Why is it important to rephrase awkward

word order?
 Since the goal of academic writing is to
communicate with clarity, writers should
build sentences with words and phrases
that flow smoothly.
 Words that are missing, misplaced, or
out of order can make the writing sound
disjointed or send an unintended
message.
 Reread each sentence carefully or read
the paper aloud to check for awkward
wording.
How can awkward wording be corrected?

•Look for missing words or phrases:

A missing word or phrase can obscure
meaning and cause confusion. Insert missing
words or phrases to complete the intended
thought.
•Look at word order after revising:
Minor revision of a portion of a
sentence can cause a major problem with
word order. Reread each sentence after it has
been revised to ensure that it still makes
sense.
How can awkward wording be
corrected?

•Look for misplaced or dangling modifiers:

If a modifier is misplaced or is
modifying a subject not mentioned in the
sentence, the message could be misleading or
confusing to the reader. Place modifiers as
close as possible to the object being
modified.
How can awkward wording be
corrected?

•Look at subject-verb order:

The English language usually follows
the pattern subject-verb-object (SVO),
but other languages may follow
different patterns. Non-native English
speakers may need to check their
sentences for appropriate syntactical
construction.
How can awkward wording be corrected?

• Example of SVO: The scholarly

article explains theories on global
warming. Subject = article; Verb
= explains; Object = theories
• Example of OSV: Theories on
global warming the scholarly article
explains. (awkward)
Modifiers, Modification
 Modifiers are words, phrases,
or clauses that describe another word in a
sentence.
 Modifiers change the sentence meaning.
 Modifiers change the meaning of a
sentence by adding details and qualifying
information. Generally, English places
modifiers as close to the word (or group
of words) they describe as possible.
 When modifiers are placed in their
proper position in a sentence, they add
details and qualifying information that
help readers, listeners, users . . . better
interpret the text.
 When modifiers are placed in positions
that confuse the sentence’s meaning,
they may be called
an unclear or awkward. Or, people may
say it’s confusing, vague, and just
doesn’t make sense.
In this example, this real estate
advertisement uses several adjectives in
bold to describe the noun (house):
This quaint and cozy little
1940s house is located in a prime
location in the Seminole Heights
community:
 Modifiers change the sentence meaning.
 Used correctly, modifiers can help you to
create more sentence variety and details
in your text. Consider the following
sentence, which was written as part of a
scholarship application:

While visiting Puerto Rico as part of

my school’s service learning
program, I learned about a non-profit
organization that educates people about
overfishing.
Dangling Modifers
 Dangling modifiers happen when the
opening phrase of a sentence should
share the sentence’s subject, but
doesn’t.
 This disconnect can make the
sentence confusing or even
humorous:
“At seven years old, my father taught
me how to play guitar.”
CORRECT: When I was seven years
old, my father taught me how to play
guitar.
Here’s another example:
To apply for graduation, the form
must be filled out in its entirety.

The form will not be applying.

The person will be applying.

CORRECTION: To apply for

graduation, please fill out this form
in its entirety. [Note that this
imperative sentence, also called a
command, has the implied subject
“you.”]
Other Examples:
•By using electric cars, the
number of pollutants in the air
is being reduced.

•Running to class, my cell

phone began to vibrate.
Other Examples:
•After submitting my homework
after the deadline, the teacher
penalized my grade.

•When editing, the lack of

variance in my sentence
structure creates a simplistic
tone.
Misplaced Modifiers
 Misplaced Modifiers happen when a
phrase intended to modify one part
of a sentence seems to modify a
different part instead. Like Dangling
Modifiers, Misplaced Modifiers may
result in some pretty humorous
misinterpretations

I gave the old coins to my nephew I

keep in a safe.
Although the sentence sounds like cause
for alarm, its error can be fixed by
moving the modifier, which is in bold,
closer to the word it should be modifying.
We can assume that the writer does not
keep any family members in a safe, so
we can just rearrange the sentence for
clarity:

CORRECT: I gave the old coins I keep in

a safe to my nephew.
Misplaced Modifiers

I gave the old coins to my nephew I

keep in a safe.

CORRECT: I gave the old coins I keep

in a safe to my nephew.
Although the sentence sounds like cause
for alarm, its error can be fixed by
moving the modifier, which is in bold,
closer to the word it should be modifying.
We can assume that the writer does not
keep any family members in a safe, so
we can just rearrange the sentence for
clarity:

CORRECT: I gave the old coins I keep in

a safe to my nephew.
Example:
Walking across the hardwood floor, the
porcelain statue slipped from my hand.

Was the statue walking? Probably not, but

the sentence implies that it was. Here’s
what the writer actually meant:

CORRECTION:
Walking across the hardwood floor, I
dropped the porcelain statue.
Example:
As a nominee for the award, your name will be
prominently displayed in the hall.

