What is a misplaced modifier?

A misplaced modifier is indeed a modifier that appears in the wrong place within a sentence, leading to confusion or ambiguity regarding its intended meaning. Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that provide additional information about a sentence's subject, verb, or object. When a modifier is improperly positioned, it can suggest that it modifies the wrong word or phrase, thus distorting the sentence’s intended message.

For instance, in the sentence "She almost drove her kids to school every day," the placement of "almost" makes it seem that she was close to driving them but did not actually do so, rather than suggesting she drove them most days. Correctly placing the modifier clarifies the intended meaning, ensuring that the sentence accurately communicates the idea without causing misunderstanding.

In contrast, descriptors that suggest correct placements or add clarity do not capture the essence of a misplaced modifier, which inherently involves confusion and ambiguity due to poor placement. Furthermore, defining a word that is always used at the end of a clause does not relate to the concept of modifiers at all, which can appear in various positions within a sentence.