Everybody Writes, 2nd Edition

18Notice Where Words Appear in Relation to Others Around Them

Misplaced modifiers and odd word order are among the most common errors we make. They are also the easiest to correct.

What's a misplaced modifier? It's a phrase or word placed in the wrong spot in a sentence, so that it refers to an unintended action or word. Often that changes the meaning.

Here's an example:

• Misplaced: Shirley saw a chicken and a sloth on the way to play pickleball.
• Not misplaced: On the way to play pickleball, Shirley saw a chicken and a sloth.
• Why: Because Shirley—not the chicken—was about to play pickleball. And definitely not the sloth. (They're famously unathletic.)

Here's another example:

• Misplaced: Though often misunderstood, scholars know that anarchy does not mean chaos.
• Not misplaced: Though often misunderstood, anarchy does not mean chaos, as scholars know.
• Why: What's misunderstood is the term anarchy, not the scholars. (Although they, too, are often misunderstood. Then again … aren't we all, really?)

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Once you start paying attention to misplaced modifiers and confusing word order, you'll notice them everywhere, too. One word you'll see frequently misplaced is only.

• Ambiguous: Only publish good content.
• Super-clear: Publish only good content.
• Ambiguous: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel only ate six pumpkin biscuits.
• Super clear: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ate only six pumpkin biscuits.

Why? Because only needs to modify good content, not publish. And only is modifying ...