dangling modifier
dangling modifier · dangling modifiers
A word or clause that qualifies another word or clause ambiguously, sometimes causing…A word or clause that qualifies another word or clause ambiguously, sometimes causing confusion (as to which meaning was intended) or (more often) causing unintended humorousness.
Meaning
1 sensesA word or clause that qualifies another word or clause ambiguously, sometimes causing confusion (as to which meaning was intended) or (more often) causing unintended humorousness.
More definitions
- a word or phrase apparently modifying an unintended word because of its placement in a sentence: e.g., ‘when young’ in ‘when young, circuses appeal to all of us’
Translations
1 languagesForms
plural: dangling modifiers| Singular | dangling modifier |
|---|---|
| Plural | dangling modifiers |
regular
Synonyms
2 synonymsClose in meaning
- a word or phrase apparently modifying an unintended word because of its placement in a sentence: e.g., ‘when young’ in ‘when young, circuses appeal to all of us’:misplaced modifier