Sentence Snarls: Misplaced Modifiers

Sentence Snarls: Misplaced Modifiers

Keep words, phrases, and clauses that provide adjectival or adverbial information next to the sentence element that they modify. That is, avoid misplaced modifiers.

Take care with words such as only.

Place a word such as only, even, just, nearly, merely, or simply immediately before the word it modifies.

	Faulty	She only likes Tom.
	Revised	She likes only Tom. [Tom is the only one she likes.]

The meaning of a sentence can change significantly as the position of only changes, so careful placement is important.

Examples

Only the journalist began to investigate the burglary.

The journalist only began to investigate the burglary.

The journalist began to investigate only the burglary.

Place a phrase or clause close to the word it modifies.

	Faulty	They sent a present to their mother wrapped in silver paper. [This sentence gives the impression that the mother was wrapped in silver paper.]
	Revised	They sent their mother a present wrapped in silver paper. They sent a present wrapped in silver paper to their mother.

Avoid splitting an infinitive — unless you have a good reason to do so.

You split an infinitive when you place a word or phrase between to and the verb. Such splitting is likely to irritate readers, especially when a clumsy sentence is the result.

Example

We want to sincerely and honestly inform you of our plans for expansion.
[split infinitive = to sincerely and honestly inform]

The unsplit form is grammatically safer, but it might at times introduce ambiguity.

	Faulty	Teachers are advised occasionally to hold conferences. Teachers are advised to hold conferences occasionally. [Are teachers advised occasionally? Or should the conferences be held occasionally?]
	Revised	Teachers are advised to occasionally hold conferences. [Now it is clear that the conferences should be held once in a while.]

You can justify splitting an infinitive when doing so makes your sentence less awkward or less ambiguous. Otherwise, use the unsplit form. You may also consider recasting the sentence.

Revised

Teachers are advised that they should hold occasional conferences.