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2. Misplaced Phrase ModifiersCONFUSED:To plant tomatoes, if was a good growing year.CLEAR:It was a good growing year to plant tomatoes.CONFUSED:Like a sleek projectile, the passengers saw the newtrain approach the station.CLEAR:The passengers saw the new train approach thestation like a sleek projectile.3. Misplaced Clause ModifiersCONFUSED:He packed all of his books and documents into hisvan, which he was donating to the library.CLEAR:He packed all of his books and documents, whichhe was donating to the library, into his van.CONFUSED:The new series of seminars will focus on how toprevent inflation, which will benefit us all.CLEAR;The new series of seminars, which will benefit usail, will focus on how to prevent inflation.12E Dangling constructionsA dangling modifier literally hangs in the air; there is nological word in the sentence for it to modify. Frequentlyit is placed close to the wrong noun or verb, causing thesentence to sound ridiculous: Driving through the park,several chipmunks could be seen.1. Dangling ParticiplesA participle is a form of the verb that is used as an adjective.Unless there is a logical word for it to modify, theparticipial phrase will dangle, modifying either thewrong noun or none at all.INCORRECT:Having run out of gas, John was late for dinner.REVISED:Because the car ran out of gas, John was iate fordinner.INCORRECT:Standing outside for a quick smoke, deer werespotted.REVISED:Standing outside for a quick smoke, we spottedseveral deer.2. Dangling GerundsA gerund is the -ing form of a verb serving as a noun(Smoking is bad for our health). When a gerund is usedas the object of a preposition ("by hiding" "after escaping,""upon realizing"), the phrase can dangle if the actorthat it modifies is missing.INCORRECT:After putting a bloodworm on my hook, theflounders began to bite.REVISED:After putting a bloodworm on my hook, I foundthat the flounders began to bite.INCORRECT:In designing our house addition, a bathroom wasforgotten.REVISED:In designing our house addition, we forgot to adda bathroom.3. Dangling InfinitivesUnlike the participle and the gerund, the infinitive performsmore than one job in a sentence. While the participleacts like an adjective, and the gerund like a noun, theinfinitive phrase can take the part of a noun, adjective, oradverb. Note the following examples of dangling infinitivephrases.INCORRECT:To skate like a champion, practice is essential.REVISED:To skate like a champion, one must practice.INCORRECT:To make a good impression, a shirt and tie shouldbe worn to the interview.REVISED:To make a good impression, Jeff should wear ashirt and tie to the interview.I2F Illogical comparisonsOccasionally, a writer will mistakenly compare itemsthat are not comparable.INCORRECT:Her salary was lower than a clerk. (The salary isincorrectly compared with a clerk.)CORRECT:Her salary was lower than a clerk's.INCORRECT:The cultural evenfs In Orlando are as diversified asany other large city. [Events are being comparedwith a large city.)CORRECT:The cultural evenfs in Orlando are as diversified asfhose in any other large city.24