Here's a breakdown:
* Modifier: A word or phrase that describes or adds information to another word or phrase.
* Dangling: Not properly attached to the word it should modify.
Example of a dangling modifier:
* Incorrect: Running down the street, the red car was a blur.
* Correct: Running down the street, I saw a red car that was a blur.
In the incorrect example, the phrase "running down the street" seems to modify the car, but it's actually modifying the person who is running. The correct sentence clarifies this by adding the subject ("I") who is actually performing the action.
Key Characteristics of a Dangling Modifier:
* The modifier will usually be a participial phrase (beginning with a verb ending in -ing or -ed).
* The modifier will not be grammatically attached to the word it's meant to describe.
* The sentence will often be confusing or illogical as a result.
To avoid dangling modifiers:
* Make sure the modifier is clearly connected to the word it modifies.
* Add a subject to the sentence that the modifier can logically describe.
* Rewrite the sentence to make the relationship between the modifier and the word it modifies clear.