Writing Skills

Dangling Modifier

Because of dangling modifiers, each of the sentences below has more than one possible meaning. In each case, see both the intended meaning and the unintended meaning of the sentences.

1. Using the Pythagorean Theorem, the math problem was easily solved.

Intended meaning: Somebody/ a student uses the Theorem.

Unintended meaning: The math problem uses the Theorem.

2.Arriving home after ten months in army, Michael’s neighbors threw a block party for him.

Intended meaning: Michael was arriving home after ten months in the army. Unintended meaning: The neighbors was arriving home after ten months in army.

3.Having finished the essay, a new Facebook status was uploaded.

Intended meaning: Somebody finished the essay.

Unintended meaning: A new Facebook status finished the essay.

Dangling modifiers are words or phrases that do not clearly and logically modify any word in the sentence. They often create confusion or unintentional meanings in sentences. Here’s how to identify and correct them:

Strategies to Correct Dangling Modifiers:

1.Identify the modifier: Determine what action or description the modifier is trying to convey.

2.Locate the subject: Identify the subject of the sentence to which the modifier should logically attach.

3.Restructure the sentence: Rewrite the sentence to ensure that the modifier clearly and logically modifies the subject it is intended to describe.

4.Be clear and precise: Ensure that after correction, the sentence conveys the intended meaning without ambiguity or confusion.

More Examples and Corrections:

1.Dangling Modifier: “Having finished my work, the TV was turned on.

2.”Correction: “Having finished my work, I turned on the TV.”

3.Dangling Modifier: “Swinging wildly, the spectators were amazed by the tennis player’s skill.

4.”Correction: “Swinging wildly, the tennis player amazed the spectators with their skill.”

Correcting Dangling Modifiers

Mark ‘C’ if the following sentences is correct and re-write if it has dangling modifier.

A. Hanging safely on a wall, a security guard pointed to the priceless painting.

______________________________________________________________________________

B. At the age of five, my mother bought me a chemistry set.

___________________________________________________________

C. While it was raining, shoppers ran into the stores.

___________________________________________________.

D. Having turned sour, I would not drink the milk.

_______________________________________________

E. Talking on the phone, my hot tea turned cold.

______________________________________________

F. Piled high with dirty dishes, Peter hated to look at the kitchen sink.

____________________________________________________________________

G. Having locked my keys in the car, the police had to pen it for me.

________________________________________________________________

Expository Essay Writing

The expository essay is the genre of essay that requires the student to investigate an idea, evaluate evidence, expound on the idea, and make a statement concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner. Generally, expository essays do not require a great deal of outside research, but they do require that a student has background knowledge of a topic.

Even though expository essays are meant to inform, they can serve different purposes depending on the writer’s objective. Here are the four different kinds of expository essays.

Cause and Effect: The writer details the reasons for an event or situation before discussing the effect(s). These essays are common in literary essays or social studies reports.

Problem and Solution:After identifying a problem in today’s world, the writer poses a possible solution. The problem/solution essay is similar to the cause/effect essay. It can become an argumentative essay depending on the writer’s tone.

Descriptive: A descriptive essay requires the writer to describe something in their own words. The topic can be an event from the writer’s own life, a relationship in a book, or a significant moment in history. Though the essay can be from the writer’s perspective, it does not tell a story like in narrative writing.

Compare and Contrast: How is this different than that? A compare and contrast essay takes two subjects and explains how they are similar and different. It is a more analytical version of a descriptive essay.

The following paragraphs are jumbled paragraphs. Order them appropriately and come with a coherent and logically sequenced essay.

A. Thus, road accidents are bound to happen. You pick up a newspaper and you will find at least one or two news about road accidents daily. They cause loss of life as well as material. People need to be more careful when on the road, no matter which mode of transport you are from. Even the ones on foot are not safe because of the rise in these incidences. Every day people witness accidents in the news, from relatives and even with their own eyes.

B.Road accidents have become very common nowadays. As more people are buying automobiles, the incidences of road accidents are just increasing day by day. Furthermore, people have also become more careless now. Not many people follow the traffic rules. Especially in big cities, there are various modes of transports. Moreover, the roads are becoming narrower and the cities have become more populated.

C.After that, we got to know the whole story. A man was crossing the road when a truck hit him leaving him severely injured. The man was lying on the ground bleeding profusely and people were calling for an ambulance. We instantly called up the ambulance but time was running out. Therefore, an auto driver took the man in his auto and rushed to the hospital.

D.Once I was on my way back home from festive shopping when I witnessed a road accident. I was with my sister and it was around 6 o’ clock in the evening. In the middle of the road, we saw a crowd surrounding something. We weren’t quite sure what was happening as the first thought that came to our mind was that it was probably a quarrel between two men. However, when we reached the spot, we found out an accident had taken place.

E.That incident made me realize how precious our lives are. In addition, as to how we take it for granted. We must all be very careful when on road, on foot or by a car that does not matter. We can adopt measures that will prevent road accidents.

F.Subsequently, the police arrived as the people had caught the driver and were beating him up. After the police came, they caught hold of the driver and asked about the incident. Later, we came to know that the driver was drunk. The police detained him and went to the hospital for a statement. Fortunately, the driver was declared out of danger. The doctors dressed his wounds and informed that he was still in shock.