How to Avoid Wrong Position of Words?

Writing – Avoid Wrong Position of Words

Modifier – A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes another part of a sentence.

Misplaced Modifier – A Modifier is wrongly positioned in a sentence in relation to the word, phrase, or clause it intends to modify. It is not placed close enough to the word it modifies.

Adverbs and Adjectives as Misplaced Modifiers

Examples:

Misplaced – She nearly rehearsed for four hours every day. (Adverb nearly modifier is positioned wrongly next to the verb. It intends to modify adjective four. Also, the meaning is vague. How rehearsal can be done nearly)

Correction– She rehearsed for nearly four hours every day.

Misplaced –On my way back, I found a gold man’s ring. (It means a gold man has a ring-vague)

Correction -On my way back, I found a man’s gold ring. (It means a man has a gold ring)

Misplaced – Just Liam was picked to host the event. (It means only Liam hosting the event, no one else)

Correction – Liam was just picked to host the event. (Liam was picked now to host the event)

Phrases as Misplaced Modifiers

Misplaced – Tired of late-night work, happy was Murphy when his boss gave him a day off.

Correction – Tired of late-night work, Murphy was happy when his boss gave him a day off.

(The phrase ‘Tired of late night work’ modifies the noun)

Misplaced – She served doughnuts to the kids on paper plates (It means kids are on paper plates-vague)

Correction – She served the kids doughnuts on paper plates (It means doughnuts

are on paper plates. Prepositional phrase ‘on paper plates’ modify correct noun ‘doughnuts’)

Misplaced – Li bought a cat for his sister called Mimi. (It means sister’s name is Mimi)

Correction – Li bought a cat called Mimi for his sister. (Phrase called me to be closer to the acat)

Clauses as Misplaced Modifiers

Misplaced – The waiter served a steak to the guest that was oily.

Correction – The waiter served a steak that was oily to the guest. (The clause ‘that was oily’ to modify the correct noun ‘steak’)