MISPLACED MODIFIER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

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'

Synonyms:

dangling modifier; misplaced modifier

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("misplaced modifier" is a kind of...):

modifier; qualifier (a content word that qualifies the meaning of a noun or verb)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "misplaced modifier"):

dangling participle (a participle (usually at the beginning of a sentence) apparently modifying a word other than the word intended: e.g., 'flying across the country' in 'flying across the country the Rockies came into view')

Credits