A misplaced modifier is a word or phrase that modifies (or appears to modify) an unintended word, causing confusion or conveying an unintended meaning.
Misplaced Modifier: Ruben almost ate five sandwiches.
Revised: Ruben ate almost five sandwiches.
In the first sentence, the modifier almost modifies the verb ate. The sentence suggests that Ruben did not end up eating at all, which is an unintended meaning.
In the second sentence, the modifier almost modifies five sandwiches. The sentence suggests that Ruben ate at least four sandwiches but not quite five.
Misplaced Modifier: The police followed the thief in the undercover squad van.
Revised: The police in the undercover squad van followed the thief.
The first sentence says that the thief is driving the squad van, which is likely not the intended meaning (unless the thief stole the squad van). The second sentence says that the police are driving the undercover squad van, which is the more likely scenario.
Misplaced modifier: John found a shredded dog’s collar.
Revised: John found a dog’s shredded collar.
The adjective shredded should be placed nearest the word it is supposed to modify: collar. Misplacing the adjective in front of the word dog creates a grotesque misunderstanding.
Misplaced Modifier: Warped and sun-faded, Tim threw the basketball into the recycling bin.
The misplaced modifier creates the comical notion that Tim is the one who is warped and faded from the sun, instead of the basketball. This sentence might be revised in several ways:
Revision 1: Tim threw the warped and sun-faded basketball into the recycling bin.
Revision 2: Tim threw the basketball, warped and sun-faded, into the recycling bin.
Revision 3: Time threw the basketball, which was warped and sun-faded, into the recycling bin.
How to Avoid Misplaced Modifiers
As you see from the examples above, the easiest way to avoid a misplaced modifier is to make sure that the modifier is near the word that it is intended to modify. Notice how in the revisions above, the problem is almost always fixed by simply moving the modifier closer to the word it is supposed to modify.
In addition to being close to the word it modifies, the modifier sometimes needs to be placed directly in front of the word it is supposed to modify in order to convey the intended meaning. The following examples show how the placing of the same modifier in front of different words can alter the meaning of a sentence:
John was just permitted to return to work.
John was permitted to just return to work.
Just John was permitted to return to work.
The first sentence states that John was recently permitted to return to work.
The second sentence states that John was only permitted to return to work but perhaps not permitted to engage in other activities, such as sports.
The third sentence states that only John and nobody else was permitted to return to work.
Like a dangling participle, a misplaced modifier can create unintended, often humorous, misunderstandings. Keep this common writing error on your radar when editing for clarity.