2. Split Infinitives
An infinitive is a verb combined with the word “to.”
to go to eat to walk to read
The grammar gods have decided that it is particularly
heinous to split up an infinitive.
In other words, never put a word(s) between the “to”
and the verb.
to easily go to hurriedly eat
to quickly walk to silently read
to once in a while see
3. Fixing The Split Infinitive
To fix a split infinitive, you need to move the
word(s) between the “to” and the verb.
Sometimes, you may need to rephrase
some of the words or restructure the
sentence.
⇒ He promised to whenever possible pick
up his own dry-cleaning.
FIXED: He promised to pick up his own dry-
cleaning whenever possible.
4. Fix These:
My husband likes to once in awhile plan and
cook a dinner.
FIXED: Once in awhile, my husband likes to plan
and cook a dinner.
The group decided to, in spite of the long
detour, visit the ruined monastery.
FIXED: In spite of the long detour, the group decided
to visit the ruined monastery.
The director wanted to vividly re-create a
bullfight for the second act.
FIXED: The directed planned to re-create a vivid
bullfight for the second act.
5. Parallelism
Parallelism makes powerful writing. It
creates rhythm and repetition for added
emphasis. Notice the following:
We saw the children running, playing and
laughing.
We came, we saw, we conquered.
ASYNDETON: POLYSYNDETON:
Of the people, by the people and for the people
Linking items in a series Linking items in a series
w/o use of say, not as I do. coordinators:
Do as I coordinators: w/many
They lived, they loved, They lived and they
they died. loved and they died.
6. Parallelism
Essentially, parallelism requires that
elements in a series of two or more be
of the same grammatical structure.
The elements must all be nouns, verbs or
any other part of speech, must all be
phrases, or must all be clauses
Notice the parallel structure I just used?
7. Parallelism
⇒ Bring the dictionaries, notebooks and
something to write with to class.
FIXED: Bring dictionaries, notebooks and
pencils to class.
⇒ The committee rejected the
amendment, shelved the proposal, and
all questions were ignored by it.
FIXED: The committee rejected the
amendment, shelved the proposal and
ignored all questions.
8. Parallelism
What do the rich know about disease,
those who are hungry, and being
poor?
FIXED: What do the rich know about
disease, hunger, and poverty?
Do you see how parallelism creates a
balanced, flowing sentence that truly
makes a point?
9. Parallelism
Roger stared at the audience with his
mouth dry and his face was a blank.
FIXED: Roger stared at the audience with his
mouth dry and with his face blank.
10. DANGLING MODIFIERS
These are the most difficult modifiers to
recognize and to fix.
The dangling modifier usually occurs as an
introductory phrase or clause. The subject
of the sentence must be the logical doer of
the phrase or clause.
⇒ Flying over the Alps, the view was
breathtaking.
• In this sentence, the “flying over the Alps” logically modifies
the view.
• We also know, logically, that a “view” can’t fly.
o Therefore, this introductory phrase “flying over the Alps”
dangles—it just isn’t logically attached to anything.
11. DANGLING MODIFIERS
To fix a dangling modifier, you MUST re-write the
sentence. Moving the modifier simply makes it dangle
in a different part of the sentence.
⇒ Flying over the Alps, the view was breathtaking.
⇒ The view was breathtaking flying over the Alps.
FIXED: As we flew over the Alps, our view was
breathtaking.
• We is the logical doer.
12. DANGLING MODIFIERS
⇒ Joe’s face turned beet red when
offering Betty a ride.
• In this sentence, “face” is the subject.
• Logically, can a “face” offer a ride?
FIXED: After he offered Betty a ride, Joe’s
face turned beet red.
13. DANGLING MODIFIERS
⇒ To be eligible for the contest, a
subscription must be sent in.
• In this sentence, “subscription” is the subject.
• Logically, can a “subscription” be eligible for a contest?
FIXED: If you want to be eligible for the
contest, you must send in a subscription.
14. DANGLING MODIFIERS
TO FIX THE DANGLING MODIFIER
Usually add a person to the introductory clause.
Make that person become the new subject of the
sentence.
⇒ To be assured of a good cake, fresh
ingredients must be used.
• In this sentence, “ingredients” is the subject.
• Logically, can “ingredients” want to be assured of a good
cake?
FIXED: If you want to be assured of a good cake,
you must use fresh ingredients.
15. DANGLING MODIFIERS
⇒ Having walked three miles, the cabin was a
welcome sight.
• In this sentence, “cabin” is the subject.
• Logically, can a “cabin” walk three miles?
FIXED: After Bill walked three miles, he thought the
cabin was a welcome sight.
⇒ To get home quickly, the dirt road offered a
shortcut.
• In this sentence, “road” is the subject.
• Logically, can a “road” want to get home quickly?
FIXED: We took the dirt road shortcut because it
offered us a way to get home quickly.
