March 4 is National Grammar Day. In honor of this momentous occasion, you can win a free copy of Grammar Girl's book.
Here's how:
In the Comments section of this post, write a sentence that contains a hilarious misplaced modifier. An example of a misplaced modifier is "Flying around the room, I saw a bird."
The deadline is midnight Pacific time on March 3. I'll decide which one is funniest, and I'll reveal the winner on March 4.
Here's something I said minutes before reading this post: "I got access to the systems I'll be using today."
ReplyDeleteI immediately corrected myself by saying, "TODAY, I received access to the systems I'll be using."
May I quote one from years gone by, one that I often use as an example of a seriously misplaced modifier?
ReplyDeleteLeaking badly, the sailors abandoned the ship.
Whether it works or not, students at least are entertained for a moment, and it works wonders for getting the attention of those not listening. :-)
Precariously clinging to a cliff with the help of a rope, the rope snapped after a short while and he plunged to his death!
ReplyDeleteOn the radio this morning, they were discussing funny product labels. One was:
ReplyDeleteRemove child before folding.
At first he didn't want the shot in the arm, but in the end he didn't mind.
ReplyDeleteToo bad Anonymous is anonymous, that one had me laughing.
ReplyDeleteI think this one has two misplaced modifiers:
"Laughing uncontrollably, the car swerved and Tom flew through the windshield when it hit a tree."