Misplaced modifiers are among the most confusing things readers can chance upon, since the slightest mistake can change a statement’s entire meaning. On the upside, they can be hilarious, delivering a meaning that’s so inappropriate, it makes for unintentional comedy.
Limiting modifiers (such as only, even, almost, nearly, barely, merely, simply, and just) are among the most frequent transgressions in this regard. Because of the fact that they’re used very often, modifying different subjects and actions, they are easy to misplace. Writing checkers will very rarely catch them, since the placement remains grammatically correct, despite relaying a different meaning than you intended.
An Example To Demonstrate
Take these sentences, for instance:
- The students almost saw the entire show.
- The students saw almost the entire show.
Notice how the first sentence could mean that the students may or may not have seen the show, while the second makes it clear that they did see the show, just not in its entirety.
The All-Important Rule
When using a limiting modifier, there is one rule to always live by: always put it immediately in front of the word being modified. Whether it’s changing the meaning for a subject or a verb, the same principle holds – and you have to stick to that if you’re going to get it right.
