The experiment was a failure, not having studied the lab manual carefully.
(The experiment--the subject of the main clause--is not supposed to study the lab manual.)
⚫Possible revision:
They failed the experiment, not having studied the lab manual carefully.
They often have an -ing word (gerund) or a to+verb (infinitive) phrase near the start of the sentence.
🎫 Squinting modifiers:
Squinting modifier: The mystery has been solved after ten years of the missing portrait.
Possible revisions:
After ten years, the mystery of the missing portrait has been solved.
The mystery of the missing portrait has been solved after ten years.
◼️ Strategies for revising dangling modifiers:
1. Name the appropriate or logical doer of the action as the subject of the main clause:
Dangling:
Who arrived late?
This sentence says that the written excuse arrived late. To revise, decide who actually arrived late.
☑️ Having arrived late for practice, the captain of the team needed a written excuse.
The main clause now names the person (the captain) who did the action in the modifying phrase (arrived late).
Change phrase that dangles into a complete introductory clause by naming the doer of the action in that clause:
Dangling modifier:
Who didn't know his name? This sentence says that "it" didn't know his name. To revise, decide who was trying to introduce him.
Possible revision:
☑️ Because Maria did not know his name, it was difficult to introduce him.
The phrase is now a complete introductory clause; it does not modify any other part of the sentence, so is not considered "dangling."
⚫Combine the phrase and main clause into one:
Dangling modifier:
Who wanted to improve results?
Possible revision: