Grammar, Punctuation and Capitalization - Handbook for Technical ...

Chapter 1. Grammar Page 24What appears to be a dangling participle is left when the preposition by is dropped from an adverbial gerundphrase. These "adverbial participles" may appear after the verb or at the beginning of the sentence:Adverb. partic.Gerund phraseAdverb. partic.Gerund phraseAdverb. partic.Gerund phraseThe logarithmic derivative is obtained using this leastsquares representation.The logarithmic derivative is obtained by using this leastsquares representation.Neglecting the dependence of n on Reynolds number, theresults of figure 11 can be used to estimate n.By neglecting the dependence of n on Reynolds number,the results of figure 11 can be used to estimate n.Substituting equation (34) instead of equation (14), theterms for the fluctuating modes can be rewritten.By substituting equation (34) instead of equation (14), theterms for the fluctuating modes can be rewritten.Restoring by to these phrases adds very little to the above sentences. The participles in these sentences clearlymodify the verbs; thus their meaning is clear. But participles are, by definition, adjectives, so that adverbialparticiples are not grammatical. Also there are methods of revising adverbial participles other than restoring theirby. In the following sentences, stronger constructions replace the participial phrases:Prep. phrasePrep. phraseGerund subjectThe logarithmic derivative is obtained from this leastsquares representation.With the dependence of n on Reynolds number neglected,the results of figure 11 can be used to estimate n.Substituting equation (34) instead of equation (15) allowsthe terms for the fluctuating modes to be rewritten.Dangling participlesWhen a participle genuinely appears to modify the wrong noun, truly dangling and thus much more offensive:Dang. partic.BetterDang. partic.BetterDang. partic.BetterUsing a nonaligning pitot probe, the swirl cormponentprecludes exact measurement of total velocity.When a nonaligning pitot tube is used, the swirl componentprecludes exact measurement of total velocity.The shock is essentially normal near the body, producingsubsonic flow.Near the body is an essentially normal shock producingsubsonic flow.Encouraged by these results, a new research effort wasbegun.Encouraged by these results, we began a new researcheffort.Recommendations