VB037/10
Adapted from Fowler, Henrey Ramsey; Aaron, Jane E., and Janice Okoomian. The Little, Brown Handbook. 10th ed. New York: Longman. 2007.
Swales, John M. and Christine B. Feak. Academic Writing for Graduate Students. 1st ed. Ann Arbor: U of Michigan. 1994.
Bednářová, Radomíra and Robert Helán. VLAW051 Academic Writing. 2015
Linking Words and Phrases
1) Complete the table with examples of linking words and expressions.
MEANING LINKING EXPRESSIONS FOR BOTH
INFORMAL AND FORMAL USE
LINKING EXPRESSIONS FOR VERY
FORMAL USE
ADDITION
CAUSE-EFFECT / REASON
CONDITION
CONTRAST / OPPOSITION
EXAMPLE
SUMMARY / CONCLUSION
TIME
2) Supply linking words or phrases that enhance the flow of the passage. Look carefully at the punctuation to
help you make an appropriate choice.
Many modern artists are using computers in their work because these machines enable the artist to be more
creative. Some artists believe computers will gain in popularity; ______________________, others feel they will
have at best a fleeting presence in the art world. The computer is not a conventional art tool exactly like a brush,
pencil, or hammer; ______________________, it is a tool that provides greater flexibility. ______________________
the use of computers for artistic purposes seems somewhat unusual, researchers believe their use will indeed
become more widespread in the next century. Changes can be made quickly and easily when artists use computers.
______________________, copying portions of a painting, drawing, or musical composition can be done with a
keystroke, ______________________ saving the artist considerable time. ______________________ some initial
resistance, the artistic community is beginning to realize that technology can indeed play a role in creativity.
VB037/10
Adapted from Fowler, Henrey Ramsey; Aaron, Jane E., and Janice Okoomian. The Little, Brown Handbook. 10th ed. New York: Longman. 2007.
Swales, John M. and Christine B. Feak. Academic Writing for Graduate Students. 1st ed. Ann Arbor: U of Michigan. 1994.
Bednářová, Radomíra and Robert Helán. VLAW051 Academic Writing. 2015
Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
- Arrangement of words more important in English than in Czech
- Making mistakes when connecting modifiers to words they modify leads to confusion
a) Misplaced Modifier
- Seems to be misplaced, that is put into a wrong position and therefore modifying a different word
Exercise: Revising misplaced phrases and clauses
Revise the following sentences so that phrases and clauses clearly modify the appropriate words.
Example: I came to enjoy flying over time. -> Over time I came to enjoy flying.
1) Women have contributed much to knowledge and culture of great value.
2) Emma Willard founded the Troy Female Seminary, the first institution to provide a collegelevel
education for women in 1821.
3) Sixteen years later Mary Lyon founded Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, the first true
women’s college with directors and a campus who would sustain the college even after
Lyon’s death.
4) Una was the first US newspaper, which was founded by Pauline Wright Davis in 1853, that
was dedicated to gaining women’s rights.
5) Mitchell’s Comet was discovered in 1847, which was named for Maria Mitchell.
VB037/10
Adapted from Fowler, Henrey Ramsey; Aaron, Jane E., and Janice Okoomian. The Little, Brown Handbook. 10th ed. New York: Longman. 2007.
Swales, John M. and Christine B. Feak. Academic Writing for Graduate Students. 1st ed. Ann Arbor: U of Michigan. 1994.
Bednářová, Radomíra and Robert Helán. VLAW051 Academic Writing. 2015
Word Order
- Keep the subject/verb/object word order!
- Split infinitives – try to avoid them in general
Adverbs:
(Adapted from Colin Wood – “Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers.” http://altform.com/served-sites/methanecandy/old/MM/MM.ppt)
a) of frequency (never, often, rarely,…):
Robots have put sometimes humans out of work. WRONG
Robots have sometimes put humans out of work.
Sometimes robots have put humans out of work.
b) of degree (absolutely, only, hardly, …):
Robots have been useful especially in making cars. WRONG
Robots have been especially useful in making cars.
c) of manner (badly, beautifully, openly, …):
Robots smoothly work on assembly lines. WRONG
Robots work smoothly on assembly lines
VB037/10
Adapted from Fowler, Henrey Ramsey; Aaron, Jane E., and Janice Okoomian. The Little, Brown Handbook. 10th ed. New York: Longman. 2007.