POSSIBLE CORRECTIONS:
As a nominee for the award, you will be honored
by having your name displayed prominently in the
hall.
Example:
Stranded outside in the rain, Sara’s
door refused to budge.

This sentence implies that “Sara’s

door” was stranded outside in the
rain.

CORRECT:
Stranded outside in the rain, Sara
could not budge her door.
Example:
As a new hire, I would like to welcome you
to the company.

CORRECTIONS:
I would welcome you to the company.

Or, I would like to welcome you, a new

hire, to the company.

Or, better yet, As a new hire, you are

welcome at the company.
Other Examples:

•The kitten took a nap in a padded basket

with a collar around its neck.

•The teacher tried to explain modification

to a student that was unclear, dangling, or
misplaced.
Misplaced Limiting Modifiers
At first, almost, exactly, hardly, just,
merely, nearly, simply, only—these
words limit the meaning of another
word, phrase, or clause in the sentence.
Thus, they may be referred to as Limiting
Modifiers.

Modifiers change the sentence meaning.

Limiting modifiers get their name because
they specify conditions that restrict the word
they are modifying. This error often occurs
with words like “only,” “just,” and “almost.”
Example:
It’s just not the best phone available right
now.

In this sentence, the speaker doesn’t like the

phone and believes there are better options
available.

It’s not just the best phone available right

now.

In this sentence, the speaker likes the phone—

and also feels that it has more benefits than
just being the “best,” like maybe it’s also the
cheapest or newest.
My sister only eats the green candies.

As the sentence stands, it is stating that

the writer’s sister does nothing but eat
green candies—she doesn’t sleep or work
or do anything but eat candy.
You could also assume the modifier “only”
applies to the rest of the sentence (eats
the green candies), in which case, she
doesn’t sell the candy or deliver the candy
—she only eats it.
Similar to misplaced modifiers, this error
can often be amended by moving the
modifier closer to the word it should be
modifying, but sometimes you need to
CORRECT: Only my sister eats the green
candies.
CORRECT: My only sister eats the green
candies.
CORRECT: When she has a bag of jelly
beans, my sister eats only the
green candies.
Typical Modification Errors
•Place the modifier as close as possible
to the word (or words) being modified.
•Place adjectives that modify nouns in
front of the word (or words) being
modified.
•Place adverbs that modify a verb or
verb phrase:
• right before or just after the verb
being modified, OR
• at the beginning or end of the
sentence.
Typical Modification Errors
•Place words such as almost, even, just,
nearly, only, or simply in front of the word
(or words) being modified.
•Do not create a split infinitive by placing a
modifier between to + a verb. (e. g.,
replace to quickly move with to move quickly)
•Do not place a modifier between the verb
and the object being acted upon. (e. g.,
replace The dog ate quickly his food with The
dog quickly ate his food.)
How can a misplaced modifier be
replaced correctly?

•Identify the modifiers by circling them.

•Draw an arrow to the word or words being
modified.
•Move the modifier closer to the word being
modified.
•Read the sentence aloud to check word
flow and clarity of meaning.
Sentence with a misplaced modifier:
The kitten took a nap in a padded basket with
a collar around its neck.

•To avoid the absurd implication that the

basket has a neck with a collar around it,
move the modifying phrase closer to kitten.

•Sentence with a properly-placed

modifier: The kitten with a collar around its
neck took a nap in a padded basket.
 Eliminate Unnecessary Language

Why should unnecessary words and

phrases be eliminated?
Unnecessary words and phrases result in
redundancy. A writer can achieve efficiency
in writing by using concise words and
phrases that denote clear meaning. Each
word should contribute to the argument and
purpose of an assignment; if a word or
phrase can be removed from a sentence
without affecting its meaning, it should be
eliminated.
How can unnecessary words or phrases
be eliminated?
•Revise redundant phrases, synonymous
terms, and unnecessary word pairs.
• Quickly speeding (speeding implies
quickness)
• Young teenage mothers
(young and teenage are synonyms)
• Financial cost (financial and cost both
imply money)
•Revise redundant terms in order to be more
efficient.
• Redundant: Young adults should self-
assess their situation before making
a big, life-changing decision.
• Revised: Young adults
should assess their situation before
making a major decision.
•Remove redundant adjectives and
adverbs; use only those that contribute to
the intended message.
• Overuse of adjectives: The large,
angry, noisy crowd stormed the
Capital building.
• Revised: The mob stormed the Capital
building.
• Overuse of adverbs:
She carefully and quietly walked
through the room.
• Revised: She crept through the room.
•Remove redundant modifiers; overuse
clutters the writing and distracts the reader.
• Overuse of modifiers: The business
capitalists, who focus on domestic
interests, only really invest in
American groups.
• Revised: The business capitalists
rarely invest in international groups.
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