Friday, December 28, 2007

Don't write on the BART train

"I wrote my report on the BART train."

This statement could get you into trouble. We know what you mean: You were on BART when you wrote your report. However, it actually says that you wrote the report on the BART train, as in graffiti. Misplaced and dangling modifiers say what you don't mean. Make sure prepositional phrases line up properly, and you don't write the way you speak.

NOT this: "I wrote my report on the BART train."
THIS: "I wrote my report while riding BART."