Swales, John M. and Christine B. Feak. Academic Writing for Graduate Students. 1st ed. Ann Arbor: U of Michigan. 1994.
Bednářová, Radomíra and Robert Helán. VLAW051 Academic Writing. 2015
Exercise: Revising separated sentence parts
Revise the following sentences to connect separated parts (subject-predicate, verb-object, verb
phrase, infinitive).
Example: Most children have by the time they are seven lost a tooth. ->
By the time they are seven, most children have lost a tooth.
1) Myra Bradwell founded in 1868 the Chicago Legal News.
2) Bradwell was later denied, although she had qualified, admission to the Illinois Bar Association.
3) In an attempt to finally gain admission to the bar, she carried the case to the Supreme Court, but
the justice decided against her.
4) Bradwell was determined that no other woman would, if she were qualified, be denied entrance to
a profession.
5) The Illinois legislature finally passed, in response to Bradwell’s persuasion, a bill ensuring that no
one on the basis of gender would be restricted from a profession.
b) Dangling Modifier
A dangling modifier does not sensibly modify anything in the sentence; it is “dangling” in vacuum.
Passing the building, the vandalism became visible.
Identifying and revising dangling modifiers
- identify the modifier’s subject. If the modifier lacks a stated subject (as when in diapers does),
identify what the modifier describes.
- compare the subject of the modifier and the subject of the sentence. Verify that what the modifier
describes is in fact the subject of the main clause. If it is not, the modifier probably dangles.
- Revise as needed. Either a) recast the dangling modifier with a stated subject of its own, or b)
change the subject of the main clause to be what the modifier describes.
Dangling When in diapers, my mother remarried.
Revision a) When I was in diapers, my mother remarried.
Revision b) When in diapers, I attended my mother’s second wedding.
VB037/10
Adapted from Fowler, Henrey Ramsey; Aaron, Jane E., and Janice Okoomian. The Little, Brown Handbook. 10th ed. New York: Longman. 2007.
Swales, John M. and Christine B. Feak. Academic Writing for Graduate Students. 1st ed. Ann Arbor: U of Michigan. 1994.
Bednářová, Radomíra and Robert Helán. VLAW051 Academic Writing. 2015
Revise the following sentences to eliminate any dangling modifiers. Each item has more than one
possible answer.
Example: Driving north, the vegetation became increasingly sparse.
-> Driving north, we noticed that the vegetation became increasingly sparse.
-> As we drove north, the vegetation became increasingly sparse.
1) After accomplishing many deeds of valor, Andrew Jackon’s fame led to his election to the presidency in
1828 and 1832.
2) By the age of fourteen, both of Jackson’s parents had died.
3) To aid the American Revolution, service as a mounted courier was chosen by Jackson.
4) Though not well educated, a successful career as a lawyer and judge proved Jackson’s ability.
5) Winning many military battles, the American public believed in Jackson’s leadership.
Combine each pair of sentences below into a single sentence by rewriting one as a modifier. Make sure
the modifier applies clearly to the appropriate word. You will have to add, delete, and rearrange words,
and you may find that more than one answer is possible in each case.
Example: Bob demanded a hearing from the faculty. Bob wanted to appeal the decision.
Wanting to appeal the decision, Bob demanded a hearing from the faculty.
1) Evening falls in the Central American rain forests. The tungara frogs begin their croaking chorus.
2) Male tungara frogs croak loudly at night. The “songs” they sing are designed to attract female frogs.
3) But predators also hear the croaking. They gather to feast on the frogs.
4) The predators are lured by their croaking dinners. The predators include bullfrogs, snakes, bats, and
opossums.
5) The frogs hope to mate. Their nightly chorus can result in death instead.
Revise the following paragraph to eliminate any misplaced or dangling modifiers.
Central American tungara frogs silence several nights a week their mating croaks. When not croaking, the
chance that the frogs will be eaten by predators is reduced. The forgs seem to fully believe in “safety in
numbers.” They more than likely will croak along with a large group rather than by themselves. By forgoing
croaking on some nights, the frogs’ behavior prevents the specias from “croaking.”