Place modifiers near the words they modify. Notice in the following examples how the meaning changes according to the placement of the modifiers.
Only he liked Sarah.
He only liked Sarah.
He liked only Sarah.
The missionary from New York showed some pictures of heathen tribes.
The missionary showed some pictures from New York of heathen tribes.
The missionary showed some pictures of heathen tribes from New York.
Adjective phrases and adjective clauses, in most instances, should come immediately after the words they modify.
The car was stopped alongside the road with one headlight, (misplaced phrase)
The car with one headlight was stopped alongside the road. (corrected)
The house is still owned by our family that grandfather built. (misplaced phrase)
The house that grandfather built is still owned by our family. (corrected)
An adverb phrase or clause that modifies a verb may be placed before or after the verb it modifies.
When you leave, please close the door. (modifier before the verb—correct)
Please close the door when you leave. (modifier after the verb—correct)
An adverb phrase or clause that modifies an adjective or an adverb is usually placed after the word it modifies.
Kris was anxious about her new job. (modifies the adjective anxious)
My sister can sing better than I can. (modifies the adverb better)
Place adverb modifiers as close as possible to the words they modify.
The pastor told how his wife had fallen from the pulpit. (misplaced)
From the pulpit, the pastor told how his wife had fallen. (correct) or
The pastor told from the pulpit how his wife had fallen. (correct)
Avoid “squinting” modifiers. A “squinting” modifier is one that is placed between two words that it might modify, causing confusion.
The coach said in Houston we would have a double-header. (modifier between two verbs that it might modify—confusing)
In Houston, the coach said we would have a double-header. (clear)
The coach said we would have a doubleheader in Houston. (clear)
Avoid awkward split constructions.
a. Avoid awkward division of the parts of a verb phrase
She had since early last week been feeling bad. (awkward)
She had been feeling bad since early last week. (better)
► Note. The caution here is only against an awkward division. In many sentences, adverbs fall naturally and properly within a verb phrase.
One must quickly kick the extra point in football. Nate is seriously considering going to the mission field.
b. Avoid unnecessary and awkward splitting of infinitives. (A split infinitive occurs when a modifier is placed between the infinitive and its introductory word to.)
They asked him to as soon as possible move his car. (awkward)
They asked him to move his car as soon as possible. (better)
► Note. To avoid ambiguity or artificiality it is sometimes necessary and proper to split an infinitive.
He failed fully to explain the subject within the time limit. (ambiguous and artificial)
He failed to explain the subject fully within the time limit. (ambiguous)
He failed to fully explain the subject within the time limit. (emphatic and clear)
