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How misused modifiers can hurt your writing

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26,923 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Modifiers are words, phrases, and clauses that add information about other parts of a sentence—which is usually helpful. But when modifiers aren’t linked clearly enough to the words they’re actually referring to, they can create unintentional ambiguity. Emma Bryce navigates the sticky world of misplaced, dangling and squinting modifiers.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Emma Bryce
  • Animator Henry Chung, Plamen Ananiev, Mark Storer, Hannah de Spon
  • Composer Tom Jordan
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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