misplaced modifier

misplaced modifier

noun
Grammar. a word, phrase, or clause that seems to refer to or modify an unintended word because of its placement in a sentence, as when young in When young, circuses appeal to all of us.


Sometimes, as in the example above, a misplaced modifier can cause a temporarily puzzling or ludicrous reading of a passage; at other times it can result in ambiguity: Tall and handsome, the people looked at him with awe and admiration. Usually some rearrangement of elements, and occasionally an addition, can make relationships clear and unambiguous: Circuses appeal to all of us when young (or when we are young). Because he was tall and handsome, the people looked at him with awe and admiration. EXPANDSee also dangling participle.
COLLAPSE
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Misplaced modifier is always a great word to know.
So is pound sign. Does it mean:
the symbol (#) used for various purposes.
a short oblique stroke (/) between two words indicating that whichever is appropriate may be chosen to complete the sense of the text in which they occur:
Collins
World English Dictionary
misplaced modifier
 
n
grammar Usual US and Canadian name: dangling participle a participle intended to modify a noun but having the wrong grammatical relationship to it as for example having left in the sentence Having left Europe for good, Peter's future seemed bleak indeed

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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