ELA11, CSS, Cizeron

Modifiers and Author Voice

A modifier is a word or group of words that describes another word

• Modifiers should be placed as closely as possible to the word(s) they modify to avoid confusion.
• The word "only" is the most commonly misplaced modifier in written English because it is so often placed carelessly in speech.
• A dangling modifier is connected loosely or not at all to the word(s) it should refer to.  As a result, it may seem to explain the wrong thing.  Dangling modifiers cannot be correct by simply moving them to another spot; part of the sentence must be rewritten to make the correction.

Maintain an active voice in your writing which is concise and strong rather than wordy and weak.

Avoid stating a fact that can easily be assumed from another fact you have given.

Avoid trying to strengthen a word that is already strong (Intensifiers such as very, highly, extremely add nothing to words such as these: crucial, definite, fascinating, horrible, impossible, intriguing, perfect, tragic, unique, wonderful.