Pay Attention to Modification

Modifiers should be placed as close as possible to what they modify. In English, the position of the word within a sentence often establishes the word's relationship to other words in the sentence. If a modifier is placed too far from the word it modifies, the meaning may be lost or obscured. Notice, in the following sentences, the ambiguity that results when the modifying phrases are misplaced in the sentence.

• UNCLEAR: Gray and Martha sat talking about the problem in the office.
• CLEAR: Gray and Martha sat in the office talking about the problem.

• UNCLEAR: They wondered how much the house was really worth when they bought it.
• CLEAR: When they bought the house, they wondered how much it was really worth.

In addition to misplaced modifiers, watch for dangling modifiers: modifiers whose intended referents are not even present.

• INCORRECT: Coming out of context, Peter was startled by Julia's perceptiveness.
• CORRECT: Julia's remark, coming out of context, startled Peter with its perceptiveness.