Warm-up

Activity
• Stand in a line according to your…

- Age
- Height
- Grades in the
trimester exam
Lead-in
What does this sentence mean?
Sentence Clarity

Purdue OWL staff

Brought to you in cooperation with the Purdue Online Writing Lab
 Sentence Clarity

Why worry about making sentences clear?

To communicate effectively with the reader.

To make writing persuasive and interesting.
To show credibility and authority as a writer.
 Common
Clarity Concerns

This presentation will cover four topics:

1.Misplaced modifiers
2.Dangling modifiers
3.Parallel Structures
4.Passive Voice
 Misplaced Modifiers

Modifier:
Can be a word or group of words.
A modifier describes, clarifies, or gives more
detail about other words in a sentence.
Misplaced modifier:
A modifier in the wrong place in a sentence.
Makes sentences awkward, confusing, or
(unintentionally) humorous.
 Misplaced Modifiers

Do these sentences have different meanings? Why?

 The dog under the tree bit Carrie.

 The dog bit Carrie under the tree.
 Misplaced Modifiers

How can you correct this sentence?

Buffy called her adorable kitten opening the can of
food and filled the bowl.

Process:
1.What is the modifier?
2.What word does it describe, clarify, or give more
detail about?
3.Where should the modifier be placed?
 Misplaced Modifiers

Misplaced modifier:
Buffy called her adorable kitten opening the can of
food and filled the bowl.
Correctly placed modifier:
Opening the can of food, Buffy called her adorable
kitten and filled the bowl.
 One-Word Modifiers

One-word modifiers can easily be misplaced.

These include:
Almost, even, exactly, hardly, just, merely,
nearly, only, scarcely, simply
 Misplaced Modifier
Examples

Which sentence indicates that everyone in the

class failed the exam?
Almost everyone in the class passed the calculus
exam.
Everyone in the class almost passed the calculus
exam.

Which sentence indicates that Jean-Luc earned

some money?
Jean-Luc nearly earned $100.
 Misplaced Modifiers
Review

Misplaced Modifier:
Modifier in the wrong place in a sentence.

Correct placement of modifiers:

Modifiers go next to the word or phrase they modify.
One-word modifiers go before the word or phrase they
modify
 Practice: Misplaced Modifiers

Directions: Place a check by the clear sentences in each pair :

1a. ___ Jane stomped on the bug without shoes on.

1b. ___ Without shoes on, Jane stomped on the bug.

2a. ___ Martha, who was wearing her nightgown, let in the meter reader.
2b. ___ Martha let in the meter reader who was wearing her nightgown.

3a. ___ The winner of the pie-eating contest almost ate five pies in ten minutes.
3b. ___ The winner of the pie-eating contest ate almost five pies in ten minutes

4a. ___ The man picked up the box of books with arthritis.
4b. ___ The man with arthritis picked up the box of books.

5a. ___ I only saw two dollars on the table.

5b. ___ I saw only two dollars on the table.

6a. ___ I gave my dress to Jackie with the low neckline.

6b. ___ I gave my dress with the low neckline to Jackie.

7a. ___ Looking straight at the student through her bifocals, the teacher awaited
his answer. 7b. ___ Looking straight at the student, the teacher awaited his
answer through her bifocals.
 Practice: Answer Key

Directions: Place a check by the clear sentences in each pair :

1b. ✔️Without shoes on, Jane stomped on the bug.

2a. ✔️Martha, who was wearing her nightgown, let in the meter reader.
3b. ✔️The winner of the pie-eating contest ate almost five pies in ten
minutes.
4b. ✔️The man with arthritis picked up the box of books.
5b. ✔️I saw only two dollars on the table.
6b. ✔️I gave my dress with the low neckline to Jackie.
7b. ✔️Looking straight at the student, the teacher awaited his answer
through her bifocals.
Directions: Revise each of the following sentences so
there are no misplaced modifiers.

1.The candidates discussed the problem of the world

financial crisis at the college.
2. The boy is sitting on the fence with red hair and whistling.
3. She watched her brothers play baseball in her new outfit.
4. I only want one sandwich for lunch.
5. My dad kept a Model A in the garage that he let me take
apart whenever I wanted.
6. Joe only likes one kind of ice cream.
7. Debbie knew that chicken always pleased Ed when fried.
8. I saw him trying to copy my paper with my own eyes.
9. Marge has a wild personality who is a good friend of mine.
10. On the corner stood Grandpa with his old straw hat
gesturing wildly.
11. I almost have my television on all the time to Channel 5.
12. I have some candy in my desk drawer that my mom
 Answer Key

1. At the college, the candidates discussed the problem

of the world financial crisis.
2. The boy with red hair is sitting on the fence and
whistling.
3. In her new outfit, she watched her brothers play
baseball.
4. For lunch, I want only one sandwich.
5. In the garage, my dad kept a Model A that he let me
take apart whenever I wanted.
6. Joe likes only one kind of ice cream.
7. Debbie knew that when fried, chicken always pleased
Ed.
8.I saw him with my own eyes trying to copy my paper.
9.Marge, who is a good friend of mine, has a wild
personality.
10.On the corner, Grandpa stood gesturing wildly with his
old straw hat.
11.I have my television on almost all the time to Channel
5.
12.In my desk drawer, I have some candy that my mom
Lead-in
What do these sentences mean?
 Dangling Modifiers

Dangling Modifiers:

Do not sensibly modify anything in their sentence.

Modifier is present, but it has nothing to modify.
Often occur at the beginning or end of a sentence.
Often indicated by an “–ing” verb or a “to +” verb
phrase.
 Dangling Modifiers

What is the modifier modifying?

Having finished dinner, the rugby match was

turned on.

