Definition:
A word or phrase (commonly a participle or a participial phrase) that modifies a word that does not appear in the sentence. See also: modifier.
Examples and Observations:
- "That Wolfgang Puck introduced a new latte line may not be surprising, but the container, which heats itself, is. By pressing a button on the bottom, water mixes with quicklime, producing a chemical reaction that heats the coffee."
(The New York Times, May 2005) - "If elected, Obama's main opposition will not come from Republicans."
(David Brooks, "Talking Versus Doing," The New York Times, May 20, 2008) - By reversing the color scheme, the eye is captured.
- "Danglers come in many forms. Most often, the problem involves a descriptive phrase at the beginning of a sentence, referring to a noun or pronoun that follows. Here’s the key: that noun or pronoun should come immediately after the descriptive phrase. If not, the description 'dangles,' the connection is sloppy or obscure, and the reader may be momentarily confused.
"Once recognized, a writer or editor can easily fix the dangler, and the result is a clearer, sharper sentence.
"WAIT! IT’S A TRICK! That sentence has a classic dangler! The participle phrase 'once recognized' doesn’t refer to what immediately follows, 'a writer or editor.' One solution: Once recognized, a dangler is usually easy to fix, and the result is a clearer, sharper sentence."
(Philip B. Corbett, "Left Dangling," The New York Times, September 15, 2008) - "Dangling modifiers are common, old, and well-established in English literature. . . . The dangling modifier is a venial sin at most, but if you commit an unintentional howler, you are liable to be ridiculed."
(Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage, 1994)
Also Known As: a floater, hanging modifier, floating modifier
