modifier, “when picking the right college or university”, implies the noun will be a person. The actual subject “options” can not perform the action of “picking”. The modifier is considered dangling because the sentence does not contain a logical subject. The sentence should be revised as follows:

“When picking the right college or university, students should weigh their options.”

Dangling modifiers can be corrected by providing the modifier with a specific and appropriate subject, noun or pronoun. The logical word performing the modified action should be named in the modifier or in the remainder of the sentence somewhere in the subject.