OK, I’m clear on what a dangling modifier is. I’m clear on the concept of a misplaced modifier. Having said that, my confusion is great.
(Yeah, that was a little self-referential grammar joke. Haw haw.)
Next week, I’m going to be attending a seminar in which proper grammatical use of modifiers is discussed. The topics: dangling modifiers, hanging modifiers, and something called squirting modifiers.
What the heck is a squirting modifier? A Google search turned up one whole webpage, which was remarkably lacking in explanation. And I don’t find the term in the index of The Elements of Style.
Anyone heard of squirting modifiers before? Anyone want to give me a quick grammar lesson before next week?
The link you gave had ‘misplaces’ instead of ‘misplaced’. Could ‘squirting modifier’ be a typo for ‘squinting modifier’.?
A squinting modifier is one which is placed in such a position that it could refer to either the preceeding or the following phrase. An example is
Eating often makes her sick.
Hee! Snork! A squinting modifier is one which is placed between two nouns or phrases, so that the reader can’t tell which one is being modified: “Asking Cecil often will improve your chances of getting an answer.”
Um, does that mean “Asking Cecil often” will get you an answer, or that asking Cceil will often get you an answer?
Why yes, yes it could. And, in fact, it is. I misread the e-mailed title for next week’s seminar – :smack: – and I didn’t remember hearing the term “squinting modifier.” (Although, given the examples in this tread, I can certainly identify the problem.)
Someone should invent a squirting modifier. The expanded possibilities for innuendo in high-school English classes alone would make it worthwhile.
Hey Jabba and Nametag, do either of you have anymore examples of squinting modifiers because I still don’t get it–I only get one meaning out of either of those sentences.
Unless Nametag’s sentence could be read as"Often asking …" or “Asking Cecil will often…” And Jabba’s could be read as “Often eating …” or “Eating makes her sick often.” Right?
hello32499: Your second paragraph is exactly right. Some other examples:
Workers entering this area routinely should wear safety helmets. ( Though you might well argue that ‘routinely’ is very similar to ‘often’).
Defining your terms clearly strengthens your argument.