How to Write Great Essays

dangling participle
is a phrase or clause with a
verb ending in 
-ing
that does not refer to the subject of the sentence it modifies. Since it is
so critical that your reader understand your point easily and exactly, dangling modifiers (and
indeed any ambiguous language) must be avoided.
Incorrect:
While working on his English assignment, Tony’s computer crashed.
(Was the computer working on the assignment?)
Correct:
While Tony was working on his English assignment, his computer
crashed.
Note that correcting a dangling participle involves adding and/or rearranging the words
in a sentence to make the meaning clear.
Incorrect
: While practicing outside with the soccer team, the noisy construc-
tion job distracted Jim.
Correct:
While Jim was practicing outside with the soccer team, he was dis-
tracted by the noisy construction job.
OR
The noisy construction job distracted Jim while he was practicing outside with
the soccer team.

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HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
CHAPTER 4
Mechanics
44
A 
misplaced modifier
is a word or phrase that describes something, but is in the wrong
place in the sentence. It isn’t dangling; no extra words are needed; the modifier is just in the
wrong place. The danger of misplaced modifiers, as with dangling modifiers, is that they
confuse meaning.
Incorrect:
I had to have the cafeteria unlocked meeting with student govern-
ment this morning.
Did the cafeteria meet with student government? To say exactly what is meant, the mod-
ifying phrase “meeting with student government” should be moved to the beginning of the
sentence.
Correct:
Meeting with student government this morning, I had to have the
cafeteria unlocked.