English Vinghlish - III

Modifier problems

In this edition of English-Vinglish let us see the problems arising from using modifiers wrongly. Many times, you will complete the sentence without even aware  of  them , the immediate exultation of committing to a sentence what  you had  mind will blind you lack of refinement in syntax. However, if you re-read what you have written after some days, it will be clear  to you as daylight.

A modifier  in a sentence is  an element that describe or qualifies some other element. It can be an adjective or an adverb or  a phrase that acts as one.  It is important that it is positioned correctly in a sentence to convey the intended meaning.  Let us  see some commonly committed mistakes in their positioning. They are called the

Hanging Modifiers

Sometimes the entity that  is being modified is not explicity stated but implied in the sentence.  This causes  the modifier to ‘hang’ in the absence of the subject that it is supposed to modify.

1.       Once  the  order is  “Technically Complete”, the user can settle to a cost collector.

The better syntax is,

-          Once the user sets  the order to status “Technically Complete”, he/she can settle the order to a cost collector.

Or

-          Once the order is set to status “Technically Complete”, it can be settled to a cost collector.

The modifier is taking about the order and suddenly the writer is talking about what the user can do with it. The syntax is garbled. But the  reader will not notice generally this kind of hanging modifier.  Sometimes the effect is not so subtle as in the above example.

2.       After finishing the Oracle DBA Certification,  Amit’s career took off.

The better syntax is ,

-          After Amit finshed his Oracle DBA Certification, he saw his career take off.

               Or

-          After Amit finished his Oracle DBA Certification, his career took off.

The writer starts the first part of  the sentence taking about what Amit did but ends up writing about his career. 

3.       Upon saving the incomplete Sales order, an error message will pop up on the user’s screen.

The better syntax Is,

 -          When the user  saves an incomplete Sales order, h e/she will see an error message pop up  on the screen

Misplaced Modifier

It is easy to carelessly place the modifier at a wrong place in the sentence ( I do it very often in my whatsup posts to friends) , but know that readers will make it  out)  with the result the user is at a loss to know which subject the modifier is attached to.

1.       Climbing stairs rapidly gets you into good health.

Here it is difficult to make out  the intended meaning;  whether rapid climbing of stairs leads to good health or climbing stairs leads rapidly to good health!!

2.       The Project Manager said that we are behind schedule and that  we have to work hard  this Saturday.

Did the Project Manager talked about working hard this Saturday or he said on Saturday that we need to work hard ?

3.       At the  next steering committee, the members will debate if the Project Manager will be allowed to admit change requests without their approval.

‘Without their approval’  is  attached to the ‘Change Requests’ or to the ‘Project Manager’.

The better syntax will be,-

At the next steering committee, the members will debate if the Project Manager without their approval will be allowed to admit Change Requests.

There are  many more. I  had jotted down these in my mobile memo app, but never brought myself to make a blogpost out  of it. Something to do on  a  lazy Saturday  afternoon in Lalkuan.