Remember, modifiers go next to the words or phrases

they modify.
 Three Ways to Fix
Dangling Modifiers

1. Name the appropriate doer of the action as the

subject of the main clause.
Having finished dinner, Joe turned on the rugby
match.

2. Place the subject of the action within the dangling

modifier:
After Joe finished dinner, he turned on the rugby
match.
 Dangling Modifier
Examples

How might you correct the following sentence?

Playing solitaire on the computer for three hours,
Michael’s paper was not finished.

Process:
1.What is the modifier?
2.What does it describe, clarify, or give more detail
about?
3.Do you need to insert doer?
4.Where should the modifier be placed?
 Dangling Modifier.

Possible revisions:

1.Playing solitaire on the computer for three hours,

Michael did not complete his paper.
2.Because Michael played solitaire on the computer
for three hours, he did not complete his paper.
3.Michael did not complete his paper because he
played solitaire on the computer for three hours.
 Dangling Modifiers
Review

Dangling modifier:
Often occur at the beginning or end of a sentence
Often indicated by an “–ing” verb or a "to + verb”
phrase

How to correct dangling modifiers:

Name the appropriate or logical doer of the action as
the subject of the main clause
Place the subject of the action within the dangling
modifier.
 Practice: Dangling Modifiers

DIRECTIONS: In the blank to the left of the sentence, write C if

the sentence is correct and DM if the sentence contains a
dangling modifier. EXAMPLE: DM Working on the car, the hood
fell on my hand.
__ 1. Studying the assignment carefully, several problems
became obvious.
__ 2. Written in secret code, Ted had to decipher the message
before he could understand it.
__ 3. Intended to provide relaxation, the music seemed to
distract my attention when I took a test.
__ 4. As a child, my parents gave me many elaborate and
expensive gifts. __ 5. Hampered by strong winds, I was unable
to row the boat to shore. __ 6. Walking home from the store, the
grocery bag broke and slipped from my arms.
__ 7. To prepare this meal, only a few ingredients are needed.
__ 8. While driving down the highway, a deer jumped in front of
the car. __ 9. My cat slept in my lap while writing my essay for
English.
Answer Key

1. DM
2. DM
3. C
4. DM
5. C
6. DM
7. DM
8. DM
9. DM
10.DM

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m/game/2028261
 Parallel Structure

Parallel Structure:

Using the same pattern of words to show that 2 or

more ideas are equally important.
Applies to words, phrases, or clauses.
Usually use coordinating conjunctions ("and,” "or”)
to join parallel structures.
 Common Types of
Parallel Structure

Parallel with the -ing form (gerund) of verbs:

Mary likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling.

Parallel with infinitive verb phrases:

Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle.
Mary likes to hike, swim, and ride a bicycle.

Note: Use "to" before all the verbs in a sentence or

only before the first one.
 Parallel Structure
With Clauses

Clauses:
Groups of words containing S + V which forms part
of a sentence.
A parallel structure that begins with clauses must
continue with clauses.
For example:
The coach told the players that they should get a lot
of sleep, not eat too much, and do some warm-up
exercises before the game.
 Parallel Structure
Examples

Which sentences show parallel structure?

1.Dino does not like to sing, dance, or acting.

2.Dino does not like singing, dancing, or acting.

3.The production manager was asked to write his report

quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.
4.The production manager was asked to write his report
quickly, accurately, and in a detailed manner.

5.Aldus was a poor student because he waited until the

last minute to study, completed his lab problems
carelessly, and lacked motivation.
6.Aldus was a poor student because he waited until the
last minute to study, was always completing his lab
problems carelessly, and his motivation was low.
 Parallel Structure
Example

How can you correct this sentence?

The sales rep expected that he would present

his product at the meeting, that there would be
time for him to show his slide presentation, and
that questions would be asked by prospective
buyers.
Answer:

The salesman expected that he would present

his product at the meeting, that there would be
time for him to show his slide presentation, and
that prospective buyers would ask him
questions.

Each clause starts with “that” + subject + “would”

 Parallel Structure
And Colons

Lists after a Colon:

Be sure to keep all the elements in a list in the
same form.

What’s wrong with this sentence?

The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to
find word meanings, pronunciations, correct
spellings, and looking up irregular verbs.
 Proofreading
Strategies
For Parallel Structure

Use these proofreading strategies:

1.Skim your paper, pausing at "and" and "or." Check
if the joined items are parallel.
2.If you have several items in a list, put them in a
column.
3.Read your writing out loud. Listen to the sound of
the items in a list or the items being compared. Do
you hear the same kinds of sounds? Do your hear a
“rhythm”?
 Passive Voice

Passive voice indicates what is receiving action

not who/what is doing action (verb takes form of
“to be” + past tense transitive verb; “by” phrase
optional)

Active voice is considered to be “normal” for

English and is more common.
 Active vs. Passive
Voice

Passive: The cat was brushed by Johanna.

Active: Johanna brushed the cat.

Passive: Mistakes were made by the government.

Active: The government made mistakes.

Passive: Mistakes were made.

Active: Someone made mistakes.
 Passive Voice
Example

Why and how might you revise the following

sentence?
The decision that was reached by the committee
was to postpone the vote.

Suggested revisions:
Better: The committee reached the decision to
postpone the vote.
Best: The committee decided to postpone the
vote.
 Passive Voice
Examples

Would you revise the following sentences? Why or

why not?

The disk drive of the computer was damaged by the

electrical surge.
Michael was robbed in the park last night.
Those books were purchased especially for
tomorrow’s lecture.
 The End

SENTENCE CLARITY
Purdue OWL staff
Brought to you in cooperation with the Purdue Online Writing Lab