Sentence Usage Rules


Introduction


Once upon a time, when writing styles were more formal than they are now, some people were very careful never to end a sentence with a preposition. Even then, however, there were stylistic mavericks who let their prepositions fall with abandon. Winston Churchill was one of these people. His secretary, appalled, always revised the drafts of Churchill's speeches to avoid ending sentences with a preposition. Exasperated, Churchill finally sent this message to his secretary: “This is the sort of English up with which I will not put.”

Here you learn whether you should or shouldn't follow Churchill's lead and conclude a sentence with a preposition. You also find information on other sticky grammar issues, including dangling participles and misplaced modifiers. In addition, I bring you up to speed on the latest grammar “rulings” concerning splitting infinitives, using hopefully, and choosing between like or as.



Dangling Modifiers

What's wrong with the following sentence?

Coming up the hall, the clock struck 10.
As written, the sentence states that the clock was coming up the hall. An ambulatory clock is possible, but neither highly likely nor terribly desirable. This misunderstanding about the clock's power of locomotion occurs because the phrase “coming up the hall” has nothing to modify or describe. A phrase left twisting in the wind like this is called a dangling modifier.

Remember that a modifier is a word or phrase that gives more information about the subject, verb, or object in a clause. A modifier is said to “dangle” when the word it modifies is not actually in the sentence. “Coming up the hall” is a dangling modifier because it cannot be attached to any word in the sentence.

Dangling modifiers confuse your readers and obscure your meaning. These errors don't jump out at you like a spelling blooper or a shark attack; rather, they sneak up on you like April 15 or middle age. And they can be just as deadly.



Help Is on the Way

Because the basic problem with a dangling modifier is a lack of connection, you must provide a noun or pronoun to which the dangling construction can be attached. There are two basic ways to do this:

1. Rewrite the modifier as a subordinate clause.
Dangling: Confirming our conversation, the shipment will be ordered on Monday.
(According to this sentence, the shipment—not the speaker—confirmed the conversation.)
Correct: As I stated in the memo, the shipment will be ordered on Monday.

2. Rewrite the main clause so the subject or object can be modified by the now-dangling phrase.
Dangling: Confirming our conversation, the shipment will be ordered on Monday.
Correct: Confirming our conversation, I have arranged for the shipment to be ordered on Monday.



Misplaced Modifiers

You can lose your car keys, your temper, and even your head—but please, don't misplace your modifiers. It's as tacky as a pork chop at a bar mitzvah.

A misplaced modifier is just that: a phrase, clause, or word placed too far from the noun or pronoun it describes. As a result, the sentence fails to convey your exact meaning. But misplaced modifiers usually carry a double wallop: They often create confusion or imply something unintentionally funny. This is not a good thing when you want to make a competent impression with your writing. Here's an example of a misplaced modifier:

They bought a puppy for my sister they call Fido.

As this sentence is written, it means that the sister, not the puppy, is named Fido. That's because the modifier “they call Fido” is in the wrong place in the sentence. To correct a misplaced modifier, move the modifier as close as possible to the word or phrase it is describing. Here's how the sentence should read:

They bought a puppy they call Fido for my sister.



It Says What?


Study this chart to see how a misplaced modifier can distort a writer's meaning. Then see how I moved the modifier so the sentence makes sense.

Sentence #1: The patient was referred to a psychologist with several emotional problems.

What the writer thinks it says: The patient has emotional problems.

What the sentence really says: The psychologist has emotional problems.

Correction: The patient with several emotional problems was referred to a psychologist.


Sentence #2: Sam found a letter in the mailbox that doesn't belong to her.

What the writer thinks it says: Sam found a letter that doesn't belong to her.

What the sentence really says: The mailbox doesn't belong to Sam.

Correction: Sam found a letter that doesn't belong to her in the mailbox.

Sentence #3: Two cars were reported stolen by the Farmingdale police yesterday.

What the writer thinks it says: The Farmingdale police reported two stolen cars.

What the sentence really says: The police stole the two cars.

Correction: Yesterday, the Farmingdale police reported that two cars were stolen.

Sentence #4: Please take time to look over the brochure that is enclosed with your family.

What the writer thinks it says: Look over the brochure with your family

What the sentence really says: The brochure is enclosed with your family.

Correction: Please take time to look over the enclosed brochure with your family.

Sentence #5: Luis had driven over with his wife, Chris, from their home in a Chevy for the basketball game.

What the writer thinks it says: Luis and Chris drove in their Chevy to the game.

What the sentence really says: Luis and Chris live in a Chevy.

Correction: Luis had driven over in a Chevy with his wife, Chris, from their home for the basketball game.









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